Fast bowler says no single reason for mass Worcestershire exodus after signing Notts deal

Matt Roller22-Jul-2023

Josh Tongue says he is leaving Worcestershire at the end of the season because he needs “a new challenge” but does not believe there is a smoking gun that explains the exodus of a number of homegrown players from the club.Tongue, who made his England debut this summer, will join Nottinghamshire at the end of his contract, with Dillon Pennington making the same move. Pat Brown, who has struggled with injury after playing four T20Is in 2019, is leaving for Derbyshire, while Moeen Ali and Ed Barnard joined Warwickshire last winter.A number of other Worcestershire players are also out of contract at the end of the season, with Ashley Giles taking charge of negotiations after starting his job as chief executive earlier this month. Giles made Rob Jones, the Lancashire batter, his first signing earlier this week, but Jack Haynes and Ben Cox are both expected to leave the club.Tongue held talks with a number of counties before settling on Nottinghamshire, who beat off strong interest from Lancashire to secure his signature on an initial three-year deal. He said that the opportunity to work with Notts bowling coach Kevin Shine again was a major factor in his decision, having previously been coached by him as part of the ECB’s pace programme.”I’ve been at the club since I was six years old and I’ve grown up playing for Worcester through the age groups and the academy and obviously signed my first pro deal there,” Tongue said, speaking at a #Funds4Runs session organised by LV= Insurance at Stockport Georgians Cricket Club. “I’ve got a massive heart for the club but I just feel like I’m at a time in my career when I need a new challenge and a new place to play.”I had a few meetings with a different number of clubs and Notts just really excited me with the way they play their cricket and obviously the squad is very strong. Peter Moores, the coach, and Kevin Shine, the bowling coach, really attracted me.”I’ve had stuff to do with Shiney in the past, growing up. I feel that’s going to benefit me, to have a different set of eyes on me to see how I can get better. If that’s more pace, or getting me in a better position at contact, we’ll see.”Josh Tongue at a #Funds4Runs session at Stockport Georgians Cricket Club•LV= Insurance/#Funds4Runs

Asked if there was a single reason behind players leaving, Tongue said: “I don’t think so. I’m not sure about the other lads leaving, but at my stage of my career now, I just felt like I needed a change and to work with some different coaches and different players. Obviously that is hopefully going to benefit me in the future.”Moeen, whose brother Kadir is Worcestershire’s assistant coach, suggested that money was a motivating factor for some departures. “I think it could be financial – it probably is financial with a couple of players,” he said. “But I think some players probably feel like they want to play at a bigger venue or a bigger club. It doesn’t always work out, but good luck to them.”I love Worcester, I still love Worcester. Obviously my brother’s there and the coach, Richo [Alan Richardson], so I still follow their progress and stuff. It’s a shame, but it’s always been a club or a county that’s produced good players and I’m sure they always will.”Tongue and Pennington shared 12 wickets between them in Worcestershire’s win against Leicestershire at Oakham this week, leaving them third in Division Two of the County Championship and only two points off a promotion spot. Richardson admitted some mixed emotions, but said they would continue to be selected for the rest of the summer.”Obviously I’m disappointed that they are leaving,” Richardson said, “but at the same time they are still our players and they still want to perform for us for the rest of the season, to help us achieve our goals. Having them in the team makes us better. We aren’t going to change our opinion on that just because they are leaving at the end of the season.”Josh Tongue was speaking on behalf of LV= Insurance, title sponsors of this summer’s LV= Insurance Ashes Series. Head to https://www.lv.com/gi/cricket to find out more.

Welsh Fire plan to replace Pakistan’s fast-bowling spearheads with two of New Zealand’s next week, with Lockie Ferguson and Matt Henry lined up as replacements for Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf in the men’s Hundred.Shaheen and Rauf have made an immediate impression on the tournament, taking five and three wickets respectively in Fire’s first three games. Having lost all eight group games last year, Fire have enjoyed a resurgence under new coach Mike Hussey, winning their first game, losing to Southern Brave by two runs and tieing with Oval Invincibles.The pair are both due to travel to Sri Lanka for Pakistan’s three-match ODI series against Afghanistan, with the first fixture on August 22. They are expected to play Fire’s next three fixtures before flying, and are therefore set to miss their final two group games on August 20 and 22.ESPNcricinfo understands that Fire have identified Ferguson and Henry as their replacements and have sent the relevant paperwork to the ECB for confirmation. Ferguson is a like-for-like replacement for Rauf, while Henry will fill a similar role to Shaheen, bowling predominantly with the new ball.Both players are part of New Zealand’s T20I squad for their tour to England which begins immediately after the Hundred, and Henry had already informed NZC that he would be unavailable for the tour to the UAE (August 17-20) in anticipation of a replacement contract. Ferguson is part of the squad for that tour but may now be withdrawn.Henry has been in excellent form, most recently winning the Vitality Blast with Somerset and finishing the tournament as its leading wicket-taker, with 31 wickets at 13.23. Ferguson has only made two appearances since the IPL, taking three wickets for LA Knight Riders in the inaugural Major League Cricket season last month.

Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy has now reportedly held a meeting with a 52-year-old official over joining the Lilywhites, and it is believed that the club are also ready to make him a significant offer.

Tottenham criticised after lacklustre Premier League campaign

Sitting 14th in the Premier League table, after tasting 15 defeats in the top flight alone this season, Ange Postecoglou’s side have faced backlash from large sections of supporters throughout 2024/2025.

£165k-per-week star determined to quit Tottenham after talks with his camp

The player is seriously considering his options.

5

By
Emilio Galantini

Mar 27, 2025

These same sets of fans have also organised protests in relation to the running of their club from ENIC and Levy, with Spurs still yet to win a piece of major silverware since their League Cup triumph in 2008.

Postecoglou is being repeatedly linked with the Tottenham sack as well, and if their form doesn’t pick up, this could well become a reality, with the north Londoners also reliant on a good run in the Europa League to salvage what has been a disastrous campaign overall.

“As long as they’ve got the American Football, and they’ve got Beyonce in the summer, they’re happy, the owners are happy,” said Sky pundit Jamie Redknapp earlier this season.

“It looks like a business model that everyone can be happy with that can be successful. “But does that breed a winning environment? No it does not because something is fundamentally wrong. They have tried to do both, but it has not worked and it has not worked the way Daniel Levy wants it to.”

Technical director Johan Lange also hasn’t had the desired impact on transfer strategy some might have hoped for, since the Dane took over from ex-managing director Fabio Paratici following the Italian’s resignation.

If Spurs are to become successful, the appointment of a perfect director is imperative, and it is now believed that they could turn back to Paratici.

The 52-year-old is nearing the end of his worldwide ban from football employment, which will expire on June 30, and this has apparently piqued Tottenham’s interest as they seriously consider re-hiring their ex-transfer chief.

Daniel Levy holds Fabio Paratici meeting as Tottenham ready "rich offer"

That is according to Radio Rossonera, who also report that Levy held a meeting with Paratici on Thursday over the prospect of snubbing AC Milan and re-joining Tottenham instead.

Milan were considered overwhelming favourites to hire the Italian, but now Spurs have entered the race for his services as they ponder replacing Lange with their former employee.

As relayed by this report, it is also believed that Tottenham are ready to make Paratici a “rich offer”, but they expect a quick response and won’t wait around.

Paratici was responsible for the signings of Rodrigo Bentancur, Dejan Kulusevski, Yves Bissouma, Cristian Romero, Pedro Porro, Djed Spence, Destiny Udogie and Pape Sarr, who have all played a key role at various points since their arrival at Hotspur Way.

The official also knows the club very well already, and is known to be a tireless worker behind-the-scenes, so perhaps his return would even inspire Tottenham before next season.

MatériaMais Notícias

Pela quinta vez consecutiva o Internacional levantou a taça do Campeonato Gaúcho Sub-20. Nesta edição, o Colorado bateu o Grêmio na grande decisão, algo que não acontecia desde 2018. O título veio após um empate por 1 a 1 no primeiro jogo e uma vitória por 2 a 1 conquistada nos últimos minutos no CT Alvorada.

A conquista representou a solidificação de uma geração vencedora de Alvorada, que já havia conquistado o estadual, o Brasileiro e a Supercopa do Brasil da categoria no ano passado.

– Esse título representa muito, porque é sempre bom ser campeão e ainda mais em cima do rival dentro da nossa casa, isso só mostra que o grupo batalhou muito. Quando você veste a camisa do Internacional você está representando todos os torcedores Colorados e dentro de campo nós temos que dar a vida e sempre buscar a vitória, porque isso é Inter – disse Matheus Dias, autor do gol da vitória.

Promovido ao elenco profissional no início do ano, o volante tem se especializado em marcar gols decisivos. Além do tento do último sábado, foi dele o gol de empate na partida de ida e, em 2021, o camisa oito balançou as redes na grande decisão do Campeonato Brasileiro Sub-20, no empate em 1 a 1 contra o São Paulo, no Morumbi.

– Eu sempre tento aproveitar as chances que eu tenho e o gol é consequência, fico muito feliz por marcar em jogos decisivos e procuro estar sempre concentrado no que estou fazendo, independente do jogo que seja. Quando eu chutei, percebi que pegou na veia e já sabia que ela ia entrar, depois disso foi só emoção, porque por duas noites seguidas eu sonhei que ia fazer o gol na final e amigos meus também disseram que sonharam com isso, então eu sabia que tinha algo especial reservado pra mim – revelou.

Pela equipe profissional, o camisa oito atuou em apenas uma partida, no empate sem gols diante do São Luiz, pela terceira rodada do Campeonato Gaúcho. Nesta temporada pelo sub-20, foram 17 partidas e cinco gols marcados, sendo três deles em jogos de mata-mata.

A tendência é de que Matheus Dias siga treinando com o grupo principal e reforce o elenco sub-20 na disputa da Copa do Brasil da categoria, que deve começar ainda neste mês.

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أعلن الجهاز الفني للفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي الزمالك، بقيادة البلجيكي يانيك فيريرا عن التشكيل الذي سيخوض مباراة أورانج الودية اليوم.

ويلتقي الزمالك مع أورانج، وديًا على استاد الكلية الحربية، في إطار الاستعداد للموسم الجديد.

وتعد تلك المباراة بمثابة تجهيز للاعبين خلال فترة الإعداد، بناءًا على قرار المدرب الجديد البلجيكي يانيك فيريرا الذي يظهر مع الفريق لأول مرة في مباراة اليوم.

طالع أيضًا.. موعد مباراة الزمالك وأورانج الودية اليوم في الظهور الأول لـ يانيك فيريرا

وكان الزمالك أعلن تعيين مدرب جديد لقيادة الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بداية من الموسم المقبل، وهو البلجيكي يانيك فيريرا، وذلك بعد رحيل أيمن الرمادي.

يذكر، أن الزمالك أنهى الموسم الماضي 2024-2025 في المركز الثالث بجدول ترتيب الدوري المصري الممتاز، واستطاع أن يحصد بطولة كأس مصر. تشكيل الزمالك اليوم أمام أورانج 

حراسة المرمى: محمد عواد.

خط الدفاع: محمود حمدي الونش – صلاح مصدق – محمود بنتايج – عمر جابر.

خط الوسط: نبيل دونجا – عبد الله السعيد – مهاب ياسر.

خط الهجوم: حازم أسامة – أحمد الجفالي – سيف الجزيري.

Borussia Dortmund had to pay extra to sign Jobe Bellingham because of his brother Jude, joked ex-Germany midfielder Dietmar Hamann.

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• Jobe left Sunderland for Dortmund
• Jude played for Bundesliga giants
• Hamann hails 'great move'

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Ex-Liverpool star Hamann has claimed Dortmund may have overpaid in their efforts to sign Jobe due to the success of his brother and namesake Jude. The latter is now regarded as one of the very best players in the world following his move to Real Madrid, where he won a La Liga and Champions League double in his first season. Jobe has now also joined a European giant in Dortmund, where Jude also cut his teeth before relocating to Spain.

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  Jobe completed a €33m transfer to Germany earlier this month after helping Sunderland achieve promotion to the Premier League via the play-offs. He made his Dortmund debut on Tuesday during the goalless Club World Cup draw with Fluminense and Hamann has claimed the move looks good for all parties.

• WHAT HAMANN SAID

  Hamann told : "I don't think his surname did him any harm. It probably only hurt Borussia Dortmund because it would've led to a bigger transfer fee.

  "Jude was a bit younger when he joined and cost a bit less, we will just have to wait and see how it works out.

  "What I will say is that the Championship is a tough league. To make your mark there as a teenager you have to be very tough, that will do him well in the Bundesliga.

  "In terms of Dortmund, Jadon Sancho, Jamie Gittens, Jude, Erling Haaland and so many others have improved leaps and bounds at the club, it’s a great place for Jobe to develop.

  "They handle young players so well and I think it’s a great move all round. There is a hefty price tag and expectations and he will be compared to his brother even though play in slightly different positions – but the fans are very excited."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR THE BELLINGHAMS?

  Like Jobe, Jude is also in the United States for FIFA's newly-revamped tournament. Real Madrid get their campaign underway on Wednesday night when they take on Saudi Arabian outfit Al-Hilal, while Dortmund aren't in action again until Saturday when they face South African side Mamelodi Sundowns.

Mahmudullah remains in contention for the World Cup, according to BCB president Nazmul Hassan, even though he has not played an ODI since March. Hassan has suggested that the experienced middle-order batter will be among the group that plays in the ODI series against New Zealand later this month.Bangladesh have played 11 ODIs since Mahmudullah’s last appearance. At the time he was first left out, the selectors said he had been “rested”, but they continued to leave him out of subsequent squads, including the one for the ongoing Asia Cup.He averaged 43.8 in 13 innings in the 12 months leading up to his exclusion, but scored his runs at a strike rate of 70.75, well below his career figure of 76.17.Related

• Shakib wants World Cup-bound players to be rested for New Zealand ODIs

• Nazmul Hassan suggests there may still be room for Mahmudullah in World Cup squad

• Bangladesh rest Mahmudullah for Ireland ODIs

Towhid Hridoy is recognised as the batter who has effectively taken Mahmudullah’s place, although Bangladesh are still unsure over whom to play at No. 7. The presence of two allrounders in Shakib Al Hasan and Mehidy Hasan Miraz allows them to pick either an extra batter or an extra bowler, and they have gone back and forth between those two options. In their most recent Asia Cup game against Afghanistan, they promoted Mehidy to open – he scored a century before retiring hurt – and picked two frontline batters – Shamim Hossain and Afif Hossain – at Nos. 7 and 8.In May, Hassan had said Mahmudullah remained in Bangladesh’s plans, but the selectors have continued to ignore him so far.”I think he is [in the selectors’ thoughts],” Hassan said on Monday. “I don’t see why not. Our players are injury-prone like [Najmul Hossain] Shanto and Miraz yesterday. Mustafizur [Rahman] suffered in the first game. We need continuous replacements. We won’t be able to cover the World Cup with eleven players. There’s no need to take the standby players lightly.”Hassan said Bangladesh have had to veer from their initial plan of naming the same squads for the Asia Cup and World Cup due to injuries. “The Asia Cup squad was supposed to be the World Cup squad,” he said. “But we have had to make several changes. Ebadot [Hossain] would have been in the squad if he was fit. Tamim [Iqbal] and Litton [Das] would have also been in the squad.”Hassan said Bangladesh would announce their World Cup squad after the New Zealand series, which ends on September 26. September 5 is the deadline for teams to name their squads, but they have some leeway to make changes thereafter.”We have to give them [the ICC] a squad for logistical reasons,” Hassan said. “I think the main squad has to be submitted on September 27. You will all know after we see them in the New Zealand series. I think those who are in Dhaka will get to play against New Zealand.”We haven’t been able to implement our plan. Tamim Iqbal and Litton Das were supposed to open in the Asia Cup but they are not in the team. I don’t know if they have been declared fit. We can’t make a team without them, can we? You have to understand our challenges. We have 17 players in the Asia Cup squad.”The six in Dhaka are also capable players. Tamim and Litton will enter the fray, which makes it 25 players. We have to leave out ten players. Who to leave out? It won’t be easy. Can we leave out those who are performing? We don’t have to leave out anyone now.”

Chelsea are ready to splash the cash once again and land Dortmund winger Jamie Gittens despite interest from Bayern Munich.

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Chelsea close to signing GittensBayern also interestedSeven-year contract on offer at Stamford BridgeFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The Blues are hoping to reach an agreement quickly with Borussia Dortmund for English winger Gittens, according to The Athletic. Chelsea missed out on signing Gittens in time for the Club World Cup but talks have continued and Enzo Maresca's side have a seven-year contract ready and waiting at Stamford Bridge.

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Bayern Munich have also been linked with Gittens but the former Manchester City player is said to favour a move to the Premier League and is "fully committed" to joining Enzo Maresca's side. The fact that both Chelsea and Dortmund are currently in the United States for the Club World Cup is said to have helped negotiations proceed.

DID YOU KNOW?

Gittens bagged 12 goals and three assists last season in all competitions for Dortmund. He has previously spent time at Chelsea and Manchester City as a youth before joining the German side in 2020.

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR GITTENS?

Gittens remains with the Dortmund squad ahead of their final group game at the Club World Cup against Ulsan on Wednesday, but his days at the Bundesliga side appear to be numbered.

Chelsea are approaching the all-important run-in, with nine Premier League games left to play for Enzo Maresca’s side, as they look to regain their top form when it matters most and secure UEFA Champions League football. This would be the Blues’ first time back in the competition after missing out the last two years.

This will also be mixed in with their UEFA Conference League run, currently in the quarter-finals of that competition, set to face Legia Warszawa in a two-legged tie on April 10th and April 17th.

18 days since their last game, Chelsea will take on Tottenham at Stamford Bridge on Thursday, starting their bid for that top four spot, as they currently sit 4th on 49 points, just one point ahead of Manchester City in 5th. But this run-in isn’t just important for the club itself, as one player in particular will be playing for his future at the club.

Jadon Sancho's last chance

Some breaking news over the international break was around Chelsea’s Jadon Sancho loan deal, a move they made in the summer to acquire the English winger from Manchester United on a loan with an obligation to buy.

However, it has been revealed this week that the 25-year-old forward could be sent back to Manchester United if Chelsea decide to pay a £5m compensation fee, in order to get out of their obligation to buy for around £25m.

Therefore, this final stretch in an attempt to qualify for Champions League football will be even more important, as Sancho’s form in that time could determine whether he is at the club next season or not. The Blues could be regretting one of their summer sales, who has played a mixture of roles on the left-hand side this season, finding some fine form over in France.

Chelsea's superb regret

Chelsea made plenty of sales in the summer, one of which saw Diego Moreira move to sister club Strasbourg, for a fee of around £1.7m, as Maresca ditched him from the squad.

The 20-year-old has made 28 appearances for the French outfit this season, scoring once, providing six assists and totaling 2,221 minutes played.

The Portuguese left-sided player has been used in a multitude of positions by manager Liam Rosenior, starting as a left-back 11 times, as a left-midfielder/left-winger 11 times, and even through the middle twice and on the right twice, showing his versatility.

When looking at Moreira’s underlying metrics, and comparing him to both Chelsea’s left-back, Marc Cucurella, and left-winger, Sancho, you can see the creativity he could offer from both areas, whilst also fitting the man-to-man pressing scheme, making tackles and interceptions, whilst also having the most ball recoveries among the trio.

Jacek Kulig has praised the amazing form of Moreira playing for Strasbourg this season, labeling the youngster as “superb”. The 20-year-old star could have been an excellent depth piece for the Blues, being able to play as an overlapping fullback in the absence of Cucurella, whilst also being a natural winger through the youth ranks, making him an option to replace Sancho on the left, who has been out of form for some time now.

On the bright side, Moreira has developed nicely being a part of this young and expansive Strasbourg project, growing as a player. Chelsea are said to have a buy-back clause which was inserted into the deal when he was sold in the summer, so one day he could return to play a role for the Blues.

As it stands, though, Maresca messed up by brutally ditching him from Stamford Bridge last year because he could have been the Italian’s own hybrid of Cucurella and Sancho’s best qualities down the left flank.

Crushing 81-run defeat all but ends visitors’ play-off hopes as Originals cement berth

ECB Reporters Network20-Aug-2023

Manchester Originals 164 for 6 (Buttler 75) beat Northern Superchargers 83 (Harrison 5-11) by 81 runsCalvin Harrison took five wickets for 11 runs as the Manchester Originals bolstered their attempt to reach the knockout stages of the Men’s Hundred with a 81-run annihilation of the Northern Superchargers at Emirates Old Trafford.Needing 165 to exact some revenge for last week’s defeat at Headingley, the Superchargers’ batsmen had a dreadful day and were dismissed for 83, a performance in sharp contrast to that of the Originals, for whom Jos Buttler made a 47-ball 75 in their 164 for six.If London Spirit beat Welsh Fire this evening, the Leeds-based side are eliminated from this year’s competition but their chances are gossamer-thin in any case.After a relatively sedate start – only 29 runs coming from the first 20 balls – Buttler took 14 off Brydon Carse’s first set of five and the opening pair had taken their stand to 72 off 41 balls before Salt, who had been dropped by Wayne Parnell on 18, was caught at long-off by David Wiese off Adil Rashid for 28.Five balls later Wiese took a second catch when Laurie Evans slapped Callum Parkinson down the ground and departed for just seven but that was the signal for Buttler and Paul Walter to launch a selective onslaught on the Superchargers bowling.Both batters hit sixes off Matt Short’s second set and the Originals were well placed for further mayhem on 128 for two after 75 balls. That was initially prevented when Walter was stumped by Tom Banton off Rashid for 28, thus ending his 48-run stand for the third wicket with Buttler.The Originals’ skipper reached his fifty off 35 balls but having made 75 with six fours and three sixes, Buttler was eventually caught at deep midwicket by Harry Brook off Rashid, who almost immediately collected his fourth wicket when Jamie Overton was caught by Carse at long-off for two.The home side’s hundred balls ended with what seemed an eminently defendable total on the board given the turning pitch. Rashid finished with four for 18 from his 20 balls.The Superchargers’ pursuit began poorly when Adam Lyth, having made just one, drove Overton’s seventh ball of the innings straight to Paul Walter at mid-off.Tom Hartley then struck with his second ball when Tom Banton reverse-swept him to point, where Harrison took a superb two-handed catch above his head. Adam Hose was then caught down the leg side by Buttler off Josh Tongue for a six-ball 15 and the visitors’ problems deepened when Matt Short was stumped off Harrison for 11.Harry Brook was joined by his skipper Parnell with the score on 37 for four but things got worse when the Superchargers’ last specialist batsman, Harry Brook was bowled for two by a superb ball from Hartley which pitched on middle and leg and hit middle and off.Parnell was caught at backward point by Zaman off Harrison for 11 and the same bowler accounted for Wiese, Carse and Parkinson in the space of nine balls to finish with five for 11 from his 20 balls.