Chris Rushworth in a rush as wickets tumble after the rain

Twelve wickets tumble at Edgbaston with Hannon-Dalby sharing honours

ECB Reporters Network11-May-2023Warwickshire 17 for 2 trail Essex 126 (Westley 47, Hannon-Dalby 4-21, Rushworth 4-26) by 109 runs Chris Rushworth continued his stunning start to his Warwickshire career with another four wickets as Essex’s batting imploded on a rain-affected opening day of their LV=Insurance County Championship match at Edgbaston.Former Durham seamer Rushworth went into this game, his fifth for Warwickshire, with 22 wickets at 15.27 apiece and enhanced those figures further with four for 28 as Essex folded to 126 all out.Rushworth delivered a triple-wicket maiden in the last over before tea to reduce Essex from a relatively healthy 76 for two to 76 for five. Olly Hannon-Dalby followed up in the final session with four for 21, taking him past 450 wickets in all formats.Warwickshire then encountered turbulence of their own as they reached 17 for two at the close of a day which provided abundant drama and entertainment despite play not starting until 3pm due to rain.After Warwickshire captain Will Rhodes won the toss for the first time this season, Essex’s batters found life difficult in damp, seamer-friendly conditions. Only skipper Tom Westley (47, 94 balls) lasted more than an hour.Both Essex openers fell to the new ball. Rushworth, fresh from his dazzling seven for 38 in Southampton last week, sent an inswinger into Alastair Cook’s pads to win an lbw decision. Hassan Ali, recalled in place of the rested Chris Woakes, struck with his fifth ball when Nick Browne feathered a leg glance and wicketkeeper Michael Burgess took a fine catch, one-handed and at full stretch.Westley and Dan Lawrence added 52 in 12 overs before Rushworth’s brilliant over sent the innings into ruin. Lawrence chipped the first ball to extra over. Matt Critchley narrowly survived the second and third then edged the fourth to Rob Yates at slip. Michael Pepper fell lbw to the sixth. It was bowling of a level of control, intelligence and potency which would not look out of place in an Ashes series.Control, intelligence and potency are attributes which Hannon-Dalby’s work consistently displays and he heightened Essex’s distress in the last session with a burst of four for ten in 28 balls. Simon Harmer’s obdurate 39-ball resistance for three was ended by a spectacular rearrangement of furniture, Doug Bracewell edged to slip and Westley was caught at extra cover.After Hassan Ali returned to trap Sam Cook lbw and Hannon-Dalby hit Shane Snater’s off stump the last eight wickets had fallen for 50 runs in 19.2 overs. Who needs Chris Woakes?Essex inflicted immediate damage upon Warwickshire’s reply when Jamie Porter’s first ball trapped Yates in front. Porter added a second wicket with the day’s final ball when Alex Davies edged to third slip to leave the visitors still right in the game despite their paltry first innings total.

Após ameaças, torcida organizada do São Paulo proíbe mulheres e crianças em viagem para estreia na Sul-Americana

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Após ameaças por parte de torcedores do Tigre, que prometem ‘revanche’ e ‘estresse pós-traumático’ para o São Paulo, a maior torcida organizada do Tricolor – a Independente-, disparou um recado para a caravana que organiza rumo a Bueno Aires, palco do jogo de estreia das equipes pela Copa Sul-Americana: são proibidas mulheres e crianças.

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Faltando exatamente uma semana para o confronto, o clima já é de ‘guerra’. Nem tanto por parte do Tricolor paulista, mas sim pelo lado dos torcedores do Tigre, que querem ‘responder’ pela polêmica da final do continental em 2012.

Saiba quais são as finais de estaduais que vão acontecer pelo Brasil

Veja tabela da Copa Sul-Americana e simule os próximos jogos

Na ocasião, o São Paulo só foi declarado como campeão da edição da Sul-Americana porque o segundo tempo simplesmente não existiu. No dia 12 de dezembro de 2012, o Tricolor estava com vantagem na primeira etapa da decisão contra a equipe argentina, vencendo por 2 a 0, com gols de Lucas Moura e Osvaldo.

Porém, na ida para o intervalo, uma grande confusão começou no túnel que levava aos vestiários. A provocação inicial teria partido de Lucas Moura, que teria mostrado um pedaço de algodão com sangue para Orban, um jogador do Tigre que atingiu o rosto do atleta são-paulino.

Mas isso não soou bem entre os argentinos, que cercaram o jogador brasileiro, necessitando de uma intervenção dos policiais militares que estavam presentes para a segurança do jogo. A partida aconteceu no Morumbi e, por pouco, o elenco do Tigre não invadiu os vestiários do time da casa.

A briga foi tão grande que o técnico Nestor Gorosito, em entrevista à ‘ESPN Argentina’, chegou a acusar os policiais na época de terem ameaçado os jogadores do clube argentino com armas de fogo. Lucas Moura, mais tarde, chegou a negar que tenha feito alguma provocação.

Após 30 minutos esperando o retorno do adversário na volta do intervalo, o árbitro Enrique Osses decidiu encerrar a partida e dar a vitória para o São Paulo. Mas o assunto não parece estar superado pelos torcedores argentinos.

Logo no dia do sorteio, uma série de ameaças tomou conta das redes sociais. Entre elas, pedidos para ‘cercar o ônibus do São Paulo’ até ‘não deixar o clube voltar para o Brasil sem um estresse pós-traumático’. Alguns torcedores também disseram que ‘não esqueceram o que aconteceu nas ruas após o jogo de 2012’.

E o clima tenso criado tem um agravante importante. A torcida organizada Independente é aliadados barras bravas do Chacarita Juniors – principal e maior rival do Tigre. E o relacionamento entre os dois clubes argentinos não é nada bom, o que só deve complicar o lado do São Paulo em uma eventual briga entre as torcidas.

Então, como forma de segurança, a organizada são-paulina já estabeleceu algumas regras: proibido mulheres, crianças e menores de 18 anos.

Visando evitar problemas maiores, até o presidente Julio Casares se manifestou sobre o assunto. Casares pediu ‘bom senso’ para a diretoria do Tigre, destacando que quer evitar problemas fora de campo. O presidente ainda destacou que ‘do mesmo jeito que irão receber bem a equipe no Morumbi, querem ser bem recebidos’. Para ele, a polêmica de onze anos atrás deve ser superada.

-Vamos conversar para que tenha luta dentro do campo e respeito fora. Vamos lá ser recebidos por eles e vamos receber no Morumbi com muito respeito, como tem que ser. Foi um acontecimento de 11 anos atrás que eu acho que deve ser superados. Cabe ao São Paulo e ao Tigre promoverem o entendimento. Nós vamos procurar isso – disse durante sorteio da Copa do Brasil, na sede da CBF.

-As questões são superadas. Acho que hoje, com imagens, VAR, tivemos um acontecimento muito chato no Brasil, temos que superar, com inteligência, bom senso, sem dar muitas declarações que possam promover esse tipo de coisa. Do lado São Paulo, estaremos juntos para promover um bom espetáculo, que a luta seja dentro do campo. Sempre com bom senso, com tranquilidade, é o que esperamos dos dois confronto – completou.

A partida está marcada para a próxima quinta-feira (6), às 21h (de Brasília). O jogo no Morumbi será no dia 27 de junho.

Veja o comunicado feito pela Independente:

'Get Scott McTominay back!' – Man Utd legend tells club to swallow their pride and bring Napoli hero home to Old Trafford

Teddy Sheringham has told Manchester United to bring Scott McTominay back to the club after his Napoli heroics.

  • Man Utd sold McTominay last summer 
  • Went on to win Serie A in Italy 
  • Sheringham urges Red Devils to bring him back
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  • WHAT HAPPENED?

    McTominay joined Napoli last summer and enjoyed a stunning season in which he inspired Antonio Conte's side to Serie A glory, and was also nominated for the Ballon d'Or. Given that he was a £21 million ($28m) signing, he has given the Italian club an incredible return on their investment. 

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    Sheringham, a 1999 treble winner, believes United should try to bring McTominay back as he outlined his ideal XI under Ruben Amorim; he believes that Casemiro's "legs have gone" and that, ideally, the Scotland international would replace him. Alas, he accepts it is very unlikely. 

  • WHAT SHERINGHAM SAID

    Sheringham told : "I would definitely go with Sesko up front and Matheus Cunha just off him.

    "That leaves it tough for Fernandes in midfield but he's obviously the captain and has been playing very, very well the last couple of years with his performances and his goals.

    "I would get McTominay back if I could and put him in alongside Fernandes in midfield to add a bit of steel but obviously that was a permanent move. He's not coming back. So you’ve got Casemiro. His legs are gone so it’s going to be tough to play him there so he’d need a lot of help from Fernandes and Cunha.

    "Casemiro can pull his man slightly wide, Cunha can tuck in alongside him in midfield, making Fernandes very secure.

    "Amad Diallo, I would play wide right. I like him. Mbeumo goes wide left. Amad is a very lively player. Very expressive in the way he plays. You can manipulate younger players too in order to fit what the team needs to get close as a unit and go from there."

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    WHAT NEXT?

    Napoli are next in action against Cagliari on Saturday. McTominay scored in their first game of the season as they beat Sassuolo 2-0. 

'He's not my friend!' – Cesc Fabregas denies close bond with Alvaro Morata after Chelsea & Spain spells and hails telling 'gesture' to seal Como transfer

Cesc Fabregas says he's not friends with Alvaro Morata and they haven't spoken for years, but lauds Morata's mentality to take pay cut to join Como.

Fabregas rebuffs claims of being friends with MorataClaims he's not worried about their relationship Como boss praises striker for giving up his salaryFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Morata was able to complete his switch from Turkey to Italy after going through a lot of hassle. Como were able to secure the striker after a stalemate with Galatasaray, signing him on loan with an obligation to buy for around €10 million. Coach Fabregas, who is delighted with the signing and has played with the Spaniard for the national team and Chelsea, was asked about his relationship with the forward and questioned if he considers him a friend. Fabregas claimed the two have not spoken for years, but this does not detract from the fact that they have an excellent relationship.

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Morata and Fabregas had played together on multiple occasions and won the FA Cup in the 2017-18 season with Chelsea. However, the two have not spoken much after leaving Chelsea. Fabregas says he does not stress about it much, claiming that Morata, with his gesture of dropping a major chunk of his wages, has already shown his desire and mentality to play for the Italian club. This should be a signal enough for how motivated and serious he is about this new challenge. 

WHAT FABREGAS SAID

Speaking to the media in a press conference, the Como head coach said: "Everyone is available, but I need to talk to Alvaro: we have a plan in place. He trained first with Galatasaray, then less, doing his workouts at home. I can't give any details about him."

When asked about his friendship with Morata, Fabregas said: "He's not a friend of mine. Since he left Chelsea, we haven't spoken, except for the occasional compliment. Even if he had been, he isn't today. We still have an excellent relationship: we spent two years together at Chelsea and with the national team. He's an extraordinary person, with a big heart, humble, and with a strong spirit of sacrifice, who can give a lot to the team. I'm not worried about our relationship: he has a great desire to do well. He gave up over 60 per cent of his salary, a gesture that says a lot about his mentality and his intentions. He didn't guarantee me a certain number of goals, but he showed a lot of work and positivity, an important signal for me and the team."

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AFPWHAT NEXT FOR FABREGAS?

Como are all set to face Sudtirol in the first round of the Coppa Italia on August 15 before the Serie A kicks off on August 24, where they will face Lazio in their opening fixture.

Botafogo não vence Atlético-MG no Mineirão há mais de dez anos

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Além da dificuldade de enfrentar um Atlético-MG no Mineirão, o Botafogo também precisará lidar com uma escrita histórica nesta segunda-feira, quando as equipes se enfrentam em duelo do Brasileirão. O Glorioso não vence o Galo fora de casa há mais de dez anos.

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+Botafogo anuncia acordo com a Reebok: relembre as fornecedoras do clube neste século

A última vitória foi em 2011, quando as duas equipes se encaravam pela segunda fase da Sul Americana. Naquela partida, os cariocas venceram os mineiros por 2 a 1 com gols de Herrera e Maicosuel.

De lá para cá, Atlético-MG e Botafogo se enfrentaram no Mineirão 12 vezes: foram nove vitórias do Galo, três empates e nenhum triunfo do Glorioso.

+Botafogo divulga relacionados com novidades para jogo contra Atlético-MG pelo Brasileirão

ÚLTIMOS DOZE JOGOS ENTRE ATLÉTICO-MG X BOTAFOGO NO MINEIRÃO

Atlético-MG 2 x 1 Botafogo (Brasileirão 2020)
Atlético-MG 2 x 0 Botafogo (Brasileirão 2019)
Atlético-MG 2 x 0 Botafogo (Sul-Americana 2019)
Atlético-MG 1 x 0 Botafogo (Brasileirão 2018)
Atlético-MG 0 x 0 Botafogo (Brasileirão 2017)
Atlético-MG 1 x 0 Botafogo (Copa do Brasil 2017)
Atlético-MG 5 x 3 Botafogo (Brasileirão 2016)
Atlético-MG 1 x 0 Botafogo (Brasileirão 2014)
Atlético-MG 2 x 2 Botafogo (Copa do Brasil 2013)
Atlético-MG 2 x 2 Botafogo (Brasileirão 2013)
Atlético-MG 3 x 2 Botafogo (Brasileirão 2012)
Atlético-MG 4 x 0 Botafogo (Brasileirão 2011)

Apesar do jejum, o time de Luís Castro vai com tudo em busca de uma vitória. Os alvinegros sonham com uma vaga para Libertadores e precisam conquistar bons resultados nos três jogos restantes da competição.

Atlético-MG e Botafogo se enfrentam nesta segunda-feira, às 20h, no Mineirão, em partida válida pelo Brasileirão.

Com a cabeça no Coritiba, Corinthians se reapresenta após vitória sobre o Ceará

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O elenco do Corinthians se reapresentou na tarde desta segunda-feira (7) após o clube alvinegro vencer o Ceará por 1 a 0, no último sábado (5), na Neo Química Arena, pela 36ª rodada do Campeonato Brasileiro. O foco do Timão agora será o Coritiba, fora de casa, adversário desta quarta-feira (9), pela penúltima partida da competição nacional.

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+Confira detalhes da terceira camisa e a nova linha do Corinthians em alusão ao Mundial do Japão

Os atletas que atuaram mais do que 45 minutos contra o Vozão, no fim de semana, fizeram apenas um trabalho regenerativo, enquanto os demais realizaram um treino de posse de bola em campo reduzido.

Fora do jogo de ida da final do Paulistão Sub-20, na última sexta-feira (4), justamente por estar entregue ao elenco profissional, o atacante Wesley segue treinando com o grupo principal do Corinthians.

+ Confira a tabela do Brasileirão e simule a reta final da competição

O volante Maycon, que voltou a ser relacionado na última rodada do Brasileirão, foi outro que treinou normalmente e pode ser a novidade entre os titulares contra o Coxa.

Para o próximo compromisso, o técnico Vítor Pereira não terá os laterais Fagner e Fábio Santos, que receberam o terceiro cartão amarelo contra o Ceará. Também lateral, Lucas Piton sentiu uma fisgada na coxa no início do jogo diante do clube nordestino e é dúvida.

Já Róger Guedes, que foi preservado da equipe titular no último sábado (4), por opção do técnico Vítor Pereira, é outro atleta que tem tudo para começar jogando contra o Coritiba.

O elenco corintiano voltará a treinar nesta terça-feira (8), na parte da manhã, e depois a delegação já viajará para a capital paranaense. O confronto acontecerá às 19h, da quarta-feira (9).

Heat lose second in a row as Day and Sutherland give Stars rare win

Former Australia captain Meg Lanning has taken an indefinite break from the WBBL, less than two weeks after her retirement from international cricket.Lanning sat out Melbourne Stars’ 15-run win over Brisbane Heat at the Junction Oval in Melbourne on Sunday due to personal reasons. With only two games left and Stars to miss making the finals, Lanning’s immediate future in the sport is uncertain.”She’s taking a few days out for some personal reasons,” Stars coach Jonathan Batty told the Seven Network. “We’re reassured she’s all OK, which is the most important thing, but we’re giving her that time and space and respecting her privacy in what she needs to do.”We’re taking it on a game-by-game basis at the moment and we’ll give her all the time she needs to make that decision but she’s definitely out for the next couple of games.”Lanning has taken numerous breaks from cricket during the last two years, and earlier this month announced she was ending her storied career for Australia, saying she had lost the hunger to perform at international level.Sophie Day, the Player of the Match, was understandably in demand afterwards•Getty Images

Young allrounder Annabel Sutherland captained Stars in Lanning’s absence as Heat dropped a second straight match.Opener Maia Bouchier top-scored with 41 in Stars’ 156 for 5, while Amelia Kerr and Nicola Hancock picked up two wickets each for Heat.In the chase, opener Georgia Redmayne, filling in as captain for Jess Jonassen, who was rested due to hamstring soreness, started brightly but left-arm spinner Sophie Day and Sutherland tightened the screws on Heat.Day’s performance took her back to the top of the wicket-taking charts in what has been a breakout season for her.While Kerr and Mignon du Preez were together, Heat had a chance of challenging the target, but they fell in consecutive deliveries – Kerr excellently caught by wicketkeeper Sophie Reid and then du Preez bowled by Day, who was named Player of the Match for her 3 for 16.The defeat is a blow to Heat’s hopes of hosting the final as the table-topping team in the regular season.

"أمامنا 10 أيام فقط".. وكيل أوجستين منصور يكشف عبر "بطولات" موقفه من الرحيل بعد اهتمام الأهلي

فتح وكيل اللاعب الدولي الفلسطيني أوجستين منصور، باب الرحيل أمام نجم جواراني الباراجواياني، في حال وصول عرض جاد خلال الأيام القليلة المقبلة، في ظل اقتراب إغلاق سوق الانتقالات في باراجواي.

وقال فيكتور هوجو بولاتي، وكيل منصور، في تصريحات خاصة لـ”بطولات”: “سوق الانتقالات في باراجواي يُغلق بعد 10 أيام، ولا يزال هناك وقت لاتخاذ القرار، وإذا جاء عرض مناسب، قد يرحل أوجستين عن جواراني”.

وأضاف: “إذا لم نحصل على العرض المناسب، سيستمر اللاعب مع الفريق حتى ديسمبر، وقد يغادر بعدها، لكن في كل الأحوال، عقده مستمر حتى نهاية عام 2027”.

اقرأ أيضًا.. خاص | انتهت.. مليون دولار تحسم مصير أحمد عبد القادر مع الأهلي

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من هذا المنطلق، تبدو الخيارات مفتوحة أمام أوجستين منصور، خاصة مع وجود أنباء عن رغبة الأهلي في ضم اللاعب الفلسطيني خلال الفترة الحالية.

اللاعب، البالغ من العمر 22 عامًا، يشارك مع منتخب فلسطين، ويملك جنسية مزدوجة، ما يتيح له حرية أكبر في التنقل، دون تقييدات كبيرة تتعلق بالجنسيات الأجنبية في بعض الدوريات.

وفي ختام تصريحاته، أكد وكيله: “أوجستين يركز تمامًا في تدريباته مع جواراني، لكن إذا جاء المشروع المناسب، فإن الأبواب مفتوحة، نحن لا نغلق شيئًا”.

Langer takes over from Flower as Lucknow Super Giants head coach

Lucknow Super Giants have appointed Justin Langer as their new head coach.Langer replaced Andy Flower, who served as the head coach at Super Giants since the franchise became a part of the IPL in 2022. LSG did not renew Flower’s contract after the end of the two-year term, during which they finished in the top four on both occasions.”Lucknow Super Giants are on the journey of building a great story in the IPL,” Langer said in a statement released by the franchise. “We all have a role to play in that journey and I am excited to be a part of the team moving forward.”

Langer has never held a coaching role in the IPL but has a rich pedigree as a coach in T20 cricket, having helmed Perth Scorchers to three Big Bash League titles. He was also the head coach when Australia won the T20 World Cup for the first time in 2021 in the UAE. He resigned as Australia’s head coach early in 2022 after rejecting a short-term extension offer.He has previously worked with Gautam Gambhir, Super Giants’ director of cricket, when Gambhir was trying to resurrect his international career in 2015. A casual chat on the sidelines of the now-defunct Champions League T20 in 2014, where Gambhir was captaining Kolkata Knight Riders and Langer coaching Scorchers, turned into a one-on-one mentorship a year later. Gambhir spent a fortnight in Perth then to work on some technical issues and mental toughness through mixed martial arts and gymnastics.After the stint, Langer stated that he was “impressed with Gambhir’s desire” to work on his game at that stage in his career, after having led Knight Riders to the IPL title twice apart from having played a key role in two world titles with India – the 2007 T20 World Cup and the 2011 ODI World Cup.Flower, who worked closely with Gambhir, had a good run with the franchise that finished in the playoffs in both their seasons. In 2022, their first season in the IPL, Super Giants finished third, and in IPL 2023, they were knocked out in the Eliminator.One of the most established coaches in the T20 circuit, Flower is currently in a consultancy role with Australia at the men’s Ashes.Sanjiv Goenka, owner of the Super Giants franchise said, “I have enjoyed my interactions with Justin Langer. He seems to bring in a huge amount of aggression and a lot of clarity.”

Ollie Pope at ease with senior England role going into Ashes summer

Surrey batter not looking too far ahead after successful shift up order under Stokes and McCullum

Vithushan Ehantharajah05-Apr-2023Ollie Pope is among many within English cricket watching Ben Stokes at the IPL with bated breath.Despite nursing a troublesome left knee, Stokes chose to fulfil his commitment to Chennai Super Kings. Reinforced by a cortisone injection prior to travelling out to India, England’s Test captain is currently two games into his stint and even bowled in the victory over Lucknow Super Giants on Monday, albeit an over that went for 18. Even with promises from the man himself that he won’t take undue risks, and the reassurance offered by head coach Brendon McCullum that the medical team at Chennai – one of McCullum’s former franchises – will look after Stokes, everything is crossed he arrives back in one piece ahead of an Ashes summer.For Pope, the concern is a little more complex. While Stuart Broad was the unofficial vice-captain during the 2022 summer, it was Pope who actually fulfilled the role over the winter, skippering two warm-up matches – against England Lions in Abu Dhabi ahead of December’s Pakistan tour, then in New Zealand ahead of the two-match series in February. Granted, they were low-key affairs (both two-day matches which Stokes chose to skip), but the England management gave Pope the opportunities to further his leadership credentials and were impressed by what they saw.Related

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Surrey hold the crown but Lancashire looking to go one better

Surrey sign Latham for mid-season Championship stint

Stokes has been reticent to name a deputy officially. But should he be unable to take to the field at any point this summer – he might even choose to sit out the Ireland Test at Lord’s which begins on June 1 – Pope is evidently the next in line. Though he hopes otherwise, Pope backs himself to do the job, if required. His only previous experience in competitive cricket came in September 2021, leading Surrey in a County Championship match against Glamorgan.”It’s not a conversation that’s been had, it’s just something that if it comes about, then I feel confident,” Pope said. “I feel the cricket brain’s good enough to allow that to happen. Whether they choose to do that in a Test, I’ve honestly no idea.”Fingers crossed, touch wood – his [Stokes] knee’s all good. Firstly, that’s not something we’ve spoken about. I don’t know if Stokesy did go down, I’m not sure who would do it to be honest, we’ve not spoken about it.”There’s really one Ben Stokes, isn’t there, in England. And I think that’s something that if he did get injured and someone had to do it, no one is going to try and replicate exactly what he does, but take the ideas he implemented into the team. Do it slightly in their own way, but continue the messages that he provides if someone were to do it if he did get injured. Again, touch wood, he’s all good.”Pope enjoyed leading those warm-up matches and believes it has given him a new perspective on the field. Throughout five Tests in Pakistan and New Zealand – four of them England wins – he watched Stokes a little closer: “What he does with the bowlers and what he does with the fields and how he talks to his bowlers as well.”He seemingly took those lessons on board, and was a more vocal presence in games, whether consulted by Stokes between overs or offering his own suggestions regarding on-field tactics. Coaches are particularly enamoured with how Pope has emerged as a more senior member of the squad, something which is no doubt linked to taking more responsibility as the No. 3 batter in this exciting new iteration of the Test team.That, ultimately, will be his primary focus this summer. Since moving to first-drop, Pope is averaging 41.63 across 12 caps, a marked improvement from the 28.66 across the previous 13. As impressive as the two centuries and five fifties in that time is the strike rate of 75.04, in line with the positive mantra espoused by Stokes and McCullum.Pope is gearing up to start the Championship season with Surrey•Getty ImagesPope credits the pair for making him a better player now. The shift in mindset has benefitted him greatly, as has the faith shown in him. This time last year, after being dropped after a dispiriting Ashes series – England lost 4-0 and Pope averaged 11.16 from three Tests – he boldly decided to call up a newly appointed Stokes and request a move up the order. It was a gamble, from both parties, that has paid off.”I feel a much better player,” Pope said. “I’ve got a better defence and a better game plan. That’s come through just constantly playing.”Our new mindset in that England team means I go into a Test series really excited for it, rather than thinking: ‘Oh, if I miss out this time, I hope it’s not going to be my last.'”They should be the best times of your life, playing for England, and they’ve [Stokes and McCullum] made that pretty clear. Your career’s too short for you not to love those moments so that’s a good message for me. You’ve got to enjoy it while you’re there.”Surrey begin the defence of their County Championship title on Thursday, against Lancashire at Old Trafford. It will be the first of six matches they will be able to call on Pope before the international season gets going. Having contributed 700 runs at an average of 70 last time around, his aim, for now, is to get the club off to a strong start in Division One. Then he will allow himself to get excited for the challenges ahead, particularly those five Tests against Australia.”What worked for me last year was that when I was at Surrey and I was around for the start of the Championship, I didn’t necessarily think I was going to be playing for England. I wasn’t thinking about England.”That’s going to be my plan again this year. I’ve got half an eye on it just from a mental and physical state, so you know you can peak at the right time. But while I’m here I’m going to 100 percent concentrate on this because that’s what’ll put me in good stead for the Ashes. It’s something to really look forward to, something I’m really excited for. But while you’re here in a Surrey shirt, why not enjoy this as well?”

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