14 Wednesday, August 11, 2021 Sports ICC to push for ’s inclusion in Olympics Cricket’s governing body starts preparations for LA 2028 bid on behalf of the sport

ICC way back in 1900 in Paris ryone at the ICC, I would sionate fanbase, particularly The ICC Olympic Working when only two teams compet- like to congratulate the IOC, in South Asia where 92% of Group will be chaired by Eng- The ICC has confirmed its ed at the event – Great Britain Tokyo 2020, and the people our fans come from whilst land and Wales Cricket Board intention to push for crick- and hosts France – meaning of Japan for staging such an there are also 30 million Chair Ian Watmore. He will et’s inclusion in the Olympic the sport’s inclusion in 2028 incredible Games in such dif- cricket fans in the USA. The be joined by ICC Independent Games going forward, start- would mark the end of a 128- ficult circumstances. It truly opportunity for those fans to Director Indra Nooyi, Chair ing preparations for a bid on year absence. was fantastic to watch and see their heroes competing of Zimbabwe Cricket Taveng- behalf of the sport with the The sport will feature in captured the imagination of for an Olympic medal is tan- wa Mukuhlani, ICC Associate primary target being its addi- the 2022 Com- the world and we would love talising.” Member Director and Vice tion to the Los Angeles 2028 monwealth Games next year, for cricket to be a part of fu- “We believe cricket would President of the Asian Cricket itinerary. which shapes as a perfect ture Games,” Barclay said. be a great addition to the Council Mahinda Vallipuram A Working Group to lead showcase for what the sport “Our sport is united be- Olympic Games, but we know and Chair of USA Cricket Par- “USA Cricket is thrilled huge global audience and fol- the bid has been assembled can bring to the Olympics, as hind this bid, and we see the it won’t be easy to secure ag Marathe. to be able to support crick- lowing for the sport around by the ICC. well as being a momentous Olympics as a part of cricket’s our inclusion as there are so Marathe believes the time et’s bid for inclusion in the the world, we believe that Thirty-million cricket occasion on its own. long-term future. We have many other great sports out is now for cricket to make Olympics, the timing of which cricket’s inclusion will add fans live in the USA, making ICC Chair Greg Barclay more than a billion fans glob- there wanting to do the same. its long-awaited return to aligns perfectly with our con- great value to the Los Ange- LA 2028 the ideal Games for said the addition of cricket ally and almost 90 percent of But we feel now is the time to the Olympics, confident the tinuing plans to develop the les 2028 Olympic Games and cricket to make its return to to the Olympic Games would them want to see cricket at put our best foot forward and sport’s inclusion at the show- sport in the USA,” he said. help us to achieve our own vi- Olympic competition. Crick- be beneficial to both the sport the Olympics. show what a great partner- piece event would accelerate “With so many passion- sion for establishing cricket et, till now, has made just one and the Games themselves. Barclay added: “Clearly ship cricket and the Olympics the growth of the game in the ate cricket fans and players as a mainstream sport in this appearance in the Olympics, “Firstly on behalf of eve- cricket has a strong and pas- are.” USA. already in the USA, and a country.”

Moeen Ali named in England’s squad for Lord’s Test Agencies his returning team-mate. He London has the ability to go out there and win games with bat and Moeen Ali is set to join the ball, he’s proven that. He plays rest of the squad later today his best cricket when he is en- and start training immedi- joying it and he’s full of confi- ately ahead of the second Test dence - it certainly looks that against India at Lord’s. way at the moment, the way Moeen Ali could be drafted he has taken to , straight into the playing XI to the way he has led Birming- bring some balance into the ham Phoenix,” Root said in side after England went in a virtual press conference on without a frontline spinner in Tuesday. the first Test against India at “I would happily give him Nottingham. a huge amount of responsibil- Cricket at the Olympics? It’s happened before Apart from wily off-spin, ity if he does play because he Ali is also expected to add a lit- responds extremely well to tle more impetus with the bat that. He is a leader within the t is official – the campaign group was largely made up of . lower down the order along- dressing room, a great person- to get cricket back into the Cricket has only once been played at the Olympics, back British ex-pats. Fifties from Charles side fellow southpaw Sam ality, he drags people with him IOlympic Games is on. in 1900 in Paris, with Great Britain and hosts France the The two sides clashed at Beachcroft and Alfred Bower- Curran. on the field and in the dress- The ICC has made its only participants. Cricket’s road to its Olympic debut was the Vélodrome de Vincennes man powered Great Britain to The spin-bowling all- ing room, so it will be great intentions clear, announc- eventful. Originally slated to be included in the inaugural in a two-day match comprising 145/5 in their second dig and rounder hasn’t featured in a to have him back around,” he ing on Tuesday its ambitions modern Olympic Games in 1896 in Athens, it was two innings each. Upon an incredible haul of 7/9 from home Test match since the added. for cricket to be a part of the scrapped due to a lack of participants. Four years later it agreement by the two captains, Montagu Toller wrapped up first game of Ashes 2019, The first Test between In- Olympic Games going for- made its debut in Paris but that too was eventful. each team had 12 players rather victory from there as France which also was the ICC World dia and England ended in a ward, preparing a bid for the than 11, which took organis- were skittled for 26. Test Championship 2019-21 draw after rain played spoil- sport’s return with a target of ers by surprise. Having already Great Britain were award- opener. After the completion sport on the final day of the the 2028 event in Los Angeles. it made its debut in Paris but have even realised it was a printed scorecards for the ed a silver medal for winning of the series, Ali went on an Test. England coach Chris If successful, it will see the that too was eventful. part of the Olympics, with the match, the additional names the contest, with France given indefinite break from Test Silverwood also admitted that sport played at the celebrated It was planned that Great match played under the ban- were written in by hand. bronze, while both teams were cricket. batsmen apart from sporting festival for the first Britain, France, the Nether- ner of the Exposition Univer- The clash proved a low- gifted miniatures of the Eif- Since then, he has only fea- need to start contributing time in 128 years. lands and Belgium would all selle of 1900 – a world fair in scoring affair in the end, with fel Tower. It was only in 1912, tured in one Test which came more to ease off the pressure Cricket has only once been enter cricket teams into the Paris – at the time. It wasn’t Great Britain finishing 158- when the match was given against India in Chennai, on the Three Lions skipper. played at the Olympics, back tournament. Unfortunately, until 1912 that the clash was run victors. Fittingly, they Olympic event status, that the where he was the highest run- “We’ve tried to manage in 1900 in Paris, with Great both the Netherlands and Bel- given official Olympic event were forced to race for the vic- medals were converted to gold scorer (49) and the highest things as best we can over a Britain and hosts France the gium withdrew from the crick- status. tory, with the final fall- and silver. wicket-taker (8) for England period of time and I’ve always only participants. et after their bid to co-host the Neither team fielded a na- ing just five minutes before the At the next Olympic in their 317-run loss. been a huge fan of Mo. I think Cricket’s road to its Olym- Olympics was turned down. tional side, with Great Britain end of play on the final day. Games, in 1904 in St Louis, The last time India toured he’s a wonderful cricketer pic debut was eventful. Origi- Consequentially, the calling upon the services of Batting first, England USA, cricket was left off the England, Ali was recalled into across the formats, I think he’s nally slated to be included in match between Great Britain the Devon and Somerset Wan- managed a total of 117, with itinerary. What better a loca- the Test squad mid-series and a great ambassador for the the inaugural modern Olym- and France was cricket’s first derers club, who were tour- Frederick Cumming top-scor- tion for the sport to return to justified his inclusion with 119 game, and it’s wonderful to see pic Games in 1896 in Athens, and, as it currently stands, last ing France at the time. France ing with 38. In reply, France the Games than Los Angeles, runs and 12 wickets in two him back in the Test arena, be- it was scrapped due to a lack of match. were represented by an ‘All were held to 78, with Freder- USA, fittingly four years on Tests, including a Player of the ing back in a Test squad,” said participants. Four years later The participants may not Paris’ team, whose 12-man ick Christian collecting seven from Paris 2024. (ICC) Match-winning performance Root. at Southampton. “It was a brilliant perfor- Moeen Ali has often re- mance he put in in Chennai served his best cricket in the and if he gets an opportunity, longest form of the game he’ll be desperate to impress against India, having scored and show everyone how good Bayern’s Nagelsmann leads host of more runs (673) and more he is in as well as wickets (49) against India white-ball cricket. than any other team. He’s certainly a big con- The first Test between Eng- tender. We haven’t been to new coaches in season of change land and India had to settle for the ground yet and we’ll look a draw after the final day at at conditions and weigh things Trent Bridge was washed out up but he’s in a great position DPA is due to rain. The action now to play,” he added. Berlin heads to Lord’s for the second just 34 but is now the Test, starting Thursday, 12 Au- England’s squad for the second A raft of clubs have coach of one of the gust. Test against India: Joe Root new coaches when the season Meanwhile, England Test (), Moeen Ali, James begins this weekend, with the biggest clubs in the skipper Joe Root on Tuesday Anderson, , Dom return of fans also adding a world. How he copes said that all-rounder Moeen Bess, , Rory Burns, new dimension to what could with the pressure in has the ability to win games , Zak Crawley, Sam be one of the most exciting for his side with both the bat Curran, Haseeb Hameed, Dan campaigns in years. the early weeks of the and ball in hand. Lawrence, Jack Leach, Craig How long supporters will season could decide “Just to go out there and Overton, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robin- be in the stadiums remains to be Moeen Ali,” Root said of son, Dom Sibley, . be seen with the coronavirus whether Bayern win pandemic still in the back- a 10th straight ground. Its impact is also be- Bundesliga title. ing felt on the field with few big transfers happening in has taken over at Germany with club finances Dortmund, who will be des- stretched. perate to do better than third It is in the dugout where this term. They sold Jadon the main changes have oc- Sancho to Manchester United curred, although most of the dowski to call on after his re- on August 17). Then the fans son, lost coach Adi Huetter to but crucially have held on to new coaches have previous cord-breaking 41 goals in the will be happy and we can be on Borussia Moenchengladbach goalscoring hero Erling Haal- Bundesliga experience. Bundesliga last term, but he is the front foot,” Nagelsmann but gained from and despite Bayern and others Nagelsmann has swapped almost 33 and will slow down told broadcaster BR. Champions League qualifiers showing interest. last season’s runners-up RB at some point. Nagelsmann has been re- Wolfsburg. His first competi- Greuther Fuerth and Bo- Leipzig for champions Bayern Centre back Dayot Upame- placed at Leipzig by American tive game was a 2-0 German chum are the promoted teams after went off to cano is the main new recruit, , who speaks Ger- Cup first round defeat by third and are expected to struggle. take over Germany. coming with Nagelsmann man from his time in charge of tier Waldhof Mannheim. Cologne, who only just All was not well between from Leipzig. But with David sister club Salzburg. His replacement at Wolfs- stayed up last season, also Flick and the Bayern board Alaba and Jerome Boateng The Bundesliga is a big burg, former Bayern midfield- have a new coach in Steffen over their limited transfer pol- having left, Bayern look light step up for the 47-year-old er , also had Baumgart. He summed up the icy and the combative Nagels- in defence. but unlike last term, Leipzig a forgettable competitive bow views of many neutrals when it mann might have to watch his “You have to win the first do have a proven goalscorer when he used too many sub- comes to the Bundesliga title. words in the coming months, game at Gladbach (on Friday) in Andre Silva, who has joined stitutes in the Cup win over “It would be nice, if some England’s Moeen Ali (R) with teammate during the first especially if results wobble. and ideally the Super Cup from . Muenster. other team were champions,” Ashes Test against Australia at Edgbaston. (AFP) He has Robert Lewan- (against Frankfurt, fifth last sea- Former Gladbach boss he said.