Ed Warner: A player power reckoning is coming for football and cricket September 26, 2024 Whether or not Rodri truly believes over-worked footballers are close to taking strike action, his comments have certainly had cut-through. Athlete strikes are not without precedent, in football and elsewhere. Think of the four strikes in the NFL’s history plus its owner lockouts, and Argentina’s football strike of 2017. Back in 2001, English footballers voted [...]
Ahead of the Game: ECB threatens to withhold Hundred franchise over Hampshire sale September 25, 2024 Hampshire have been warned they will be blocked from taking control of the Southern Brave if prospective new owners Delhi Capitals do not pay a fair market value for the Hundred franchise. In a significant intervention that could also apply to Yorkshire, who are in takeover talks with Sunrisers Hyderabad, the England and Wales Cricket [...]
Surrey Invincibles? Why Sky Sports could veto Hundred franchise rebrand September 11, 2024 Surrey could find themselves on a collision course with English cricket’s main broadcast partner, Sky Sports, over their desire to take control and rebrand their successful Hundred franchise, Oval Invincibles. Along with the other seven host venues, Surrey are set to be gifted a 51 per cent stake in their franchise by the England Wales [...]
England women’s cricket chief on the case for investment in The Hundred August 30, 2024 While the first ever Olympic Games with an equal number of male and female athletes competing took place this summer, The Hundred has put its eight men’s and women’s cricket teams on an equal platform since its launch in 2021. Beth Barrett-Wild, director of the women’s professional game at the England and Wales Cricket Board, [...]
England cricket chiefs using Ratcliffe’s Man United deal to sell Hundred stakes August 20, 2024 Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s purchase of 27.7 per cent of Manchester United is being used by the England and Wales Cricket Board to help market Hundred franchises. The Ineos founder’s stake at Old Trafford is being used as an example of how a minority investor can attain huge influence at a major sporting institution if the [...]
Ahead of the Game: Treasury cost-cutting to hit Manchester United £2bn stadium plans August 7, 2024 Rachel Reeves could scupper Sir Jim Ratcliffe's more ambitious stadium hopes.