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Roy Keane has been filmed angrily confronting an Ipswich Town fan that was allegedly hurling abuse at the Manchester United legend.

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Ipswich draw 1-1 with Man UtdKeane covers game for Sky SportsConfronts fan hurling abuse at himFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

According to Daily Mail footage, the Irishman got into a heated confrontation with an Ipswich supporter at Portman Road after the 1-1 draw. One reportedly said, "F*** you, Keane!" to the former Ipswich boss, who was eventually pulled away after a war of words with someone in the crowd on Sunday night.

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This is not the first time Keane has been involved in a dispute with a football supporter as the former United player was assaulted by an Arsenal fan at the Emirates last year. The culprit was found guilty of headbutting the ex-Sunderland manager in what was called a "gratuitous and senseless act of violence" in court.

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Keane managed Ipswich between April 2009 and January 2011, winning just 34.6 per cent of his 81 matches in charge of the then-Championship side. Previously, Keane admitted that when he was booed by the club's fans back in late 2010, it spurred him on.

Celtic have less than a month left in the summer transfer window to finish off any other business they want to do before it slams shut at the end of August.

The Hoops only added one outfield player to their squad during the off-season and it was a star who was already at the club on loan last term – Paulo Bernardo.

Brendan Rodgers has also swooped to sign two new goalkeepers to replace Joe Hart, who retired at the end of the 2023/24 campaign, in Kasper Schmeichel and Viljami Sinisalo.

Despite the club's lack of activity in the transfer market over the last few months, the Bhoys started the new season in impressive fashion with a 4-0 win over Kilmarnock at Parkhead on Sunday.

That win may not stop Celtic from continuing to explore deals for new signings over the coming weeks, though, as Rodgers looks to build a side that can compete across all fronts domestically and in the Champions League.

One player the Hoops could sign is a Premier League starlet who has been linked with a move to Parkhead this summer, as he could be a dream signing for Reo Hatate in midfield.

Celtic's interest in Premier League dynamo

Last month, Tunisian radio station Mosaïque FM, as relayed by Sport Witness, claimed that the Scottish giants are one of the teams interested in a deal to snap up Manchester United central midfielder Hannibal Mejbri.

The report stated that Celtic are keen to sign the Tunisia international to bolster their squad and that they are preparing an offer for his services.

It also revealed that the Premier League giants are prepared to sanction a permanent exit for the academy graduate, whose contract at Old Trafford is due to expire at the end of the season.

The outlet did not claim how much Celtic are willing to pay for the midfielder or how much the Red Devils would want for the talented ace this summer.

However, it has been reported elsewhere that Rangers are also keen on a deal for the Tunisian dynamo and that United would be looking for a fee of at least £7m.

Former Manchester United striker and legend Andy Cole has urged Hannibal to consider a move to Scotland to play for one of Glasgow's clubs, as it would be an "interesting" next step in his career.

Celtic must now press ahead with a swoop for the midfield talent as he could be a dream alongside Hatate in midfield, particularly if Matt O'Riley moves on amid reported interest from West Ham United and Chelsea.

Reo Hatate's midfield brilliance

The Japan international started the 2024/25 campaign in perfect style with a fantastic performance in the middle of the park against Kilmarnock on Sunday.

He opened the scoring for the Hoops with a brilliantly composed touch and finish around the edge of the box, drilling the ball into the bottom left corner under little pressure due to the quality of his first touch.

It was an impressively clean goal and that summed up his performance on the day, as Hatate completed 81% of his passes, 100% of his dribbles, and won five of his nine ground duels.

The 26-year-old star will be hoping for a strong season after his struggles last term. He missed a staggering 40 matches through injury for club and country, with calf and hamstring issues.

However, his form in limited matches last season and his superb performances in the 2022/23 campaign suggest that he could be ready for a huge season for Celtic if he can stay fit.

Appearances

32

16

Goals

6

3

Assists

8

4

Big chances created

10

3

Key passes per game

1.3

1.1

As you can see in the table above, Hatate is a central midfielder who can pop up with important contributions at the top end of the pitch as a scorer and a creator of goals.

The Japanese whiz, when fit and available for selection, is an exciting player to watch who can make things happen in the final third at an impressive rate, as illustrated with his superb goal against Kilmarnock.

Due to that, he could love to play alongside Hannibal due to the midfielder's dynamism and creative potential in the middle of the park as a possible signing for Celtic.

Why Celtic should sign Hannibal

Firstly, signing the Manchester United youngster for £7m, or a lower fee if they can negotiate a deal, this summer would be an investment by the club.

At the age of 21, Hannibal is a young player with plenty of time left ahead of him to develop and improve his game over the years to come, which means that Rodgers could work with him on the training pitch and help to make him a more valuable asset in the future.

Last season was a difficult for one for him, as it was for Hatate, as he only made five appearances in the Premier League for United and played six games in LaLiga on loan at Sevilla.

The previous campaign, however, was more impressive from the young ace as he spent the year on loan with Birmingham City in the English Championship.

Assists

0.23

Top 7%

Expected Assisted Goals

0.18

Top 10%

Shot-creating actions

3.14

Top 24%

Tackles

2.31

Top 27%

Interceptions

1.20

Top 25%

Blocks

1.20

Top 44%

As you can see in the table above, Hannibal caught the eye was a creative and combative force in midfield for Birmingham across 38 games in the division.

He proved that his academy form for United at U23 level could translate over to senior football, after his return of 17 assists in 41 matches for the Red Devils' U23s.

Hannibal, who U23 scout Antonio Mango claimed can "unlock defenders" with his ability on the ball, has the quality to make things happen as a superb creator from midfield.

Celtic could upgrade on Kyogo by landing deal for "ruthless" £3m striker

The Hoops have been linked with a swoop for the centre-forward this summer.

2 ByDan Emery Aug 6, 2024

This is why he could be a dream for Hatate, who has showcased his knack for scoring goals in the Scottish Premiership, as they could link up in the middle of the park to combine for goals, with the Tunisia international creating chances for the Japanese star to tuck them away.

Fast bowler undergoes successful surgery to remove glass fragment from his hand

Nagraj Gollapudi31-Mar-2021Jofra Archer is set to return to India to play for the Rajasthan Royals after a period on the sidelines recovering from injury, despite some early doubts over his availability for the 2021 IPL.ESPNcricinfo understands Archer, who had finger surgery on Monday in England, is expected to miss at least the first four matches of the Royals’ schedule.The IPL, which will be played behind closed doors in India, starts on April 9 with the Royals scheduled to play their first match on April 12 in Mumbai against the Punjab Kings.The Royals were awaiting an update from the ECB on a firm date of departure, but it is understood the franchise expects him to be out for at least for the first four matches.On Wednesday, the ECB said Archer had undergone successful surgery to remove a fragment of glass from the middle finger on his right hand and that he would now begin two weeks of rehabilitation. He would be reviewed by a consultant before returning to training and more would be known about the effectiveness of an injection to an ongoing elbow problem, once he was bowling again, the ECB added.In terms of his IPL involvement, the ECB said it was too early to confirm and a decision would be made once he was given the all-clear to return to bowling.Archer suffered a cut to his hand while cleaning at his home in January shortly before flying to India to prepare for their four-Test series. The ECB’s medical team managed the injury throughout the tour, and it did not impact on his availability.Archer returned to England from the India tour immediately after the T20 series in March to have the injuries seen to, the elbow issue having troubled him since the South Africa tour in January 2020.On Tuesday, Ashley Giles, the ECB’s director of cricket, revealed detail of Archer’s finger injury on BBC’s Tuffers & Vaughan show. According to Giles, Archer suffered a cut on the middle finger of his bowling hand in January while at home in Hove after dropping a tropical fish tank in the bath.”They’ve operated and I think they found a small fragment of glass still in attendance. It obviously healed but there was part of the fish tank still in his finger,” Giles said.On April 15 the Royals play against the Delhi Capitals, followed by the Chennai Super Kings on April 19 and then the Royal Challengers Bangalore on April 22.Additional reporting from George Dobell

FIFA has confirmed the dates and venues for next summer's Club World Cup matches in the U.S., with MetLife for semis and final

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FIFA announces dates and venuesTournament set to run from June 14-July 1311 venues in 10 cities across U.S.Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱Getty ImagesWHAT HAPPENED?

FIFA has confirmed the venues, dates and kick-off times for the 63 total matches for the 2025 Club World Cup, featuring 32 teams from all over the world. The opening match will be a stand-alone with Inter Miami facing Al Ahly FC on June 14 at Miami's Hard Rock Stadium.

The tournament will then run through July 13, culminating in the finale at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. That venue will also host both semifinal matches.

Matches will be played across 12 venues, six of which are MLS stadiums. Joining New Jersey and Miami as hosts are Atlanta, Charlotte, Cincinnati, Los Angeles, Nashville, Orlando, Philadelphia, Seattle and Washington D.C.

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Inter Miami will kickstart the tournament with the opener and will then head to Atlanta to face Porto on June 19. They'll wrap up the group stage on June 23 against Palmeiras.

MLS' other representative, the Seattle Sounders, will play all three of their group stage matches in Seattle, hosting Botafogo on June 15, Atletico Madrid on June 20 and Paris Saint-Germain on June 23.

AFPWHAT WAS SAID

 “The paths for the 32 teams have been set and we now know at what time and where, among 12 top-class stadiums, we will enjoy the 48 exciting group stage clashes," FIFA president Gianni Infantino said in a statement. "Together with another 15 matches in the knockout stage, this match schedule sets 63 dates in the diary of every football fan – those living in the US, traveling from abroad to these beautiful cities to support their clubs, or following live and for free from every corner of the world via DAZN and FIFA+.

“This match schedule is much more than a list of thrilling fixtures involving the best clubs in the world – it shows that club football can, and will be, truly global. Let’s take it to the world.”

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AFPWHAT NEXT?

Clubs all over the world will continue to play in their domestic leagues until next summer's tournament. Both Inter Miami and the Sounders had their seasons ended in the MLS playoffs, with Miami falling in the first round and Seattle losing to the LA Galaxy in the Western Conference Final.

Visitors need eight wickets on final day at Canterbury after setting Kent 445 to win

ECB Reporters Network17-Apr-2021Joe Root scored a century to put Yorkshire in a commanding position after day three of their LV= Insurance County Championship game with Kent at Canterbury, the visitors needing eight wickets for victory after declaring their second innings on 330 for 5, setting Kent an improbable target of 445.The hosts were reduced to 33 for 2 at stumps and trailed by 411 in the Group Three fixture, Jordan Thompson taking 1 for nought David Willey 1 for 15.England batsmen past and present starred for the visitors, with former opener Adam Lyth hitting 116 and current skipper Root making 101 in their second innings. Kent’s Joe Denly took 2 for 61, while Matt Milnes claimed 2 for 68.Related

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Yorkshire resumed on 6 for nought, and although Kent bowled well for the first hour, their only success during that time came when Grant Stewart had Tom Kohler-Cadmore caught at first slip by Jordan Cox for 3.Milnes trapped Tom Loten lbw for 21, shortly before lunch, but an attack shorn of the injured Harry Podmore struggled to make any impact during a truncated afternoon session.Lyth was on 85 when he edged Milnes to slip, but Zak Crawley missed a difficult chance and, having made 97 in his first innings, Lyth emitted a howl of joy when he reached his century with a four off Miguel Cummins.Adam Lyth was in fine form with the bat•Getty ImagesThe visitors had moved on to 171 for 2 when play was suspended between 2.50 pm and 4.10 pm while the funeral of HRH Prince Philip took place.Lyth eventually fell to Milnes, caught at first slip by Cox, ending a stand of 119 for the third wicket. Harry Brook then joined Root and scored rapidly to set up the declaration, making an unbeaten 66 that included a reverse-swept four.Root was bowled by Denly and Yorkshire declared when the same bowler bowled Thompson for 6 in his next over, forcing Kent to face 12 hazardous overs before stumps.Willey subsequently yorked Cox for a duck and Crawley was caught by Lyth at slip off Thompson, leaving Daniel Bell-Drummond and night-watchman Milnes the not-out batsmen on 24 and nought at the close.”I’ve changed a few things technically,” Root said. “I haven’t had the opportunity to face a lot of seam (over the winter), I’ve faced a lot of spin, so for me to spend some time in the middle was really important.”Adam’s in cracking form, I think he’s played lovely and let’s be honest, he pretty much saved us single-handedly last week. In the first innings it looked like he was batting on a completely different wicket to the other guys, he was hitting it so fluently. You need your senior players to step up and lead the way for what is still a young team.”It was brilliant to get a couple of wickets before the close of play. We’ve had three very good days but we’ve got to follow it through tomorrow.”

In a summer transfer window centred around a number of reinforcements, Manchester United could now be about to lose one of Erik ten Hag's players before deadline day, according to Fabrizio Romano.

Man Utd transfer news

The Red Devils have so far had a fairly productive summer. Leny Yoro and Joshua Zirkzee first burst through the door, with the latter even scoring a Premier League winner on his debut against Fulham, before Bayern Munich duo Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazroui arrived. Four fresh faces set to make an impact, Ten Hag will have no excuse but to improve on last season's miserable league campaign.

After watching his Zirkzee score in his first Premier League appearance for the club, Ten Hag said via 90Min: "Scoring for a striker is important and he should be where he was, but he has more qualities and he has to get the right balance – he has to be arriving in the box to get the finishes, but we also want him to link up. We have some great midfielders around him to make up combinations."

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Following those arrivals, however, the Red Devils would be wise to sanction some sales, seemingly starting with a young winger Facundo Pellistri. According to Romano, Panathinaikos are now in advanced talks to sign Pellistri in a permanent deal, with negotiations ongoing for the United youngster.

Now 22 years old and showing little sign that he is capable of breaking into the current Manchester United side, a permanent exit for Pellistri is something that could suit all parties this month.

"Mischievous" Pellistri needs move

Spending the second half of last season on loan at Granada, Pellistri only showed glimpses of his quality in a frustrating period, scoring twice and assisting twice in 15 La Liga games. The winger is now getting to the age where he needs consistent minutes too, and the chance to discover his best form – something the Granada spell didn't help and something an Old Trafford stay will aid.

That said, the Uruguayan still has time to realise the potential that former Manchester United forward Edinson Cavani certainly believes he has in abundance. The former forward previously told United's official website via The Express: "Pellistri is a young lad and I really love the way he plays the game.

“He’s the typical South American footballer who has that mischievous nature to his game, and the way he lives his football is a bit like, as we say in Uruguay, being on el campito, as we call it, a makeshift pitch where you have a kickabout for fun with your mates or whoever. He’s a youngster who has a lot to learn but who has a lot to offer too.”

Now, however, it is Panathinaikos who look set to benefit in an attempt to help the winger get back to his best.

Let’s all just calm down a minute, why don’t we? First of all, let’s be candid. Liverpool have not enjoyed the transfer window that supporters hoped for, with gaps remaining in defence and midfield.

Martin Zubimendi was the man for the role at No. 6, perfectly press-resistant and tailor-made for Arne Slot’s control-focused system, but despite giving Richard Hughes the indication he would move to Anfield, Real Sociedad’s ferocious efforts to keep him in the Basque Country prevailed.

The Athletic’s James Pearce has since issued the solemn statement that Liverpool simply didn’t feel there was a suitable alternative on the market. Spending for the sake of spending is not FSG’s way, has never been, and prudence may yet prove to be the right decision.

Ryan Gravenberch has shown that he’s apt to succeed in the deep-sitting midfield position, with promising performances to start the season. It’s an internal solution but were the 22-year-old brought in this month, fans would rejoice at Liverpool’s innovation and ambition.

Matches (starts)

26 (12)

2 (2)

Goals

1

0

Assists

0

0

Touches*

28.8

80.5

Pass completion

83%

90%

Key passes*

0.6

0.00

Dribbles*

0.9

1.0

Ball recoveries*

2.8

5.0

Tackles + interceptions*

1.5

4.5

Total duels won (%)

2.8 (47%)

5.0 (50%)

Is it perfect? No, but Liverpool are in a transitional season that may yet bring silverware through the doors. And anyway, Liverpool completed their attack with the transfer of Federico Chiesa – and what a signing at that.

Why Liverpool signed Federico Chiesa

Many would point to Liverpool’s sole summer signing as a gamble, but Anfield bosses would stress that the shrewd deal is an emphatic move for a small fee – an initial £10m, to be exact.

Versatile and hard-working, the Italy international has myriad qualities that will enhance the creativity and fluency of Slot’s system, though the 26-year-old leaves his homeland with a shoddy injury record that has wrecked much of his growth.

Right winger

130

42

22

0.49

Left winger

72

15

16

0.43

Attacking midfield

71

15

10

0.35

Centre-forward

17

3

4

0.41

Following Liverpool’s signing, Jamie Carragher told Sky Sports News that Chiesa was a “£70m player” back in 2021, having starred at Euro 2020, playing an instrumental role in his nation’s victorious campaign.

He was also hailed for his “absolutely world-class” performances by journalist Zach Lowy during that period, and will hope to recapture that heady form, now at Liverpool.

Moreover, Chiesa will hope that he has put his injury issues to bed after featuring at the front and centre of Juventus’ 2023/24 term, starting 25 Serie A fixtures and scoring ten times in all competitions.

Should his fitness hold up, it’s hard to imagine that Liverpool have landed anything other than a masterful piece of business, bringing depth and dynamism to a team that already boasted one of Europe’s superlative frontlines.

Mohamed Salah is the cream of the crop, but he’s not the only superstar in the ranks, with Darwin Nunez looking to raise his game and live up to that club-record price tag, rising to £85m, that saw him brought in from Benfica two years ago.

Why Liverpool have hit gold on Darwin Nunez

An interesting striker, Nunez. Jurgen Klopp fell in love with the Uruguayan’s footballing ability during the 2021/22 season and orchestrated his transfer following an incredible season with Benfica that saw him score 34 goals from 41 matches, including two against Liverpool, two against Barcelona and one more against Bayern Munich in the Champions League.

He’s only scored 33 goals across 97 appearances since joining the Merseysiders, missing not so much a catalogue as a thick tome of chances in the Premier League – 47, in fact, despite scoring just 20 times. That’s not a good shooting rate.

Still, Nunez might be wasteful in front of goal but it is something that, if fixed, would place him among the finest forwards in the world: Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland.

His underlying numbers speak volumes. As per FBref, the 25-year-old ranks among the top 1% of forwards across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for shots taken, the top 4% for assists, the top 13% for shot-creating actions, the top 15% for progressive carries and the top 2% for touches in the attacking penalty area per 90.

His positional value, his movements and his endless energy tank suggest that Liverpool could yet hit the jackpot on their maverick, who might flourish within Slot’s ball-playing style of football.

Nunez has played a bit-part role throughout the first month of Slot’s reign, but expect big things down the line. He’s a top-class forward and reportedly even attracted interest from Arsenal in the late stage of the transfer window.

Indeed, according to Spanish sources, Nunez was on the Gunners’ radar this week, with Mikel Arteta and his transfer team mulling over completing a stunning £73m transfer.

This would have been a deal that would have sent shockwaves through English football, but alas, nothing concrete materialised and the £140k-per-week talent remains at Liverpool.

But it does serve as a marker of the player’s skill set, and the high regard in which he is held by Europe’s elite. Chiesa, for example, is an excellent player but his £13m transfer to Liverpool means that he’s currently worth far less than the South American star – with CIES Football Observatory noting that he could be valued at as much as €111m (£94m).

There’s absolutely no reason why the respective players cannot strike a formidable partnership at Liverpool, with Chiesa even ranking among the top 1% of forwards across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for shot-creating actions per 90 (FBref).

Will Liverpool hit gold with their Italian addition? Only time will tell. But for Nunez, despite his foibles, Liverpool already have, for he adds something different to a vibrant frontline and is worth quite the pretty penny – now imagine a world where he solves his ball-striking quandary.

Move over Chiesa: Liverpool could have signed a "monster" Salah heir

Arne Slot missed out on a current Premier League winger

ByRoss Kilvington Aug 31, 2024

Ruben Amorim has provided an update on injury-ravaged midfielder Mason Mount and suggested that wantaway Marcus Rashford could feature against Spurs.

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Mount injury updateRashford return hintedStriker wants 'new challenge'Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Mount — whose time at United has been hampered by successive injuries — hobbled off after just 12 minutes in Sunday's Manchester derby at the Etihad Stadium. The details of that injury remain unclear but Amorim has confirmed the English midfielder won't be available for tomorrow's Carabao Cup tie against Tottenham. Meanwhile, he hinted that Rashford may still be involved despite the forward recently telling journalist Henry Winter that he is "ready for a new challenge".

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Rashford shocked the football world with his bombshell interview on Tuesday. He told Winter: "I think I'm ready for a new challenge and the next steps" and added "I've seen how other players have left in the past and I don't want to be that person. When I leave I'll make a statement and it will be from me." But ultimately he remains under contract at United and Amorim's pre-match press conference suggested there could still a place for him in the first-team squad for Thursday's EFL Cup quarter-final trip to Spurs.

WHAT AMORIM SAID

"They are training, so we will see," Amorim said about Rashford and Garnacho, who was also left out of Sunday's matchday squad. "We have one more training [session], like I said in the press conference, they are our players. We are better with them. If they cope with training and the engagement with team-mates, they will be ready to play." He added: "Mason Mount is not available. He has an injury… We have to assess all the players and try not to get a lot of injuries. If we do that, we'll be stronger in these kind of moments."

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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR RASHFORD?

Transfer rumours have swirled around Rashford before and after his shock statement, although his next destination is still uncertain. Several clubs have been linked with the wantaway forward including arch-rivals Manchester City, whose boss Pep Guardiola is reportedly a big fan of the 27-year-old. Few clubs could match Rashford's reported weekly wage of £375,000, but City certainly have the finances to make a deal happen.

45-year-old allrounder takes 2 for 22 without conceding a boundary as Hampshire stumble to defeat

Matt Roller09-Jun-2021Modern T20 cricket is almost unrecognisable from the format launched as the Twenty20 Cup in 2003 but at least one thing has not changed: Darren Stevens, county cricket’s Peter Pan, is still a match-winner. A week short of 18 years since his debut in the format, opening the batting in Leicestershire’s first-ever T20 fixture, Stevens made his long-awaited return to Kent’s Vitality Blast side after a four-year absence and turned their season opener on its head to spearhead a comfortable win.Hampshire had reached 51 without loss after the powerplay when Stevens came into the attack but at the end of a miserly four-over spell featuring two wickets, no boundaries and only 22 runs, they were dead and buried: the required rate had soared from exactly nine an over to an eye-watering 12.71, setting a collapse of nine wickets for 78 runs in motion. Fred Klaassen won the match award for his four wickets, but had the grace to admit it had been: “The Darren Stevens show – quite remarkable.”For the last three years Stevens has told anyone who would listen – and plenty who wouldn’t, including Kent’s coaching staff – that T20 is his favourite format and that he should have been part of their side, but his returns with the bat had tailed off from 2015-17 and he had played an increasingly peripheral role with the ball. He had won the competition twice, but those days were long gone.An unsuccessful loan spell at Derbyshire in 2019 seemed to confirm he was no longer the white-ball force that had once come close to an England cap and with his Championship bowling as potent as ever, Kent opted to manage his workload and looked the other way. He had first fallen out of the side when injured in 2018: “When I came back, the youngsters were doing okay and they just said ‘we’re going to give them a bit of a go’,” he said. “I get it, but I’m just gutted.”Related

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But tonight their hand was forced. Sam Billings and Zak Crawley were with England’s Test squad, while Qais Ahmad and Adam Milne were still in quarantine; Imran Qayyum’s retirement had forced them to bring in James Logan on a short-term deal at the 11th hour, and Harry Podmore was not risked on his way back from injury.So in came Stevens, becoming the first 45-year-old to make an appearance in English domestic T20 cricket. Joe Denly and Daniel Bell-Drummond got Kent off to a flying start, making 44 and 42 respectively off 23 balls each, while Ollie Robinson – the other one – anchored the innings after Mason Crane picked up three middle-over wickets with his legbreaks.Robinson’s stand of 54 with Jordan Cox for the sixth wicket meant Stevens faced a single ball after walking out to a warm ovation from the 1,000 or so fans at Canterbury, which he clipped to square leg for one. And when Bell-Drummond threw the new ball to Denly rather than Stevens – who had briefly been a first-over specialist in 2017, often limited to a solitary over in an innings – it seemed as though this grand return would be little more than an anti-climax.But Stevens’ scriptwriters have a penchant for the romantic. D’Arcy Short and James Vince – one of the Blast’s best opening pairs on paper – had tucked into Klaassen and Grant Stewart in the first six overs and Stevens’ arrival in the seventh was designed to limit the damage, on a pitch that suited pace-off options throughout the night.”From the Nackington Road End, Darren Stevens,” declared the ground’s announcer to the loudest cheer of the night. And then, the inevitable: a length ball just outside leg stump to the left-hander, a tickle down the leg side, a clean catch from Robinson and a joyous celebration. Short stood perplexed, convinced the ball had flicked his pad rather than his inside edge, but by the time he had dragged himself off the Kent faithful were one in song: “There’s only one Darren Stevens”.

In response to playing his first T20 for Kent in four years:

"' ." pic.twitter.com/9zybPY2dyQ

— Kent Spitfires (@KentCricket) June 9, 2021