Newcastle United are not yet close to signing Monaco centre-back Axel Disasi in the summer transfer window, according to an update from journalist Dean Jones.

Do Newcastle want to sign Axel Disasi?

The Frenchman has emerged as what looks like a primary target for the Magpies this summer, having become such an influential performer for Monaco over an extended period of time.

Eddie Howe will want to boost his defensive options ahead of what could be a busy 2023/24 season, especially with Champions League football returning to St James' Park in 2023/24, ramping up the intensity of matches in the process.

Disasi started 37 out of a possible 38 Ligue 1 matches for Monaco last season, outlining both his consistency and availability for his side, and it saw his reputation as a top-level central defender further increase, having joined his current club from Reims back in 2020.

The 25-year-old has also forced his way into the France setup at international level, winning four caps to date and appearing three times at the 2022 World Cup, starting one match for his country in the tournament.

What's the latest on Axel Disasi to Newcastle?

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Jones claimed that Disasi's potential move to Newcastle isn't as far along as some may think currently, though, with work still to do to get a deal over the line:

"I feel like this deal has got a little bit ahead of itself at the moment. Newcastle deny that anything formal is happening here with Disasi.

"At the moment, I'm told that Newcastle haven’t progressed this deal as far as it’s been reported. But there is an interest, so that part is true."

It feels like there are fresh updates regarding Disasi's future all the time, but this does suggest that there is still plenty of work to do, in order to get a deal over the line this summer.

It would still be something of a surprise if the Monaco man didn't come in at St James' before the Premier League season kicks off next month, given the level of interest in him, but it is also obvious that it may not be plain sailing in the next few weeks.

Should Disasi suddenly not join Newcastle, it is essential that a strong alternative is lined up, with failure to improve the defence something that could be fatal to their top-four hopes and chances of doing well in the Champions League.

While the Magpies excelled at the back last season, only conceding 33 goals in 38 league matches, Fabian Schar is now in his 30s and should arguably become more of a squad player, while more depth is so important, allowing Howe to rotate effectively across four competitions throughout the campaign.

Disasi should remain the No.1 centre-back target for Newcastle, though, being hailed as a "complete & dominant" player by football talent scout Jacek Kulig recently, and holding his own in a France squad that reached the World Cup final in December – a game in which he featured briefly in during extra-time against Argentina, prior to their penalty shootout defeat.

With Andre Onana now in the door at Manchester United, the Red Devils must now focus their attention on finally securing a much-needed centre-forward recruit ahead of next season, having been left with Anthony Martial as their only senior option in that striking berth.

With personal terms having been agreed with Atalanta's, Rasmus Hojlund, it looks as if that search for a new number nine could soon be coming to an end, albeit with that not likely to necessarily mean the end of the attacking additions at Old Trafford this summer.

According to Manchester Evening News, manager Erik ten Hag would also ideally like to recruit a second forward who can play in a variety of attacking roles, with the likes of Anthony Elanga and Facundo Pellistri potentially set to be on their way.

Amid that desire to find further attacking reinforcements, one name that has been mentioned of late is Atletico Madrid sensation, Joao Felix…

Will Man United sign Joao Felix?

Reports in Spain earlier this month named United as one of the clubs who have seemingly made contact regarding a potential move for the 23-year-old, with the Portugal international – who spent the second half of the season on loan at Chelsea – said to be 'seduced' by the prospect of returning to the Premier League.

The belief is that the former Benfica man – who has been valued at around €140m (£120m) – could be allowed to leave the Spanish capital on another temporary deal this summer, thus handing the Red Devils – and others – the potential chance to pounce.

Who is Joao Felix comparable to?

On the face of it, the signing of the 5 foot 11 ace – who was raking in a reported wage of around £195k-per-week while with the Blues – could prove to be an astute move, with the young superstar having shown his class after chipping in with 52 goal involvements in just 131 games during his time with Atleti, after previously registering 20 goals and 11 assists in 43 outings for his previous employers.

That being said, however, those at United may be concerned by the fact that the playmaker – who was branded a defensive "liability" last season by The Byline's Alex Goldberg – is said to share a number of stylistic and statistical similarities with former Old Trafford flop, Alexis Sanchez, according to FBref, with the pair both players who can operate all across the forward line.

That likeness between the two men is notably indicated by their creative prowess, with Sanchez – who recently spent the 2022/23 campaign at Marseille – ranking in the top 6% among his European peers for progressive passes, while Felix ranks in the top 5% for that same metric.

Equally, that ability to make the difference in the final third is also shown by the fact that the latter man ranks in the top 8% with regard to shot-creating actions, while Sanchez ranks in the top 9% in that regard.

Despite those shared positive attributes, however, the Red Devils are likely to be scarred by the dismal nature of the Chilean's time at the Theatre of Dreams, as he scored just five goals in 45 games after signing in January 2018, despite having previously scored 80 goals in 166 games for former club, Arsenal.

On a reported wage of more than £400k-per-week at the time, the one-time Barcelona ace never truly managed to settle in Manchester, lasting just 18 months before being shipped out on loan to Inter Milan.

Branded a "disgrace" by former United man, Paul Ince for his limp displays for the club, the mercurial talent proved ultimately to be a waste of money for those at Old Trafford, with the aim not to make the same mistake again with the signing of Felix.

As the club found out with the case of Sanchez – and others – opting to pursue glamorous, big name additions isn't always the wisest approach…

England’s players open up on the “turbulent” circumstances that saw Charlotte Edwards retire after being removed from the captaincy in 2016

ESPNcricinfo staff24-Jul-2017England’s players have discussed, for the first time, the “turbulent” circumstances that saw Charlotte Edwards retire after being removed from the captaincy in 2016.Mark Robinson, England women’s head coach, made the decision to shake things up after the team’s failure at the 2016 World T20, telling Edwards – still a world-class batsman and a pioneer of the game – she would not be part of his plans. Heather Knight was subsequently appointed as captain and went on to lead England to victory in the Women’s World Cup final on Sunday.Speaking before the final against India, Robinson said he believed he had made the right decision and that the team “had to go in a different direction”, having come to the conclusion that his players didn’t have enough belief.”I just knew it was right,” Robinson said. “When it’s that simple in your mind – and it wasn’t against Charlotte because Charlotte was still a very good player, but the team had to go in a different direction and we had to put things differently in place and it was something like 18 months before the next competition, this one. It was too long to wait and get through to before you start making changes.”During interviews to chart the team’s progress from the defeat in the semi-finals of the World T20 last year to their success at Lord’s, Jenny Gunn, the experienced allrounder who had been Edwards’ team-mate for more than a decade, said the decision to move on had come as a “bit of a shock”.Fran Wilson, one of the younger players who has enjoyed increased opportunities over the last 12 months, expressed similar feelings but felt Robinson’s call had been vindicated.”It was quite a turbulent time because Charlotte’s always been a part of the England team, as long as I can remember,” Wilson said. “So when it first all happened it was quite a big shock and probably affected the girls a little bit. But, I think in the long-run, what Mark Robinson has done has been really good for the team. That’s just testament to Robbo and the kind of faith he’s shown in all of us.”The change of leadership had immediate benefits, as England’s new opening pair of Tammy Beaumont and Lauren Winfield flourished during a run-soaked series win over Pakistan last year. Beaumont, in particular, has thrived under the guidance of Robinson, and was named Player of the Tournament after finishing as the top scorer in the Women’s World Cup.Beaumont won her first cap under Edwards, in 2009, and they opened together on several occasions. She gave credit to Edwards for laying the foundations for England’s future success.”It was a tough month or so,” Beaumont said. “Charlotte has been probably quite a big influence on the first half of my career. She’s also a good friend. It was hard to see her go through that but she’s moved on into the commentary box with dignity. She can look back at her career knowing that she did a great job for England and left us in a good place.”

Arsenal, despite their heavy spending already this summer, continue to be linked with a host of options who would bolster Mikel Arteta’s squad further.

Is Gabri Veiga joining Arsenal?

With Declan Rice, Jurrien Timber and Kai Havertz having all put pen to paper on long-term deals at the Emirates, the youth-focused revolution continues to overwhelm the red half of north London.

Now boasting the outright youngest-average age in the Premier League following the relegation of Southampton, these summer additions have only boosted their quality without straying from that philosophy.

One such report from earlier this month suggests that this trend could continue, as Gabri Veiga is a name that would more than fit that mould.

His €40m (£34m) price tag might prove an obstacle for most but with the Gunners’ spending having already surpassed £200m for this window, perhaps one final addition could put the finishing touches on a squad ready to truly topple Manchester City’s monopoly.

What type of midfielder is Gabri Veiga?

Having featured mainly as a central midfielder, his emergence as one of Celta Vigo’s key men led to the system shifting around the 21-year-old.

Pushed into a more influential number ten role, last season in La Liga the young Spaniard boasted 11 goals and four assists, with his 6.96 average rating, as per Sofascore, making him comfortably his club’s second-best performer behind the experienced Iago Aspas.

Such a busy, tireless yet classy orchestrator hailing from the same country as a former fan favourite of Arsenal’s makes it hard not to immediately draw comparisons with Santi Cazorla.

The 38-year-old spent six fine years in north London, as a technically superior wizard capable of conjuring up truly special moments. He prevailed in a league famed for its physicality, despite standing at just 5 foot 6.

Moving to England from Villarreal, in securing a swoop for Veiga, Arteta would be emulating this former success that led to many years of phenomenal viewing. After all, the diminutive trickster did feature 180 times for the Gunners, scoring 29 times and assisting a further 45.

To further draw comparisons between Cazorla and this young midfielder, the words of Arsene Wenger help to emphasise their similarities.

Back in 2014, he would note: “When you play in your opponents’ half, in the final third, he [Cazorla] is one of the players who can create something special, either through his passing or through his finishing. He is two-footed, and that makes him very dangerous.”

Funnily enough, journalist Euan McTear also branded Veiga “dangerous” earlier this year, as if to mimic the words of the legendary French manager.

FBref pushes this notion one step further, as when compared to other midfielders across Europe, the Spain U21 star ranks in the top 2% for total shots per 90, the top 12% for successful take-ons per 90, and the top 11% for touches in the attacking penalty area per 90.

He too can ghost in between the lines, picking up space and the ball to be the decisive operator in the final third.

The Celta Vigo star is a versatile workhorse willing to give his all for the cause, yet possesses that touch of class to set him apart.

In buying directly from the Spanish top-flight once again, and given the clear similarities in play style, this is a move certainly worth making no matter the risk. The potential reward of a new Cazorla is too great.

Luke Fletcher feels “lucky to be here” after sustaining a ferocious blow to the head during Saturday’s T20 Blast match at Edgbaston.Fletcher, the Nottinghamshire seamer, sustained the injury when his first ball of the match was struck back at him by Birmingham batsman, Sam Hain and hit him on top of the head.While Fletcher didn’t lose consciousness, subsequent scans showed bruising and a small bleed on the brain with a decision taken to rest him for the remainder of the season. He will have a further MRI scan in the coming days to assess his recovery and currently sports a cut held together by eight stitches under the hairline.But while he is naturally disappointed to miss the rest of the season – Nottinghamshire are well-placed to push for promotion and are among the favourites in the Blast – and frustrated at being told he must not drive a car, he accepts his is a story that could have had a far more serious ending.Indeed, he has warned that something similar “will happen again” and said that, at Notts, the bowlers no longer take-part in net sessions with batsmen to avoid such injuries.”I’m really lucky to be here now and speaking to you today,” he said. “The doctors said I pretty much dodged a bullet. A few inches to the left or right and it could have been a completely different story. If it had hit the temple or straight in the face then…. I don’t really want to think about what may have happened.”In a weird way, I suppose I’ve been lucky. It’s hit me on a part of the brain or skull that the surgeon said you don’t use much.”He remembers every moment of the incident. And, having not seen the ball hit back at him – his head was down as he completed his delivery stride – or felt much pain, it was only when he saw the reaction of his teammates and then saw footage of the moment of impact that he started to realise how serious the episode was.”I remember letting go of the ball and I could see that Hain backed away,” he said. “The next thing I remember being hit on the head and thinking ‘I may be in a bit of bother here.’ I didn’t see the ball one bit. I just felt it.”When it hit me I went down and was waiting to go unconscious. When I realised I was all right, I had my hand on my head and the physio, James Pipe was asking ‘How are you?'”I said ‘I don’t feel too bad to be honest.’ And then I lifted my hand off my head. Steven Mullaney ran off – and a few other lads ran off – because of the bleeding. But I got to my feet pretty quickly and never really felt unstable at all and walked off. Which is absolutely amazing having watched it back. You’d probably expect a bit more, really. Having such a big ‘swede’ probably helped me out a bit.”In a weird way, I quite enjoyed watching it back. I quite like stuff like that. As long as I knew I was all right, it was quite good. It was just amazing how far the ball went. I couldn’t believe it. The first time I saw it, I was a bit like ‘off’ and that’s when I realised why everyone was so concerned.”The concern of Fletcher’s teammates was understandable. Not only is he a popular member of their squad, but it is only just over a year since the club was jolted by news of James Taylor’s illness.”Having spoken to a few of my mates – Mullaney and Jake Ball – that’s what was going through their minds,” he said. “And then there was Phil Hughes as well….”But once the lads came off the field and saw I was fine, they got on with the game. James Pipe has been unbelievable throughout; he stayed by my side for the next 48 hours, really. He’s been amazing.”Fletcher is guided from the field at Edgbaston•Getty Images

It doesn’t take long to understand Fletcher’s popularity. He has a good line in self-deprecating wit – “I don’t know how the ball is,” he says at one stage. “Someone had better check up on it; the lads said it was reversing a bit later” and, later “My mum and dad were a bit annoyed as they had paid £30 and they only saw me bowl one ball” – and knows many of his team-mates well having come through the club’s system from his teenage years.He didn’t have things easy, either. When he was initially offered a place on the staff as a 16-year-old, he was obliged to turn it down as it didn’t pay as much as the job he was currently in – he was a grill man at Hooters – so the club arranged for him to have a stint on the gates letting lorries come in and out as the Radcliffe Road Stand was redeveloped. “It was freezing,” he recalls with a smile. “It was much better in the kitchen.”But he has developed into a fine cricketer. While not an especially fast bowler – probably somewhere around 80 mph – he can move the ball in the air and off the pitch, is considered one of the best death bowlers in the county game and was recently run-out just eight short of a maiden first-class century. He is out of contract at the end of the season but the club will look after him: a new contract will be announced shortly.The worrying aspect of this incident is that it could easily have ended much worse. Indeed, Fletcher warns that in training, bowlers are already reluctant to bowl at batsmen practising their T20 skills.”I think it’ll happen again,” he said. “Most bowlers – certainly at Notts – in the nets tend to go away and do target practice on the side in one-day and T20, just because balls are coming back at a speed you can’t react to. You get hit all over your body. I certainly think the chances are it will happen again.”I’m sure after this people will come up with some sort of theories and some sort of technologies or protective equipment. You can’t be running in with a helmet, can you? But maybe something to protect your head?”I’ll certainly bowl again. I’d bowl now if I could.”There are huge questions here for the game. While some level of risk may be considered unavoidable, incidents such as this – coming on top of the incident that caused such devastating damage to club cricketer Alex Tait a few months ago – might be considered warnings. With bats better, batsmen seemingly more powerful and the aggression of the game having undergone a transformation since the introduction of T20, it seems inevitable that, sooner or later, we’re going to see a bowler killed by a return hit. The game, or at least the look of the game, might have to change radically to counteract such a threat.

حقق الفريق الأول للكرة الطائرة بالنادي الأهلي “رجال” الفوز على نظيره الفتح المغربي 0/3، في المباراة التي أقيمت بينهما مساء اليوم الإثنين.

والتقى الأهلي مع الفتح المغربي، ضمن منافسات المجموعة الأولى من البطولة الإفريقية للأندية المقامة بالأهلي من 12 إلى 24 أبريل الجاري.

وأقيمت المباراة على صالة الأمير عبد الله الفيصل بمقر النادي بالجزيرة.

ويستضيف نادي الأهلي منافسات البطولة الإفريقية على صالتي الأمير عبد الله الفيصل والشهداء بمقر الجزيرة، خلال الفترة من 12 إلى 24 أبريل الجاري.

طالع | خالد العوضي: مجلس الأهلي لا يبخل بأي شيء.. وجاهزون للتتويج بالسوبر أمام الزمالك

وجاءت نتائج الأشواط على النحو التالي:

في الشوط الأول انتصر رجال الأهلي بنتيجة 25-19، ثم واصل الفريق أداءه القوي ليحصد الشوط الثاني بنتيجة 25-19، ثم أنهى الفريق المباراة بعد الفوز في الشوط الثالث بنتيجة 25-17، ليحقق المارد الأحمر الفوز الثاني له في البطولة الإفريقية.

وكان فريق رجال طائرة الأهلي قد فاز على جرين تيم الكونغولي في أولى مبارياته في البطولة بنتيجة 3-0.

Everton are believed to have made contact with Villarreal winger Arnaut Danjuma over a summer move to the club, according to a fresh transfer claim.

What is the latest Arnaut Danjuma transfer news?

The 26-year-old, who earned £45,000 per week while on loan last year, is someone whose future could be up in the air during the current transfer window.

During his time at Spurs, Danjuma scored once in nine Premier League appearances and also netted twice in La Liga prior to joining on a temporary basis back in January. While the Dutchman's current deal doesn't expire until the summer of 2026, it could be that Villarreal are willing to move him on this summer if they fail to see a long-term future for him at the club.

Everton have been linked with a move for the winger as they look to bolster their attacking options ahead of the 2023/24 season – Spurs pipped them to his signature back in the January window – and a new update has now emerged regarding their pursuit of him.

Could Everton sign Arnaut Danjuma?

According to Football Insider, the Blues have contacted Danjuma over a summer switch to Goodison Park, with a loan move again mooted:

"Everton have made contact with Villarreal about signing winger Arnaut Danjuma this summer.

"Everton are hoping to sign two forwards before the end of the summer transfer window."

This is an exciting update from an Everton perspective, with wide attacking options badly needed this summer in order to provide Sean Dyche with more firepower in the final third.

The Blues scored just 34 goals in 38 Premier League matches in 2022/23, outlining how important it is for new signings to come and boost that area of the pitch as the club look to avoid a third straight relegation battle.

In Danjuma, Everton would be signing someone with experience in two of Europe's top five leagues, with the Dutchman scoring 12 goals in 33 appearances in La Liga, not to mention bagging two strikes in six caps for a talented Netherlands team that features the likes of Virgil van Dijk, Frenkie de Jong and Cody Gakpo, to name just a few of their top players.

At 26, the Villarreal ace would also be coming in at a good point in his career, having gained enough experience to be a well-rounded footballer. Indeed, pundit Kevin Phillips has described him as a "nightmare for defenders", highlighting the attacking threat that he possesses – but also that he still potentially has four or five years left in his prime.

Whether he will be keen to join a side that has battled at the wrong end of the Premier League table in recent times remains to be seen, though the fact that he was previously close to signing could suggest this may not be a problem.

In that case, it may simply come down to Dyche convincing Danjuma that this is the right project for him to spearhead following the Toffees' dramatic final-day survival last term.

Samit Patel produced his second double-century in consecutive matches before James Pattinson ripped through Leicestershire’s batting with an explosive burst of genuinely fast bowling

ECB Reporters Network20-Jun-2017
ScorecardSamit Patel produced his second double-century in consecutive matches before James Pattinson ripped through Leicestershire’s batting with an explosive burst of genuinely fast bowling to put Nottinghamshire into a strong position at the halfway stage of their Specsavers County Championship match at Trent Bridge.The 32-year old Patel, who scored an unbeaten career-best 257 against Gloucestershire at Bristol last week, almost matched that effort before falling for 247 soon after lunch.Patel batted for over seven hours and faced 305 balls, hitting 29 fours and two sixes as he became the first Nottinghamshire player to score 200 in successive matches.Once Patel had been dismissed, Stuart Broad threw the bat to good effect and raced to 50 not out, at which point Chris Read declared the innings closed on 548 for 9. Dieter Klein returned the most successful figures for the Foxes, taking 6 for 142 from 31 overs.Leicestershire had no real answer to the pace of Pattinson, who returned figures of 5 for 33, and were dismissed for 134 in 49.5 overs, a deficit of 414. Read then enforced the follow-on with four overs remaining but bad light prevented the players from returning.The Leicestershire innings was plunged into early disarray with Pattinson removing both Harry Dearden and Mark Cosgrove in a slippery opening burst. Re-introduced after tea, he then had Mark Pettini caught at third slip before demolishing the stumps of Lewis Hill and Gavin Griffiths, each with searing yorkers.Luke Fletcher claimed the scalp of Colin Ackermann and then Jake Ball got in the act by dismissing both Ned Eckersley and the stubborn Paul Horton, who made 31.Steven Mullaney also chipped in with two wickets, including that of Ben Raine, who batted with a runner after incurring a side strain on the opening day.Earlier, Riki Wessels, after a fifth-wicket partnership of 113 with Patel, departed for 30 after nicking the left-arm quick to Paul Horton at first slip and then Read, playing his 300th first-class match, made just 7 before nicking behind. Maximum points already secured, Notts pushed on with Pattinson playing some delightful shots on his way to 33 before being caught sweeping the offspin of Ackermann.Fletcher was caught behind from his first ball, giving Klein his sixth victim. Broad, aware that a declaration was imminent, hit four fours and three sixes to reach his third 50 of the summer and prompt the declaration.

Everton wouldn't have 'wanted' to part ways with Ellis Simms this summer if they didn't 'need the money' at Goodison Park, according to journalist Paul Brown.

Why did Everton sell Ellis Simms?

As per The Sun, Everton sold Simms to Coventry City for an initial fee of £3.5 million that could rise to £5 million with add-ons depending on appearances and goals, while that figure could move to £8 million in the event the Sky Blues achieve promotion to the Premier League.

On Coventry City's official website, Simms spoke out about his move and how his new boss Mark Robins made it come about, stating: “The conversation I had with the manager. He showed great belief in me and the Club as a whole are on the way up and it seems like it will be a big season or us. He has done his research on me, and he likes the way I play, he thinks I will be a good addition to the team.

In his time at Everton, the 22-year-old amassed just 12 appearances at senior level, scoring once against Chelsea and also embarked on loan spells at Blackpool, Sunderland and Scottish Premiership side Heart of Midlothian, as per Transfermarkt.

Everton need to recoup financial gain due to being in special measures with the Premier League authorities due to posting losses exceeding £370 million over the last three years, as per The Daily Mail.

Football Insider detail that the Toffees will operate a sell-to-buy policy at Goodison Park and will need to offload valuable assets in order to strengthen their squad.

Free agents and loan deals will likely supplement Dyche's squad as Everton aim to 'drastically cut costs' over the coming months.

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Brown has intimated that he thinks Everton would've liked to see Simms stay on at the club in an 'ideal' scenario.

Brown told FFC: "I'm a bit worried about what Everton's squad will look like come the start of the season. I don't think in an ideal world they would have wanted to sell Ellis Simms. You can argue all you like about whether the fee they got for him was enough. I think it really was between £6-8 million. In this market, considering that Everton really need the money, it's probably not bad business for a guy that you've brought through, but I think ideally, Everton would not have wanted to sell Ellis Simms if they'd been a bit more financially secure, so it's a little disappointing from that perspective that he's had to go."

Who could Everton look to bring in this summer?

Working on a smaller budget than in previous years, Everton boss Dyche may need to identify some bargain buys this window as he looks to ensure the Toffees avoid another relegation battle in 2023/24.

Experienced free agent Ashley Young looks primed to be his first signing since taking over at Goodison Park and will undergo a medical 'with a view' to joining the club following his release from Aston Villa, as per The Guardian.

BBC Sport report that Young had held talks with Luton Town and also had interest from Saudi Arabia before deciding to head to Merseyside.

Sport Italia via The Sun claim that Leeds United star Wilfried Gnonto is 'very close' to completing a move to Everton in a move that would cost around £19 million; nevertheless, we will see what transpires in the next few weeks amid the Toffees' financial restrictions.

CA and the Australian Cricketers’ Association are inching towards a compromise, with discussions of a new hybrid model

Daniel Brettig25-Jul-20173:46

What exactly is the Cricket Australia-ACA pay dispute?

Compromise between Australian cricket’s warring parties appears closer than ever as the previously divergent positions of Cricket Australia and the Australian Cricketers’ Association shift towards long overdue middle ground.For virtually the first time in a pay war now more than nine months old, CA has appeared to consent to a model of revenue sharing that has been adjusted to allow more of the game’s financial upside to flow into areas such as grassroots cricket, while still affording a significant proportion of money above projections to all players.CA’s chief executive James Sutherland, his ACA counterpart Alistair Nicholson and their negotiating teams were believed to be meeting in Melbourne on Tuesday afternoon to discuss the board’s most recent submission of MoU articles that factor in the new, hybrid model. The players had previously consented to discussions based on “modernised” revenue sharing that would commit up to A$30 million of player payment pool money to the game’s lower levels.While negotiations appeared to hit a major snag last week when CA sent the ACA an updated Article 5 of a proposed MoU that deleted all references to revenue sharing, further discussions and correspondence between Sutherland and Nicholson have proven more fruitful.Talks between the parties now appear to be as much about the optics of the deal – CA being able to claim a break from the fixed revenue percentage model that has existed over the past two decades and the ACA being able to say it has been retained – as its detail. One industry figure noted that the emergence of issues over the wording of clauses suggested that agreement “must be close to happening”.After the ACA distributed details of its “peace plan” based on recent discussions to all contracted players over the weekend, the newspaper has published an outline of CA’s possible compromise. “Under the terms of CA’s ­revised offer,” the report said, “men and women players would draw their salaries and bonuses from an agreed total player payment pool equating to a percentage of forecast revenue. Above forecast revenue would be distributed according to a complex, sliding scale ­between the players, community cricket infrastructure and other spending priorities.”Both the Australian Cricketers’ Association and Cricket Australia have shifted from fixed positions•Getty Images

The same newspaper had previously published CA’s complaints about this year’s adjustment ledger payment of more than A$58 million going to the male players covered under the previous MoU but not the female players who were paid directly by CA during that time. It then published a column and front-page pointer story by the CA chairman David Peever in which he denied being “anti-union” during his days at the mining company Rio Tinto. CA’s head of communications, government relations and infrastructure is Mark O’Neill, a former Rio Tinto executive who has also worked in federal politics.The ACA’s proposed terms, meanwhile, were close to those reportedly offered up by CA. According to an ACA statement on Sunday: “Players conceded to accept CA’s lower end revenue scenarios as the basis for the allocation to Australian Cricket Revenue (ACR) given market and contract uncertainty; Players accepting an agreed percentage of the ACR forecast. (Note this percentage is of ACR and not Total Cricket Revenue (TCR) and it is not an increase in share on the last MOU but does factor in the inclusion of all female players).”Revenue sharing is modified so that the players allocate up to $30 million via a new Players Grassroots Investment Fund (PGIF) from their share of over forecast revenue and performance bonuses. Thus reducing the share of revenue players would otherwise earn.”While numerous areas remain up for debate, namely what the percentage due to players – previously 24.5-27% of ACR – should be and what should be excluded and included in the ACR definition, the earlier state of impasse has at least been broken down. CA had initially proposed fixed wages for all players, augmented by a capped bonus system for international male and female players, with minimal increases for domestic male players in particular.By contrast the ACA proposed a fixed percentage of 22.5% of agreed cricket revenue for all players, a further 22.5% for grassroots investment and the remaining 55% to remain with CA for other areas of the game. A week before the previous MoU’s expiry on June 30, CA revised its offer to include all players in the capped bonus system and also to raise the wages on offer to domestic male players, without specifying by how much.One of the ACA’s longtime complaints was that it had not been provided with sufficient financial records by which to judge CA’s offers, which the players claimed to include payroll tax, prize money and the assumption that all players would draw match fees by playing in all possible fixtures. Another point of contention was the inclusion of overseas Big Bash League players – who typically draw the most lucrative contracts from each team’s salary cap – in the “average” wage to be offered to domestic males.About three weeks remain for an agreement to be struck between CA and the ACA to avoid numerous forms of dislocation to the game, from the cancellation of the looming Bangladesh Test tour to the floundering of various commercial deals for the summer with sponsors, broadcasters and advertisers on those broadcasts.The dispute has already resulted in the cancellation of an Australia A tour to South Africa earlier this month, while more than 230 players have been left out of contract, and therefore unemployed, since the expiry of the previous MoU on July 1. All players have continued to train without pay over that period. Members of Australia’s Test squad for Bangladesh met in Sydney on Monday and stated their support from compromise, while also reiterating their commitment to refuse going on the tour unless an agreement is reached beforehand.Both CA and the ACA declined to comment.