England’s National Cricket Team Agree to Bonus Cuts

Cricketers with England’s National Cricket Team have agreed to slash their bonuses by 15% from October 2020 to November 2021. This follows after the England & Wales Cricket Board saw losses exceeding £100 Million, with those financial burdens expected to sustain themselves throughout 2021. Cricketers have been expected to permit reductions in their salary & bonuses, guarantying to the ECB have finances needed to support tournaments in 2021. Most don’t understand how important this announcement is, with the England & Wales Cricket Board has never slashed bonuses since it was introduced in 2000.

The England National Cricket Team would obtain anywhere from £44,000.00 to £176,000.00 for winning a test series. How those bonus funds were determined was based around the opposition’s ranking in the ECB Five-Tier System. Teams in the lowest tier that are defeated would evoke the £44k bonus valuation, while oppositions beaten in the highest levels enabled bonus payouts of £176k. Cricketers have agreed that the ECB can payout half those funds for test series where the opponent is defeated. This means the lowest bonus funds now are £22k, with the highest being £88k.

ECB Women’s Division Take Bonus Cuts

The England & Wales Cricket Board didn’t request that the male division exclusively take bonus cuts. The ECB female division was also asked to make similar cuts. Whenever England’s Women’s Cricket Team won their test series, bonus prizes of £30k to £60k were awarded depending on the division ranking of their opposition. Those valuations are now slashed by 50% at £15k to £30k.

The England & Wales Cricket Board have actively avoided discussing bonus reductions with the female division. Their request to the female division came weeks after their male counterparts made a £500,000.00 donation on behalf of the ECB. Those funds could’ve been saved to sustain bonus salaries for the 2021 season. It shows the stark reality of how professional cricket is more about maintaining an image than playing the sport, an active complaint associated with middle-class supporters. It should be mentioned that depending on how long the COVID-19 Pandemic is sustained internationally; bonus salaries could continue being reduced into 2022.

England Arriving in Pakistan for 1st Time since 2005

The England & Wales Cricket Board made a shocking announcement that they’ve begun discussions to hold an exhibition tour in Pakistan. It’d mark the first instance of England arriving in Pakistan since 2005, citing player-wide security concerns relating to an ongoing war between Al-Qaeda & the United States in the region. The latest announcement was first reported on “ESPN Cricket Info”, with the Pakistani Cricket Board and ECB confirming that discussions have begun. It’s said that the exhibition tour would be held somewhere around January to February 2021.

Executives with the Pakistani Cricket Board made an official statement regarding a potential tour. Minimal information was provided, with more coming after discussions & security checks have been finalized. British Cricketer & now PCB Managing Director Wasim Khan was questioned on the announcement of tour discussions.

PCB Initiated Discussions

Wasim Khan detailed that relations between the ECB and PCR are good, with the two governing entities maintaining continued communication on the possibility of an exhibition tour. Khan evoked that the British High Commissioner has also entered the discussions and is doing a formidable job in locating the best solutions to permit this tour. Regional security concerns aren’t the only hurdle to overcome, with COVID-19 still factoring into this decision. That’s why Wasim Khan believes individuals from multiple parties need to lead towards the right direction for a Pakistani tour to become a reality.

Managing Director Wasim Khan clarified that he’d initiated discussions with the England & Wales Cricket Board on October 12th. Khan invited England’s National Team to an exhibition tour and received a prompt formal response. Talks began on October 14th, with the PCB & ECB having enough confidence in the possible tour that they’ve confirmed discussions. Requirements needed to permit a Pakistani tour include:

  • Security Assessments.
  • COVID-19 Assessments.
  • PCR Testing Capabilities.
  • Healthcare Sustainability.

It should be noted that under the possibility of this exhibition tour being declined, the England & Wales Cricket Board is sending their national team in 2022 to Pakistan. Within the next 24-Months, there’ll be an exhibition tour in Pakistan. It should be noted though that the ECB is actively working towards approving the January to February 2021 tour.

Jofra Archer Defends England Against Michael Holding’s

The BLM movement hasn’t been forgotten by Jofra Archer, a formidable athlete on England’s National Cricket Team. Archer demands that England hasn’t forgotten about the BLM Movement, with criticism growing across the United Kingdom since Michael Holding criticized England for eliminating national anthem kneeling. This is honorary now for the Black Lives Matter Movement.

England’s National Cricket Team taking the onslaught of criticism makes zero sense. Michael Holding works for SkySports, reviewing football matches live for millions worldwide. Criticism was evoked towards England from Michael Holding, who protested that when the West Indies National Team left, the kneeling stopped. The SkySports Reporter emphasized that Jofra Archer & other cricketers that didn’t kneel had hopped onto a bandwagon that’s starting to die-down.

These sentiments from Michael Holding didn’t suit Jofra Archer, prompting a response from England’s most politicized & engaging cricketer. This response was more significant than anything Archer had accomplished before, which included a formal complaint to Tom Harrison. The ECB Chief Executive Officer will now have to publicly respond towards Michael Holding, which could see the long-time reporter lose his career.

ECB Becoming More Inclusive

EuroSports questioned Jofra Archer on his thoughts behind Michael Holding’s remarks. Archer stated that Michael isn’t aware of EBC Protocol & hasn’t spoken with Tom Harrison. Jofra believes that Holding’s thinks Tom Harrison won’t dispute these comments. However, the England & Cricket Board has made extensive promises to support equality. Jofra Archer has suggested that the ECB implemented a league-wide discrimination code, which would permit teams to implement life-long bans onto racist supporters. It’s a similar suggestion that multiple athletes have made in the ECB & Premier League.

It should be mentioned that the England & Cricket Board is maintained by a Board of Directors, which are exclusively Caucasian. The ECB hasn’t employed a single executive of African descent. Jofra Archer & other cricketers with African descent have been promised that’ll change over the coming years. ECB executives have already implemented educational programs for the African-Caribbean Communities in Great Britain, Ireland, and Scotland. Michael Holding being aware of these contributions to equality, would’ve likely seen him more reserved on SkySports. How the broadcaster reacts isn’t known to date.

Stuart Broad Commits to ECB Salary Reduction

The England & Wales Cricket Board has requested for months that players willing take reductions in their salary. It’d enable the ECB to offset burdens associated with the COVID-19 pandemic financially. Delays were initiated with these requested, as the test series between Pakistan & the West Indies proved profitable for ECB. The looming second wave of COVID-19 has seen the ECB pre-emptively request that players take a salary reduction. Few have publicly responded, hoping that discussions in pay-cuts are avoided.

One player isn’t approaching this scenario with vindictive intent. Stuart Broad has agreed to cooperate with salary reductions during the COVID-19 pandemic. His agreement comes after being one of England’s best cricketers against the West Indies & Pakistan. Stuart Broad acquired thirteen wickets when combating Pakistan’s national team. That number increased to sixteen wickets against the West Indies. For Stuart Broad to agree, it shows virtue & leadership that’ll likely have other professionals follow suit.

Employment Reductions

The England & Wales Cricket Board has begun financially struggling in recent weeks, announcing on October 1st that sixty-two positions had been terminated from ECB operations. It amounts to 20% of their corporate workforce, with the ECB’s Chief Executive Officer clarifying that £100 million had been lost since COVID-19 began. It’s known that continued restrictions from a coronavirus outbreak will prompt £200 to £250 million in overall losses. ECBs Tom Harrison would struggle to lead the company into recovery as CEO. Financial disruptions on this magnitude create fallouts that cannot be overturned.

England’s Stuart Broad revealed that other cricketers on the national team would agree to salary reductions. The larger number of players that decide to salary reductions will initiate the redevelopment of ECB savings. When questioned on what’ll the result of these discussions be, Stuart Broad evoked that salary reductions will 100% happen & that there are players purposely delaying the enactment for vindicative purposes. It’s selfish behaviour when considering that sixty-two individuals employed by the ECB, lost their jobs.

Potential rifts in leadership could be occurring on England’s national cricket team. Stuart Broad could be looking to overtake Ben Stokes as the primary leader of this squad. However, it’s more likely that Stuart Broad believes in the just cause of financially saving the ECB.

ECB Announces Job Layoffs

Employed personnel with the England & Wales Cricket Board were furloughed on September 26th. The ECB was forced into making this decision after profits continue to dwindle during the coronavirus pandemic. Nobody had anticipated the England & Wales Cricket Board to announce that 62 employees lost their jobs. It’s unknown if these individuals were provided severance packages from the ECB, with that likely not be the case with continued losses being sustained.

An official statement regarding the unfortunate layoffs was issued by Tom Harrison, the Chief Executive Officer of the England & Wales Cricket Board. Harrison mentioned that throughout several months, unthinkable scenarios have been placed onto ECB leaders & forced them to make unwanted decisions. Tom Harrison’s prompt words reflected that the professional sport of Cricket in the United Kingdom is at risk. Harrison believes that COVID-19 will be the most prominent challenge that ECB faces in the modern era. The CEO finalized his statements by saying the future is uncertain, and that they have to take the steps required to ensure financial sustainability for ECB future generations.

The England & Wales Cricket Board have lost £100 million throughout the first eight months of 2020, with that figure expects to extend towards £200 million by 2021. Financial losses accumulating more than £300 million would finalize the closure of EBCs future campaigns. One factor that enables the England & Wales Cricket Board to sustain safeguarded finances is by furloughing employed personnel. The 62 positions terminated allowed a 20% increase in their workforce budget, which will be restructured towards internal savings.

ECBs Strategies

Most supporters are shocked that the ECB have sustained such losses, with all eighteen international matches for 2020 still being played before December 31st. Those matches haven’t meant consumer attention for Jersey Kits, Team Memorabilia, and Signed Autograph’s. Most teams in the ECB have begun contacting sportsbooks to receive sponsorship, providing them minimal profits for this year & minor sustaining for 2021.

It should be clarified that Tom Harrison’s ECB is steadily declined, with employed personnel having been told previously that salaries would drop by 25%. The Chief Executive Officer hopes that additional furloughs aren’t required throughout 2021 & will gain investor financial aid if needed to sustain the ECB.

Glenn Maxwell Becomes Cricketing Legend

The Australian & England ODI Series was filled with expected moments and saw a consistent state of leadership in this competition. It was anticipated that England would dominate over their Australian opponents, winning the first of three matches without any challenges. England would move forward & win the remaining two matches. Australia’s Glenn Maxwell & Alex Carey stunned the cricketing community, obtaining five wickets before being overpowered by England’s best players.

Australia & England’s ODI Series saw Glenn Maxwell & Alex Carey obtain a record stand at 212. It came after five back-to-back wickets from the two Australians, which are considered heroes of the sport in Australia. It should be noted that before Glenn Maxwell & Alex Carey obtained those notable wickets, Australia was losing at 5-73. It’s the lowest score that Australia’s National Cricket Team obtained since 1977. That was until Glenn Maxwell assisted Alex Carey at the crease, marking a substantial shift in the game. That shift wouldn’t be enough to press Australia to victory & potentially tie the ODI Series. England’s cricketers, like Jofra Archer, overpowered the combination of Alex Carey and Glenn Maxwell.

Maxwell known for lackluster performances

Glenn Maxwell is unfortunately known for not playing his best when required. Most times he’ll fail when stepping to the crease. That didn’t change on September 16th. Glenn would smash four boundaries with seven sixes, just enough for Australia to avoid their worst defeat since 2015. Australia maintained a final score of 146/5, and England rallied 146/6. It should be mentioned that the skillsets displayed by Glenn Maxwell & Alex Carey is considered the 6th highest-ranking partnership in ODI history. For all accomplishments made by Australia during the 2020 ODI Series, it wasn’t enough to dominate past

Alex Carey & Glenn Maxwell couldn’t compete against the skillsets of Jofra Archer, or Mark Wood. They are considered England’s best duo, which prompted Australian coaching staff to switch-out Maxwell/Carey for Mitchell Starc & Pat Cummins. Commentators at the Australia & England ODI Series expressed that what they’d seen from Team Aussie was nothing short of a victory. Most have given Australia the consolation victory prize, with their formidable efforts more impressive than what England displayed.

Australian Cricket Team Quarantining in Adelaide

The COVID-19 pandemic has drastically altered how international sporting competitions engage with each other. For months, national teams weren’t permitted to travel across their respective borders. Exceptions weren’t made until June 2020, six-months after the coronavirus was declared an international pandemic. The first exceptions for professional cricket were provided through the United Kingdom, permitting the West Indies & Indian national teams to compete against Great Britain. Similar exceptions were also given to the “Australia’s National Cricket Team”, who are competing against England’s squad between September 6th to 16th.

Cricketers from Australia that travelled to the United Kingdom were informed that they’d have to sustain a 14-Day quarantine upon arriving home. Team representatives provided details on where these cricketers will be quarantining after returning home. The Adelaide Oval Hotel will permit the entire squad to quarantine for 14-Days. Adelaide Oval Hotel was selected because of its on-site cricket field, which will be exclusively given to the “Australia’s National Cricket Team” for their two-week stay.

The Chief Executive Officer for the South Australian Cricket Association, Keith Bradshaw, provided clarification behind the Adelaide being selected. The CEO evoked that the Adelaide Oval Hotel will become the primary quarantine zone for Australian Cricketers upon their arrival home. “Australia’s National Cricket Team” is next slated to compete against India after England. It’s supposed to be the highlighted series for 2020 and will likely see the Indian National Squad arrive at the Adelaide Oval Hotel. That is under the condition that Hotel Staff provides secured isolation zones, where outbreaks are present.

New Hosts for Indian ODI Series

Australia versus India ODI Series was slated to arrive at Adelaide, Sydney, Brisbane, and Melbourne. Scheduling alterations have been required amid the COVID-19 pandemic & inside sources indicated that the Adelaide Region would become the primary host for this ODI Series. CEO Keith Bradshaw announcing that the Adelaide Oval Hotel will become the primary quarantine location for Australia’s professional cricketers & could likely host the Indian ODI Series is an essential confirmation of what’s to come. Australia versus India ODI Series will begin on December 16th, 2020. It’ll end on January 15th, 2021.

Ian Bell Retires from Professional Cricket

England has seen numerous cricketers rise to prominence & retire before their 40s, evoking the pain that their sport places onto the body after decades. The most recent cricketer to announce his retirement is Ian Bell, who last competed for England’s National Cricket Team in 2015. Ian Bell played his final match with Islamabad United on March 15th against the Quetta Gladiators, and won’t return to the Pakistan Super League in Fall 2020.

Ian Bell provided his long-time supporters with an official goodbye. He stated that the sentiment of knowing when the time’s right is accurate and that for himself, that time has arrived. He mentioned that his enthusiasm & hunger for professional cricket hasn’t ended, that it’s more vital than ever before. However, Ian Bell noted his body could not sustain the physical demanded need for professional contention & his expectations.

The famous cricketer debuted for the England National Cricket Team in 2004, sustaining an eleven-year career with the squad. This team support five victories over the Ashes Series during Ian’s reign, allowing for the footballers to obtain “Player of the Series” in 2013. Throughout his time with the ENCT, Ian Bell maintained 562 Wickets & averaged a 62.44.

Ian Bell didn’t exclusively play with the England National Cricket Team, competing in multiple ODI Series. He was the leader of Britain’s ODI Squad for years until Eoin Morgan overtook him in 2018. That’d mark the moment when Ian Bell switched over to the Pakistan Super League. His professional career will be remembered for sustaining one of the most elegant forms of playing, which notable cricketers after 2004 have tried to copy.

Ian’s Retirement Announcement

Statements from Ian Bell didn’t conclude with the physical demands of professional cricket. He’d evoke that it’s been an honour & privilege to reach his boyhood dream of playing for England’s top cricket clubs. Ian remarked that playing just once would’ve been good enough for him and that a 22-year tenure in professional cricket is more than he could’ve ever desired. Ian Bell finalized his goodbye statement by mentioning his thanks for all staff, coaches, players, supporters, and executives that he’s worked with during those 22-Years. Ian Bell will now look towards coaching professional cricket.

The First BBC T20 Broadcast in Two Decades

Viewers that subscribe to the BBC were shown a televised match of the Twenty20 Tournament for the first time in 21 years. The BBC haven’t supported this professional sport in more than two decades, which shocks young fans that aren’t aware of Britain’s violent past with cricket. Their last televised match occurred during a different time in England’s history, with that final broadcast shown during the 1999 Twenty20 Tournament. The BBC altering their mindset around this tournament is welcomed by supporters and has led us to question how cricket in Great Britain has changed over two decades.

Young fans in the Millennial, GenZ, and GenX Generations wouldn’t understand cricket in Great Britain after re-watching matches from the 1990s. It was an entirely different sport that saw batters ramping, scooping, and switch-hitting. All these components of professional cricket are banned today. It would’ve been challenging for these young supporters to believe that England’s National Cricket Team won the “Ashes World Cup Series”. However, those same components were in-play during the 90s & England dominated professional cricket.

Their domination over rival teams followed with the involvement of players like Zak Crawley, Ollie Pop, and Sam Curran. Their skillsets were legendary & failed during Great Britain’s most influential time in 1990s professional cricket. These three men were outpaced by the talents of Shane Warne & Alex Stewart from Australia, enabling the Australian National Cricket Team to garner victory of the 1999 Twenty20 Tournament.

England’s accomplishments in professional cricket during the 90s won’t be forgotten. Teams from Manchester City were promoted from the 3rd tier of this sport to the 1st and garnered notable wins. This rollercoaster ride throughout the 1990s led most supporters to believe that England’s victory over the 1999 Twenty20 Tournament was inevitable. Their exit from the championship offset popularity of this sport for a prolonged period and wouldn’t reach its former heights into the involvement of Ben Stokes.

The England National Cricket Team has become a dominating force throughout the 2010s & 2020s, showing that their presence in this sport might dwindle but always return with ferocity. Even though England has returned to providence in professional cricket, older supporters won’t ever forget the excitement that 1990s cricket garnered.

Cricket Australia Issues COVID-19 Measures for Abroad Players

The Australian National Cricket Team have officially departed for Great Britain & Scotland, competing against England in Limited-Overs Tour that comprises of six matches. It marks the 1st instance of an Australian sporting club travelling overseas amid the COVID-19 Pandemic. Aussie Bowlers will remain in the United Kingdom for two weeks, competing in the Limited-Overs Tour & Twenty20s Tournament. Special requirements are being enforced to guarantee that cricketers with Australia don’t contract COVID-19.

Australian borders have been shut down since the World Health Organization reclassified the COVID-19 Epidemic as an international pandemic. Those wanting to travel overseas weren’t permitted that right unless extraordinary circumstances applied. The Australian Government noted that one in four travelling applications are approved weekly, with approvals often granted for those requiring special medical care. Permits to travel during COVID-19 have also been given to international criminals & illegal aliens that need immediate extradition.

The Board of Directors at Cricket Australia requested that their medical advisors create a series of “Bio-Secure Coronavirus Protocols”. Details on those measures were made available for public knowledge & enforce that coronavirus protocols will be stricter than England’s. The England Cricket Board hardly imposed COVID-19 standards when competing against Pakistan, and the West Indies. Cricket Australia couldn’t risk the safety of Aussie Bowlers & prompted the inclusion of new measures.

The Demands and Requests of Cricket Australia

Protocols list that team personnel showing symptoms related to COVID-19 will immediately be segregated into another sector of a Southampton Hotel. Medical advisors would then give tests for Cricket Australia, with these individuals wearing “CDC Infectious Suits” to guarantee their protection. All individuals that had contact with that respective individual will also be forced into segregation. Under these terms, it wouldn’t take long for Cricket Australia to withdraw from contention against England. An outbreak of COVID-19 with Aussie Bowlers would be needed to enforce a withdraw strategy.

Cricket Australia is requesting that British personnel at the Limited-Overs & Twenty20s wear face coverings, but not demanded as these individuals aren’t under Cricket Australia’s employment. Media personnel were informed that they’d be requested to wear face coverings, social distance, and hand sanitizer. Unwillingness to comply would prompt cancellation on their interviews & an escorting from the facilities.

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