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The return of the regular Monday column in which Steven Lynch answers your questions about (almost) any aspect of cricket

Steven Lynch18-Sep-2006The regular Monday column in which Steven Lynch answers your questions about (almost) any aspect of cricket:

I recall that in my boyhood there was great excitement one year at the prospect of Geoffrey Boycott finishing the season with an average of more than 100. I haven’t seen any similar comment about Mark Ramprakash’s current efforts. Have season averages greater than 100 become commonplace? asked Stephen Sheen
They’re certainly not commonplace: since Geoff Boycott averaged 102.53 in 1979 (he also managed 100.12 in 1971), the only two men to average over 100 in a whole English season (given a minimum of eight competed innings) are Graham Gooch, with 101.70 in 1990, and Damien Martyn, who averaged 104.66 from nine matches on Australia’s 2001 tour of England. At the time of writing Mark Ramprakash is averaging 103.54, with a possible two innings to come at Derby later this week. Ramprakash has a fairly modest record against Derbyshire: he averages 35.35 from nine previous matches against them – the only county against whom he has a worse average is Essex (29.18). The target for him to aim at is 115.66, the highest average ever recorded in an English season, by Australia’s Don Bradman in 1938. Ramps would beat that if he makes 267 not out (or 383 runs if he’s out once).Sachin Tendulkar has just made his 40th ODI century, but India lost again. How many of his hundreds have led to Indian wins? asked Sumit Bhave from Jharkand
India have won 28 of the one-day internationals in which Sachin Tendulkar has scored a century, and lost 11 of them: there was also one no-result, against England at Chester-le-Street in 2002. Rather worryingly for India, though, they have ended up losing on each of the last four occasions that Tendulkar has reached 100.Are the current DLF Cup matches the first official one-day internationals to be played in Malaysia? asked Priyantha de Silva from Galle
Yes they were: Malaysia had previously hosted the ICC Trophy in 1997, and the cricket competition of the 1998 Commonwealth Games, but those were not official one-day internationals. When it staged the match between Australia and West Indies last week, the Kinrara Academy ground in Kuala Lumpur became the 161st different venue to stage an official ODI: for a complete list of the grounds, click here.Who has made the highest score at the Melbourne Cricket Ground? asked Chris Macdonald from Carlton … Melbourne
The highest score in a first-class match at the MCG is 437, by Bill Ponsford for Victoria against Queensland in 1927-28. Ponsford also scored the only other quadruple-century there, 429 against Tasmania in 1922-23. The Test record is 307, by Bob Cowper for Australia against England in 1965-66, and the highest individual score in a one-day international there is 173, by Mark Waugh for Australia against West Indies in 2000-01.

Which cricketer called his autobiography Playing With Fire? asked Robert Richards from Cornwall
That was Nasser Hussain, who brought out his life story after his retirement in 2004. Published by Michael Joseph Books, it weighed in at a chunky 512 pages, which I suspect was the record for a cricket autobiography at the time, although the mark was smashed by Steve Waugh’s 816-page monster Out Of My Comfort Zone in 2005!There’s an update to last week’s question about the former Zimbabwe captain Brian Murphy, from Debashish Biswas
“Brian Murphy is the pro at Henley Cricket Club, on the Berkshire/Oxfordshire border. He has been there since at least 2004. Their First XI play in the Home Counties Premier League.”And there have also been a few responses to last week’s appeal for the missing words for Tony Woodward’s poem:
Mike Staveley from Canada suggests:

I wondered how she’d look without her Extra Cover,

And how she would respond if I tried my Leg Break tricks …
While Tony McGowan attempted:

Did she spot your googly coming,

Or your other fancy tricks?
And Farrukh Aziz from Pakistan tried:

Wanting to drive Through the covers, I just got a nick,

I heard the Third Man saying “Oh what a nice flick”.
But possibly the best one came from Chandramouli in India:

I thought she would be a good catch,

And we would make a perfect match.

It is never quiet at Manchester United, with the international break having brought with it further controversy for the Old Trafford outfit amid what has already been a turbulent start to the campaign.

The previous weeks and months have seen a prospective sale of the club by the Glazer family fail to pan out, with the Red Devils also coming under fire amid reports of an initial plan to bring Mason Greenwood back into the fold – only for the Englishman to subsequently move on loan to Getafe.

More recently, struggling winger Jadon Sancho hit back at manager Erik ten Hag on Twitter following criticism of his training ground displays in the build-up to the defeat to Arsenal, while fellow forward Antony – who was signed on an £86m deal from Ajax last summer – is now facing a spell away from the first-team, amid worrying allegations of alleged assault and domestic abuse.

Who can replace Antony at Man United?

With it unclear as to if and when the Brazilian will return to Ten Hag's set-up, the Dutchman will have to make do without a player who has been a firm favourite of his in recent times, with the 23-year-old having started all four Premier League games this season.

Although the former Sao Paulo man has not exactly impressed in a United shirt to date, with only eight goals and three assists in 48 appearances in all competitions, it will still leave Ten Hag with something of a headache in that right-wing berth.

While there is an argument to be made that Alejandro Garnacho could be shifted over to that side, there will also be calls for 21-year-old, Facundo Pellistri to fill that void, with the Uruguayan having looked "scintillating" when he has featured in recent times – as per writer Alex Turk.

That being said, the diminutive talent has not exactly been Ten Hag's go-to man in the past with just 12 senior appearances for the club to date across the last three years or so, with it perhaps also wise to consider academy starlet, Omari Forson for that vacant role on the flanks.

Who is Omari Forson?

The 19-year-old notably hit the headlines in pre-season after being withdrawn in just the 36th minute in the defeat to Borussia Dortmund, with Ten Hag making the decision to substitute the teenager following his altercation with Julian Ryerson – a flare-up that the United boss hinted could have been a red card in a normal, competitive fixture.

Despite that obvious low, the fact that the England youth international was able to feature so prominently over the summer is a testament to his "outstanding" talent – as described by Everton youth coach Keith Southern – with big things expected of a player who has dazzled in the youth ranks of late.

The fleet-footed youngster – who can operate on either wing – notably enjoyed an "excellent" 2022/23 campaign, according to journalist Steven Railston, after scoring nine goals and providing three assists in just 25 games in all competitions.

While yet to make his first-team bow, Forson does now boast an overall tally of ten goals and five assists in just 31 appearances for United's U21 squad, with that an impressive return considering he only turned 19 back in July.

Evidently a real threat in the final third, the emerging prospect could represent a more natural replacement for Antony than Pellistri as a left-footer who likes to cut in from the right, with it set to be no surprise if Ten Hag does look his way over the coming weeks and months.

Mark Stoneman, the England opener, is aware his next two Tests against New Zealand could go a long way to deciding his international future as he tries to secure one of England’s troubled top-order positions.Stoneman has shown moments of promise in his eight Tests to date – and the England management like what they have seen – but has failed to convert three fifties into a century. Having played three matches against West Indies last season and then the five Ashes Tests, he averages 27.07 which is very similar to many of the openers tried since Andrew Strauss retired more than five years ago.After facing Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins over five bruising encounters in Australia – literally in the case of the blow on the helmet Stoneman took against Hazlewood in Perth – it would have been understandable if Stoneman had wanted to hightail it out, but instead he spent another six weeks in the country visiting in-laws (his wife is from Australia) and netting with Surrey team-mate Ollie Pope. He only had 10 days back in the UK before heading to New Zealand.With the selectors having quickly named their squad for this tour after the Ashes – “It’s nice to have that bit of faith in you,” Stoneman said – he did not have to fret over his place, but now has two Tests, one of them the potentially demanding experience of a day-night encounter at Eden Park, to persuade those selectors he is worth keeping for the home season against Pakistan and India. He knows the only way to stop the questions is to score big.”I think I’ve got myself on trial really,” he said. “I always put myself under pressure and can be my own worst critic at times. I’m expecting good things of myself, that’s the most important thing.”He used much of his extended stay in Australia to reflect on his Ashes experience. “I sat back and looked through it all and said, right there’s some good stuff there and at other times there doesn’t look like there’s a whole lot wrong, but probably what was wrong there was my thought process,” he said. “I’ve got the shots, I feel I’ve got the technique to make the runs, I’ve just got to make sure I apply it for longer. What I do for three hours for 50 I’ve got to do for six hours for 100 and build on that.”I’ve shown glimpses but that’s been the problem, it’s only been glimpses so far and if I can go on and do some really good stuff here hopefully I can go on to have a successful international career.”It was a series of two halves for Stoneman: before and after the blow on the helmet by Hazlewood at the WACA – one, final, bristling period of pace bowling at the old ground. He was 52 at the time, having survived a barrage of short stuff to reach his second fifty in five innings in the series, but then fell four runs later when he feathered another searing short ball from Starc. At that point he had made 186 runs; his next four innings brought 42.”I think it was just coincidental on the back of that and it was unfortunate I wasn’t able to finish the series stronger,” he said.The challenge ahead in New Zealand will be less brutal than across the Tasman – although Neil Wagner will no doubt test his technique against the short ball – but more about the moving ball. However, despite what is on the line Stoneman is trying to keep a balance amid the pressure of the international game.”Problems start arising when you start living on the peaks and troughs of cricket,” he said. “Just trying to keep things on a general level in life and you work hard at the cricket and at the end of the day it will be what it’ll be.”

Dhananjaya de Silva will join the Sri Lanka ODI team that is currently playing the Tri-Nation Series in Bangladesh, as a replacement for the injured Kusal Perera. Kusal suffered a side strain during his innings of 49 in Sri Lanka’s match against Zimbabwe on Sunday. He has been advised rest, and will miss the rest of the tournament.Limited-overs captain Angelo Mathews, who is recovering from a hamstring strain, has returned to Sri Lanka and will take no further part in the tournament. Mathews’ participation in the rest of the tour, which includes a Test series against Bangladesh, remains in doubt.Dhananjaya has played 17 ODIs, the last of which came in June 2017. His most recent international game was the Delhi Test against India in December, which Sri Lanka saved thanks largely to his century on the final day. That innings ended when he retired hurt with a thigh injury, which kept him out of the limited-overs leg of that India tour.

Ben Laughlin defended three off the last ball against Kieron Pollard as Adelaide Strikers made it to their first ever BBL final

The Report by Alex Malcolm02-Feb-2018
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsJake Weatherald sweeps the ball fine•Getty Images

Confirmation of the BBL final’s host hung on one delivery. A swing and a miss from Kieron Pollard made Ben Laughlin a hero and delivered Adelaide Strikers their first BBL final berth, while the Melbourne Renegades were denied a chance at a title. Strikers will host Hobart Hurricanes on Sunday at Adelaide Oval, with both sides chasing their first BBL trophy.The game was on a knife’s edge all through the Renegades run chase. Laughlin was asked to keep the Renegades to 12 runs or less in the final over. He gave up 10 off the first five balls including a boundary from Pollard. With three to win off the final delivery Pollard missed a length ball in the slot and a bye wasn’t enough.Strikers’ tried and tested set-and-defend formula worked again. Travis Head cast aside his disappointment of being dropped from Australia’s T20 International side to play a match-winning hand. His unbeaten 85 was pivotal to the Strikers’ imposing total. Jake Weatherald provided superb support.Renegades had looked on track the whole way after a brisk start from Marcus Harris and Tim Ludeman. Tom Cooper and Kieron Pollard appeared set to finish the job but they couldn’t.Dashing DeanThe loss of Alex Carey at the top of the order seemed an impossible hole to fill. Jono Dean couldn’t provide the volume of runs that Carey had but he could provide something different. Carey had been a slow starter in the Powerplay and preferred to accelerate once set.Renegades had hoped to sneak in an over of Cooper’s offspin early to get the Strikers behind the eight-ball. Dean did not allow it. He smashed 13 from the first over and then hit Chris Tremain over the rope off the seventh ball of the innings. He holed out off the eighth. But the rapid start gave Weatherald and Head the chance to settle in. Weatherald was able to do as Carey had done. He was striking at less than run-a-ball, before launching Cooper in the 10th over. He scored 33 runs off his next 16 balls to take the pressure off Head. Their partnership of 104 looked set to blow the game apart.Holland a specialist fielderJon Holland took the catch to remove Weatherald. It was his only contribution for the night. He wasn’t used with the ball despite being selected as Renegades’ only specialist spinner, presumably because he wasn’t the right match-up for the two left-handers that batted deep into the innings. The rate slowed briefly as Colin Ingram and Jonathan Wells came and went. Ingram fell to a stunning one-hander from Tim Ludeman. But Head found a way to accelerate despite losing partners. He only hit one four and one six in the last five overs but ran eight twos to get the total up to 178.Bizarre PowerplayStrikers have buried opponents in the Powerplay when defending totals. But without Billy Stanlake, Renegades bolted out of the blocks in spite of making some bizarre decisions themselves. The top three of Marcus Harris, Matthew Short and Tom Cooper from the last few fixtures was abandoned. Cameron White, who batted at No. 3 with great success before leaving for international duty, opened with Harris and Ludeman batted one-down for the first time in the tournament, while Short was not selected. White holed out early. But Harris continued his fine form and Ludeman cut loose. The key moment came when Rashid Khan was forced to bowl an over in the Powerplay and Renegades took 12 runs from it. The Renegades Powerplay of 1 for 64 was their best in the tournament, and the Strikers’ worst.Nervous Lehmann, nerveless LaughlinHead and Rashid got their own back, removing Harris and Ludeman off consecutive overs. But Renegades needed just 87 runs from the last 60 balls with seven wickets in hand. Cooper and Dwayne Bravo reduced that to 52 from 36 with some cool and calculated batting. The game then appeared to slip through the Strikers’ fingers.Head turned boldly to the part-time legspin of Ingram. He forced a mistake from Bravo, who skied one to long-on, but Lehmann spilled the relatively simple chance running in. Bravo launched the next ball for six over cover. Laughlin removed Bravo and conceded just five runs in the 16th over. Head gambled with Ingram again to Pollard. Again, he forced a skied ball to long-on. Lehmann ran in glancing at midwicket, hoping someone would call him out of the catch. No call came. When he looked back up he realised he had over-run and it fell untouched.The next ball didn’t go for six, but Pollard launched Rashid over the longest boundary next over. The Renegades needed 20 runs from 12 balls with Pollard and Cooper set. But where Head had run twos on mis-hits during his batting innings, Pollard strolled ones. Michael Neser gave up just seven runs in the 19th over to give Laughlin a chance. Despite one incredible strike down the ground and some luck on the final ball, Laughlin held his nerve to get his side home.

The two spinners finished with match hauls of eight wickets each to clinch the unofficial Test series for Sri Lanka 2-1

ESPNcricinfo staff29-Oct-2017
ScorecardWICB Media/Athelstan Bellamy

Left-arm spinner Malinda Pushpakumara and offspinner Shehan Jayasuriya were at the forefront of Sri Lanka A’s series-clinching win in the third unofficial Test against West Indies A, with a match haul of eight wickets each. Their combined efforts meant West Indies A were limited to scores of 181 and 118 in their two innings, to hand Sri Lanka A a comfortable ten-wicket win within two days of play.Pushpakumara, who had a haul of 12 wickets in the second four-dayer, took 4 for 67 in the first innings, with support from Lahiru Kumara and Jayasuriya, who picked up two each. West Indies A’s innings of 181 was propped up single-handedly by Sunil Ambris, who scored his fifth first-class century, even as no other West Indies A batsman managed to score more than 20.Sri Lanka A then took a 92-run lead despite a few stutters with the bat. Captain Dhananjaya de Silva top-scored with 64, while Roshen Silva contributed 52 before retiring hurt.Jayasuriya then took centre stage, accounting for West Indies A’s top six for returns of 6 for 60. Like their first innings, only one West Indies A batsman managed a score of more than 20; in this instance captain Shamarh Brooks hit 52. Pushpakumara ran through the lower order, with 4 for 19, to leave Sri Lanka A with a target of 27 runs to win. The visitors needed only 5.5 overs to reach the target on the third evening.

However, the Cricket West Indies president was personally quite satisfied by security arrangements in Lahore for the final match of the World XI series

Umar Farooq16-Sep-2017Cricket West Indies president Dave Cameron said it was a “challenge” to convince the West Indies players that it was safe to visit Pakistan. Cameron was on a two-day trip to the country to watch the final T20I of the World XI series, an event which the PCB hopes will convince other nations to send their teams for international tours.”I have enjoyed my two days in Pakistan,” Cameron said in a press conference at Gaddafi Stadium on Friday. “As Najam [Sethi, the PCB chairman] said, we’ve been talking about this for some time and have our own challenges back in the West Indies. We’re only 5 million people, and as you heard there was recently a hurricane passing through our islands as well. But my challenge is to convince the players that it’s safe enough. It’s our duty to help as well. I felt that if I came over here to show that it’s safe enough that would go some way in convincing the players. InshAllah [God-willing] in November, we’ll be here.”This is the second time PCB has approached West Indies to tour, after they refused to travel to Pakistan in March upon receiving security advice from the Federation of International Cricketers’ Associations (FICA). In the report then, FICA warned that the risk level in Pakistan remained “at an extremely elevated state” and that “an acceptable level of participant security and safety cannot be expected or guaranteed”. It had also discouraged players strongly from travelling to Lahore for the Pakistan Super League final.But things have improved since, as ICC’s chief executive officer David Richardson noted at a press conference on Wednesday. The security arrangements were overseen by international security consultants. The ICC bore the cost of the security advisors and have agreed terms to assist the PCB for every series they host in Pakistan from hereon in.But Cameron also explained that the matter may not necessarily be in his hands, with the board not having the final say over whether its players tour a particular nation. “We’ve had the security team here for the final of the PSL and they’ve seen these matches as well,” he said, when asked if FICA could be convinced. “Here, Pakistan’s board makes decisions [regarding where to tour]. My board’s a little bit different, with the WIPA [West Indies Players Association] also having a big say. We have to respect their decision.”We want to ensure that when the players come over, everyone actually wants to come and enjoy the experience, and we don’t want to be seen to be forcing anyone. We’ve had Darren Sammy here and Samuel Badree and they’ve loved it. Sammy’s on his second trip and I think that will also convince the players that it is safe to come.Cameron also gave the security arrangements in Pakistan a personal vote of confidence. “From what I believe I’m very convinced. The hospitality has been great, and the security has been first-class, and from where I stand right now, everything looks good.”

The Bangladesh coach wants to build on the team’s impressive performances since the 2015 World Cup and maintains his focus on winning matches abroad with the South Africa tour coming up

Mohammad Isam02-Aug-2017Bangladesh coach Chandika Hathurusingha believes that the positive results over the past season will be the base on which the team will look to build their progress in the upcoming international season. The steady rise since the 2015 World Cup which culminated in the 2017 Champions Trophy semi-final appearance was the starting point for the upcoming season in which Bangladesh are going to face varied challenges over eight months, Hathurusingha said.Even as they target a series win over Australia, the coach said winning abroad remains their main challenge, particularly in South Africa where Bangladesh haven’t toured since 2008.”Success will be to win away from home and beating teams above us,” he said. “The progress for us is to maintain this success. We made it to the World Cup quarter-final and then Champions Trophy semi-final. We have started winning in the subcontinent. We have lot of areas to improve, so we are looking at consistency.”We have made some progress in Test cricket. Now we have the game plan of winning in the subcontinent. We want to win the two Tests against Australia. The challenge is to adapt to South African conditions, and then adjust the game plan. The first two weeks in South Africa before the first Test are very crucial.”Their first call of duty will be against Australia at home and notwithstanding the uncertainty that lurks over the tour scheduled for later this month, Bangladesh have steadily raised their training intensity over the last four weeks. The new batting consultant, Mark O’Neill, for instance, is now regularly seen speaking to bowlers about their basics with the bat. Courtney Walsh has already held a bowling clinic with the fast bowlers while the BCB is close to hiring a spin-bowling coach.The training camp that started in Mirpur on July 10 first focused on fitness before moving to the skills part of the game towards the end of the month. The group will move to Chittagong on Friday, where they have three training sessions before a three-day practice match at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, the venue for the second Test.Hathurusingha said that developing a stronger unit for the next World Cup is their main goal, and by bringing in uncapped players into the training camp, they are leaving the door open for a rookie to stand up and be counted, after being drilled with proper fitness and training methods.”We are looking at the bigger picture so we have involved 20-odd players. Our main focus is up to 2019 World Cup, at least for me,” Hathurusingha said. “All these guys have to get used to playing and training in high intensity.”By training with the national players, they can see what the challenges ahead are to break into the team. It is about expanding our pool if we need, or someone puts his hand up and says ‘pick me, I am good enough’. We don’t want anyone to take their place for granted.”

MLS has always been an attractive destination for stars entering the end of their careers. We've seen David Beckham and Steven Gerrard both play for LA Galaxy; Frank Lampard and David Villa play for New York City FC; and now, in the biggest move in MLS history, we're about to see Lionel Messi turn out for Inter Miami every week.

Given Miami's current form, however – failing to win in their last eight games – the European equivalent of this move would be if the Argentine decided to move to Everton. Yet, here Messi is, and here Miami are, ready to build around one of the best players of all time, if not the very best.

David Beckham is not messing around, either, reportedly targeting some big names, some of which you can see below. And so, Football FanCast has put together a dream XI for the club.

Jesse Lingard

To say that Jesse Lingard's move to Nottingham Forest didn't work out would be an understatement. The midfielder didn't score or assist a single Premier League goal as the newly-promoted side managed to secure survival.

Now a free agent after his deal came to an end, the former Manchester United man is on the hunt for a new club, and is reportedly training with Inter Miami.

Still only 30, Lingard has plenty to offer, and would be a significant upgrade in a struggling Miami side.

Jordi Alba

Like Lingard, Jordi Alba is a free agent this summer, and could make the move to Inter Miami to join former Barcelona teammate Messi. During his time at the Spanish giants, Alba wrote himself into the history books as arguably one of the club's greatest full-backs, winning La Liga six times, as well as numerous other trophies.

Now 34, the left-back has the chance to make the MLS move. According to Marca, Alba is already in contact with Inter Miami amid a potential summer switch.

He would be the second Barcelona player to make the move during this transfer window following in Sergio Busquets' footsteps.

Sergio Ramos

After getting a glimpse of Messi's ability up close as a teammate for the first time at Paris Saint-Germain, Sergio Ramos could link up with the Barcelona legend once again, this time at Inter Miami – as per Sport.

The former Real Madrid captain continues the trend of free agents on Beckham's list of transfer targets, after his contract in the French capital came to an end this summer.

If Inter Miami are looking for leaders, then they needn't look any further than Ramos in the current transfer window.

Luis Suarez

Getting Luis Suarez and Messi back together on the same pitch would arguably be a better reunion than any famous band in history. The duo would still cause chaos against some big European sides, let alone MLS teams.

If Inter Miami can secure a deal for Suarez from Gremio, in particular, then they will undoubtedly rise up the rankings in America, and rapidly.

Speaking about transfer targets, Beckham said, via GiveMeSport: “Two or three more players will come.

"We spoke with Jordi Alba— while Luis Suarez has a contract and a release clause. I don't know if that will happen or not. All the announcements will be made before July 15.”

How Inter Miami could line-up: Callender; Taylor; Ramos; Kryvstov; Alba; Busquets; Lingard; Gregore; Messi; Martinez; Suarez

The ACA have revealed that they want to discuss ‘what is in and what is out of shared revenue streams’,a definition that has become a major stumbling block

Daniel Brettig01-Jun-20173:46

What exactly is the Cricket Australia-ACA pay dispute?

Australia’s players are willing to compromise on a major financial sticking point that lies at the heart of their ongoing pay dispute with Cricket Australia (CA). As the board’s nine directors met in Brisbane on Thursday, the Australian Cricketers Association (ACA) opened up a potential path for more productive talks, by indicating they are open to a redefinition – and reduction – of the revenue they are entitled to share in.That led to a reciprocal response from CA, who have expressed their own willingness to be “flexible”. In a negotiation period that began last November and has been the most divisive and bitter in 20 years, this may be a significant step forward ahead of the June 30 deadline by which the parties must find agreement.CA has repeatedly claimed that the ACA is seeking a share of all revenue in the game for professional players, including from such areas as sponsorships of grassroots competitions and junior registrations. The claim was made explicit in a briefing note distributed to media last week, which said:”A proportion of revenue from the sponsorship of grassroots cricket programs has to be distributed to elite player payments. Under the ACA’s new proposal, a guaranteed 22.5% of all CA and the states and associations revenue means the players would receive 22.5 cents of every dollar spent by parents on a junior registration fee.”However, the ACA have now confirmed that the players’ flexibility over the next pay agreement extends to being “open to a discussion of what is in and what is out of shared revenue streams.” The position was conveyed in a letter to the CA chairman David Peever last month.A narrower definition of agreed revenue may be the first building block of a deal between the parties. It would remove the impending risk of a major industrial relations battle, in a year when Australia are scheduled to play a home Ashes series after tours of South Africa, Bangladesh and India.”The players have always had and still do have flexibility,” the ACA president Greg Dyer said, striking a far less confrontational tone. “There is room to move to modernise this partnership. The ACA can discuss new models of revenue sharing, and how we can collectively manage risk.”A CA spokesman said the board was also prepared to be flexible. “CA believes there is still time to conclude an MoU by 30 June and reiterates its preparedness to be flexible in negotiations,” he said. “CA urges the ACA to spend more time at the negotiating table and less time writing press releases in order to begin making progress towards a resolution.”Less than a month remains before the expiry of the current MoU, with CA threatening that all players out of contract will be unemployed should the ACA not agree to discuss its current pay offer. A key plank of the offer is the replacement of revenue sharing with fixed wages for players, with only international players entitled to any of the game’s “blue sky” above that, while state player contract levels are effectively frozen over the next five years.CA’s tactics have included efforts to put space between the ACA and the players, including the team performance manager Pat Howard’s attempts to deal directly with all contracted players by email. Howard recently offered multi-year deals to the top five CA-contracted players – Steven Smith, David Warner, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins – under the board’s new terms, an approach that was quickly rebuffed.The allrounder Moises Henriques, who is also part of the ACA executive, said the association was working closely with the players, and that they were willing to be flexible in the interests of reaching an agreement with CA.”We’re a part of the decision-making process, in strategy and how we play it … and the ACA are just a representative agent of the players,” he said. “Really, the decisions get made by the players and the ACA acts on their behalf.”It’s not like we [the ACA] are going to do anything the players don’t want to do. Coming to an agreement would be the best way forward. What we’ve got to worry about is that agreement being made as quickly as possible. Maybe CA may have to give a little bit, we may have to give a little bit, who knows. But the players know we need to get to an agreement. Guys want to play international cricket, guys want to play state cricket. The players want it sorted and I am sure CA do as well.”