RECORD IPL DEAL A CHERRY ON THE CAKE
MITCHELL STARC’S record $2.98 million deal at the Indian Premier League auctions was the ideal Christmas present for the match-winning paceman as he prepares to spend the holidays apart from his cricketing wife Alyssa Healy.
Australia’s all-formats hero became the most expensive player in the history of the league after attracting the eye-watering bid from Kolkata Knight Riders on Tuesday.
Starc tuned in to the auction at home in Sydney while resting ahead of the second test against Pakistan in Melbourne.
Healy, the newly installed captain of the Australian women’s team, watched from India ahead of the one-off test in Mumbai.
“I’m not sure any words will do it justice, really,” Starc said of the auction result.
“Obviously, Alyssa’s over there with the Australian team at the minute so I think her coverage was slightly ahead of mine here in Australia so she sort of saw the numbers before I did.
“A fair bit of shock and certainly excitement with how it was all unfolding, but nothing I could have ever imagined.
“It’s a Christmas full of cricket as usual but it’s certainly one with a nice little cherry on the cake.”
There was joy on both sides of the Tasman Sea, with New Zealand all-rounder Daryl Mitchell overwhelmed by his bumper 140 million rupees ($1.68 million) deal to join Chennai.
The bid was a massive hike on the base price of 7.5 million rupees Mitchell took to join Rajasthan Royals for two appearances in the 2022 IPL.
“Your heart starts to pump a little bit, as you see the paddles going up,” the 32-year-old told New Zealand media.
“But having been through the auction before and going unsold, it was a pretty special night last night to experience that.”
Mitchell, who played a big part in New Zealand’s run to the recent World Cup semi-finals in India, also celebrated his daughter’s birthday on Wednesday, the day after the auction.
“She’s got a pretty good present, waking up to that — not that she understands what’s going on,” he said.
“But that’s the whole thing about these sorts of situations — it helps set up your family in many ways so that they can grow up and enjoy the things they love.” — Reuters
BELGIUM’S number one goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has said he will not go to next year’s European Championship in order to fully recover from a knee injury, he told Belgian TV station VRT broadcast on Tuesday.
“I need to recover fully, so it’s better to provide clarity now,” the Real Madrid player said.
“If I’m lucky, I might be able to play a match come May, but I’ll never be ready for the tournament.
“I can’t be in the goal at 80 percent or 85 percent, I should step aside for other good players.”
Courtois, 31, was sidelined for months in October, after he needed surgery on a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee he suffered during a training session.
He said his decision to sit out Euro 2024 in Germany doesn’t have to be a final farewell from the national team, even though he walked out on the squad in June after a spat with coach Domenico Tedesco.
At the time, Tedesco said Courtois had felt overlooked for the team’s captaincy, but the goalkeeper said it was a lack of overall appreciation that prompted him to leave.
“That was the wrong decision, for which I apologise to the team and the fans,” said Courtois, who has been capped for Belgium 102 times since 2011.
“I still love to play for the national team. But this season I have to focus on Real Madrid, the European Championship does not fit in the picture of a perfect comeback.” − Reuters.
A FAN ran on to the pitch and confronted Martin Dubravka in shocking scenes at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk pounced on Kieran Trippier’s blunder to slot in a 92nd-minute equaliser in the Carabao Cup quarter-final after Callum Wilson’s opener.
That prompted wild scenes in West London as supporters celebrated their side grabbing a draw — prompting a penalty shootout.
But in the aftermath of the goal, one idiot inexplicably jumped over the advertising hoardings at the front of the Matthew Harding Stand which houses home fans.
After breaking free from the clutches of a steward, he then went up to Newcastle goalkeeper Dubravka and clashed with the Slovakian, goading him by celebrating in his face.
The man bumped into the shot-stopper before immediately turning and running back past the steward and into the home end.
Play was able to resume quickly as tensions boiled over at the end of the game.
There was another flashpoint in injury time as Bruno Guimaraes put in a wild tackle on Ian Maatsen — before Mudryk furiously ran in and appeared to grab the Toon midfielder by the throat.
Referee Jarred Gillett blew for full-time moments later, taking the game to penalties.
But before the shootout got underway, the official was filmed in deep conversation with stewards — although it is unclear if that was related to the supporter incident.
The penalties were then taken in front of the Shed End where the travelling Newcastle supporters were.
Chelsea scored all four of their spot-kicks while Trippier missed before Dorde Petrovic made a flying save to deny Matt Ritchie and seal victory for the Blues.
It means Mauricio Pochettino’s side are into the semi-finals — as are Michael Carrick’s Middlesbrough and Fulham.
The Cottagers also needed penalties to get past Everton at Goodison Park, helped by a woeful effort by Amadou Onana, to reach the last four of the League Cup for the very first time.
But Sky Sports News viewers were left furious with the broadcaster when the channel suddenly cut to a commercial breaking DURING the shootout — and then returned once it was all over. — The Sun.
RIYADH. — Saudi Arabia is set to become a global force in the world of gaming entertainment over the next few years.
The multi-billion dollar Qiddiya entertainment district close to Riyadh was recently unveiled, and now more information on some of the facilities it will play host to is starting to come to light
Architects Journal reports that London design company Populous has unveiled its plans for a 5,000+ esports arena in Saudi Arabia that will feature one of the world’s largest total areas of video screens, alongside 4D haptic seating that will let spectators feel every shot, explosion, and goal through their own bodies.
Populous’ Senior
Rhys Courtney told AJ:
“‘We are proud to have been able to combine our extensive knowledge of esports facilities and technology with Qiddiya’s vision to create a world-leading arena for competitors and fans alike. This arena will be unique in esports in both scale and user experience.”
Senior Principal and General Manager of Populous KSA, Shireen Hamdan added:
“We are proud to have been able
Principal, to combine our extensive knowledge of esports facilities and technology with Qiddiya’s vision to create a world-leading arena for competitors and fans alike.
“This arena will be unique in esports in both scale and user experience.”
The Populous design brief includes, “the design philosophy for the arena is centered on creating a fantasy world for fans.
“The general admission experience is carefully crafted, with two concourses wrapping around the seating bowl, offering unique designs and functions.
“These include a centralised arcade with breakout zones for gaming, a food ‘souk’, retail, and an immersive entertainment zone.”
Populous is no stranger to large venue design, it is currently working alongside the Buffalo Bills in the NFL on the new stadium for the NFL franchise.
The new gaming district at Qiddiya is expected to attract some 10 million visitors annually and will feature gaming-themed hotels and apartments that will appeal to both esports pros and gaming enthusiasts of all ages. − Agency.
BULAWAYO CHIEFS insist they still have a “running contract,” until end of 2024, with Soccer Star of the Year second runner-up, Obriel Chirinda.
This is despite Dynamos’ desire to acquire him as a free agent on January 1.
The free agent status is premised on the basis that Chiefs did not fulfil their contractual obligations to the 26-year-old forward this year.
Chiefs secretary-general. Dumisani Sibanda, yesterday told Zimpapers Sports that Chirinda was still in their plans unless they received an offer that is difficult to resist.
“I’ve been out of town for the last 10 days but as far as I know he still has a running contract with us, until the end of 2024.
“He can only be a free agent afterwards.
“To dat,e we haven’t negotiated with any club about his services, unless it happened in my absence in the last 10 days, of which I have not heard anything to that effect from the office.
“So, Chirinda is a very much Bulawayo Chiefs player, at least, until the end of 2024,” said Sibanda.
Chirinda has been pushing for the termination of his contract as his owed substantial amounts by the club.
Chiefs are reported to have breached the contract by failing to honour their part of the agreement and the issue is set to be handled by the Footballers Union of Zimbabwe.
FUZ president, Desmond Maringwa. Said: “Indeed, he hinted that there was an issue that he wanted FUZ to assist him with. I’m not sure about the nature of the challenge because nothing has been made official.
“As FUZ, we are always ready to assist both players and clubs to find each other in case of a dispute, but in this instance we have not received the complaint. If there is, indeed, a breach, then there are processes that need to be followed,” said Maringwa.
Sibanda said they were ready to entertain offers for the forward.
“He is someone who has done really well this year and as a result has attracted the attention of many clubs and is wanted everywhere.
“Obviously, some clubs have been said to be interested in the boy but we are still to get any offer.
“If there is a reasonable offer for his services, there is no reason for the club to deny him a move to greener pastures. It’s about the offer to the boy and to the club.”