‘Thanks, but I’m out’: cricket pundits react to The Hundred’s wickets rebrand

1. ‘This change of cricket terminology is ridiculous’

Cricket

A major debate is brewing in the world of cricket after The Telegraph revealed that the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is “ready to overhaul some of the game’s historic terminology” for the launch of The Hundred in July.

In an effort to make the sport “more accessible to new supporters”, the paper understands that wickets will be described as “outs” and batsmen in the men’s competition will be called “batters”.

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In a comment piece The Telegraph’s Simon Heffer said “even by the ECB’s standards, this change of cricket terminology is ridiculous. Thanks, but I’m out…”

The move is likely to spark “widespread anger” among traditional die-hard supporters, the Daily Mail reports. And in The Times Elizabeth Ammon said the “catchy new jargon” has been dismissed as “dumbing down of cricket”.

2. Forest Green could ‘break new ground’ by appointing female boss

Football

Forest Green Rovers are considering making history by becoming the first English Football League club to appoint a female manager. The League Two side sacked Mark Cooper on Sunday and chairman Dale Vince told the BBC that it’s possible “we’ll take a new direction in our recruitment” and “maybe we’ll break some new ground”.

When asked if he was hinting at appointing a female head coach, Vince replied: “I don’t want to hint, but it could be. It is missing in men’s football, but so are BAME [Black, Asian and minority ethnic] head coaches. Everything is possible with us, because we don’t come at this in any preconceived way or in a way it has always been done.”

3. Gatland confirms Lions coaching team for South Africa tour

Rugby union

British & Irish Lions head coach Warren Gatland has announced his coaching team for the summer tour of South Africa. The Kiwi will be assisted by Gregor Townsend (Scotland), Robin McBryde (Leinster Rugby), Steve Tandy (Scotland) and Neil Jenkins (Wales).

The Lions face Japan at BT Murrayfield in Edinburgh on 26 June and will then play a number of warm-up games in South Africa ahead of three Tests against the Springboks, the reigning world champions.

“I am very pleased to have assembled such a high-quality coaching team,” said Gatland. “It’s a really strong group and I’m excited to see what we can achieve together - I think we’ll all complement each other well in South Africa.”

4. Barcelona top Forbes rich league

Football

Barcelona are the most valuable football club in the world after topping Forbes’s rich list for the first time. Valued at $4.76bn (£3.46bn), the Catalans have taken the top spot ahead of Spanish rivals Real Madrid ($4.75bn/£345.7bn) and German giants Bayern Munich ($4.215bn/£306.7bn).

Real Madrid and Manchester United have monopolised the No.1 spot on the Forbes list for the past 16 seasons - with Real taking it five times and United 11 times. This year the English club are fourth on the list with a valuation of $4.2bn (£3.06bn).

5. Fury says Joshua bout will ‘100% happen’

Boxing

The much-anticipated all-British boxing bout between heavyweight champions Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua could be confirmed very soon.

WBC world heavyweight champion Fury told Behind The Gloves that a decision needed to be made by “Tuesday at the latest” but believes it will “100% happen - a million percent happen”. The 32-year-old added: “I think we will know in the next couple of days, where and when.”

All four major heavyweight belts will be on the line - Fury holds the WBC title while Joshua is the IBF, WBO and WBA champion.

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