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Nat Sciver-Brunt & Pat Cummins named Wisden’s leading cricketers in the world

Published

3 months ago

April 16, 2024

Nat Sciver-Brunt and Pat Cummins have both been named as the leading cricketer in the world for the first time

England all-rounder Nat Sciver-Brunt and Australia captain Pat Cummins have been named as the leading cricketers in the world by Wisden.

England’s Harry Brook and Mark Wood are among the five Cricketers of the Year.

They are joined by Australian trio Usman Khawaja, Mitchell Starc and Ashleigh Gardner.

Another Australian, batter Travis Head, wins the Wisden Trophy for Test performance of the year following his 163 off 174 balls in the Test Championship final victory over India at The Oval in June.

The awards come as this year’s Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack is released this week.

Sciver-Brunt, 31, was the “dominant batter in women’s cricket”, according to Wisden editor Lawrence Booth. She made three centuries in five one-day internationals, including two in three days during the Ashes and another off just 66 balls against Sri Lanka.

As well as securing two global titles for his county, 30-year-old fast bowler Cummins led Australia to retaining the Ashes in England, partly thanks to his late-order batting in a thrilling run-chase in the first Test at Edgbaston.

The five Cricketers of the Year are chosen by the Wisden editor, a tradition that dates back to 1889. Performances in the English summer are a major factor and no player can win the award more than once.

Batter Brook, 25, made four half-centuries during the Ashes, while 34-year-old pace bowler Wood’s inclusion in the England side from the third Test onwards helped the hosts come from 2-0 down to draw 2-2.

Opener Khawaja’s 496 runs was the most on either side and left-arm pace bowler Starc took more wickets – 24 – than any other bowler in the series.

All-rounder Gardner was player of the tournament in the Women’s T20 World Cup in South Africa, then took 12 wickets in the match as Australia won the sole Test in the Women’s Ashes.

West Indies’ all-rounder Hayley Matthews becomes the first woman to be named the leading T20 cricketer in the world after being named player of the match in eight consecutive games, breaking the previous record of four.

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Paris 2024 Olympics video: Max Whitlock and Team GB start well in men’s gymnastics

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3 hours ago

July 27, 2024

worlddailyinfo

Watch the highlights as Great Britain’s men’s gymnastic team of Max Whitlock, Joe Fraser, Jake Jarman, Harry Hepworth and Luke Whitehouse put themselves in a strong position to qualify for the team final of the Paris 2024 Olympics.

FOLLOW: Olympics 2024: Harper and Mew Jensen win GB’s first medal in diving

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Park's 'brilliant' solo goal gives GB lead against Spain

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7 hours ago

July 27, 2024

worlddailyinfo

Watch as Team GB’s Nick Park gets their Paris 2024 men’s hockey campaign off to the perfect start with a brilliant solo goal against Spain.

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Pep Guardiola: Manchester City boss could stay beyond 2024-25 season

Published

17 hours ago

July 26, 2024

Simon Stone

Pep Guardiola says he could stay at Manchester City beyond the end of the season.

Manager Guardiola’s contract expires at the end of the coming campaign.

In the aftermath of City’s historic fourth successive Premier League title success, Guardiola raised doubts over his own future when he said he was “closer to leaving than staying”.

The Spaniard has been in charge of City for eight seasons and has won the league on six occasions, part of an overall 17-trophy haul.

Speaking to reporters in New York ahead of City’s pre-season encounter with AC Milan at Yankee Stadium on Saturday, Guardiola said nothing had been decided.

“I didn’t say I was leaving,” he said.

“Nine years at the same club is an eternity. I don’t rule out extending the contract. I want to be sure it is the right decision for the club and the players.

“When I decide, I will talk with my CEO and sporting director. But I want to start the season, and look at how everything is going and how connected we are. After, we will see.”

Guardiola said he hopes to be in charge for the expanded 32-team Club World Cup, to be held in the United States next summer, but was not sure about the tournament itself, which is at the centre of a dispute between world governing body Fifa and the major players’ unions.

City could end up playing 75 matches across the season, starting with the Community Shield with Manchester United at Wembley on 10 August and potentially ending in the Club World Cup final in the United States on 13 July.

Striker Erling Haaland says it is impossible for any player to be fresh for so many matches.

“It is difficult to be sharp if you play 70 games a year,” Haaland said.

“You could see at the Euros how tired people will be. Some will get a lot of vacation. You have to work with the people around you to be the best version of yourself.”

Not that Guardiola seemed to have much sympathy for the Norwegian.

Guardiola allowed the City players involved in the Copa America and Euro 2024 latter stages to choose when they returned to pre-season training because he did not want them coming back exhausted.

Norway, for whom Haaland plays, failed to qualify for the Euros.

“Has to rest more,” said Guardiola of Haaland. “If he is tired, go to bed early. Tired is an excuse.”

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