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A new report claims that Chelsea owner Todd Boehly attempted to hire Arne Slot as manager before striking a deal with Mauricio Pochettino.

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Boehly made contact with Feyenoord boss SlotEventually appointed PochettinoChelsea struggling currently under the ArgentineWHAT HAPPENED?

Per AD, Slot held talks with Chelsea in the summer before deciding to remain at Feyenoord. He had also spoken to Tottenham before they appointed Ange Postecoglou, but the report states that Todd Boehly actually picked the Dutchman up in a private jet for talks but could not convince him to leave the Eredivisie.

AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Chelsea's appointment of Pochettino has yet to pan out on the pitch. The Blues are currently 10th in the Premier League table, having won five, lost five, and drawn four of their 14 games. They are 10 points behind fourth-placed Aston Villa and 14 behind leaders Arsenal. As a result, AD claim that Boehly could return to Slot as a contender if they do sack Pochettino this season.

DID YOU KNOW?

Slot's Feyenoord are currently second in the Eredivisie, having won the title last season. He also guided the club to the final of the Europa Conference League in 2021/22, although they lost to Jose Mourinho's Roma.

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(C)Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR ARNE SLOT?

He will continue his work in Rotterdam, attempting to take the club back to the top of the Dutch league table. However, the club are currently 10 points behind leaders PSV Eindhoven.

A lower-order rally turned the day around for Somerset before Nottinghamshire were blown away after tea for 114

Alex Winter at Trent Bridge19-May-2015
ScorecardSomerset ran through Notts after tea on the third day•Getty Images begins the Somerset victory song. So far this season they have been unable to locate it but here they grabbed the “gurt big stick” to knock down said bird for a first win of the season, snapping a run of four straight defeats. A lower-order rally turned the day around before Nottinghamshire were blown away after tea for 114.The ball swung from first ball to last, seamed a bit too, and the bowlers lapped it up to take 22 wickets in the day. Batting was as miserable as the clouds that mostly skirted around Trent Bridge. It was quite a turnaround for the Somerset attack who conceded 405 to lose at home to Middlesex two weeks ago. By contrast Notts, who drew their opening three matches, have now lost two in a row.’First-innings runs crucial’

Mick Newell: “We had some soft dismissals in that second innings but overall we haven’t played well enough. We lost the game in the first innings really. They got far too many on a pitch with pace and bounce that we wanted but we haven’t bowled well enough on it, over the games we’ve had we’ve bowled better on the flatter pitches than the livelier ones.
“We’re going to have to keep playing on these types of wickets and just bowl better. We don’t have a world-class spin bowler so we have to encourage our seamers try and win matches.
Marcus Trescothick: “Our first-innings runs were crucial in the context in the game. Three hundred on that pitch was far too many. We’ve been working on numerous things in the last few weeks, we’re pushing to get things right. We did some really good things in the New Zealand game with the ball and carried it on here.
“In my career I think I’ve only won here twice at best. We needed to turn things around and delighted we’ve done so.
“One of the biggest problems this season has been our lower-order runs but here Craig Overton has got 50 off about 25 balls and Lewis Gregory put some more together today.”

Somerset’s bleak run looked set to continue at 59 for 6 in their second innings, 145 ahead. But in adding 75 for the final three wickets they set Nottinghamshire 248 to win – a similar target Notts conceded in the fourth innings to lose at Durham last week. But they got nowhere near repeating the feat against Somerset’s best bowling performance of the season.Keeping a full length, both edges were threatened and all of the seamers profited. As did Marcus Trescothick, Somerset’s beleaguered captain, who took three catches at second slip, including a stunner to remove Greg Smith. When he held Riki Wessels, seventh out after a patient 30, he knew Somerset’s troubles were about to be lightened by victory. They finished the task in the extra half-hour after another fine catch, this from Johann Myburgh diving to his left at backward point.Trescothick held three more catches than he made runs in the match after recording a pair – only the second of his career and first away from Taunton. It was the start of Somerset’s second-innings slide, in a manner of teams who have lost the knack of winning. But as the sun poured through the clouds like butterscotch, Somerset’s day began to get sweeter.Lewis Gregory was a batsman before he became an opening bowler and his 26 not out here was perhaps one of his most significant innings. It helped turn the game back Somerset’s way, leading to a victory that could spark alive their season. He struck a six into the New Stand to take the lead over 200 and stayed with wicketkeeper Alex Barrow – in hideous form before this game and batting at No. 9 – and Tim Groenewald to add vital stands of 39 and 25. Twenty-one of the latter were made by the free-swinging Groenewald, perhaps buoyed by his clean hitting against New Zealand last week; his nine wickets in that match would have done no harm here either.The eighth-wicket affair was fairly comfortable until Barrow, having taken boundaries with a handsome straight drive and a short-arm pull off Gurney, attempted another pull as Gurney went around the wicket and top-edged it to midwicket. There was no Craig Overton repeat act – 55 in 31 balls in the first-innings – but at least Groenewald boosted the total.It was a fine effort in very difficult conditions. The odd ball also kept a little low and Peter Trego fell lbw to one such delivery; he was seventh man out, having briefly counterattacked with four boundaries.Vernon Philander signed for Notts for just these days and cleaned up Trescothick for the second time in the match, the opener having lasted only 11 balls in both innings. This was his fourth duck in his last seven knocks. He has been bowled in five of those seven innings and here an inswinger removed middle stump.It will be clouded by victory but Somerset’s top order remains their biggest concern and there were further failures here for Johann Myburgh, edging a drive to third slip for a third-ball duck, and Tom Abell, who was slightly aggrieved to be given out lbw to Luke Wood. Tom Cooper could have no complaints about the same dismissal.Another lbw decision followed against James Hildreth, who is chasing 1000 first-class runs before the end of May but got only 23 closer. The ball before also produced a huge appeal, for which Philander was given a stern telling off by umpire Tim Robinson.There will now be a bigger telling off for Notts from their coach Mick Newell. Samit Patel and Jake Ball at least delivered a batting bonus point in the opening overs of the day but ultimately, that was all they had to take.

Channel Nine will not be picking Australia’s teams nor dictating their schedule over the term of the network’s new $400 million broadcast deal, James Sutherland said

Daniel Brettig19-Jun-2013Channel Nine will not be picking Australia’s cricket teams nor dictating their schedule over the term of the network’s new $400 million broadcast rights deal, Cricket Australia’s chief executive James Sutherland has said.Having been pushed to the top of the market by a bold Network Ten bid for all cricket in Australia, Nine clearly expect value for money. Their managing director Jeff Browne told a business lunch in Sydney on Wednesday that there would be “a lot more discussion” of team selection and scheduling between CA and the broadcaster from next summer, particularly around the matter of player rotation.”I understand why sports want to do that but people at home want to see the best players playing and we urge Cricket Australia to pick the best players every time,” Browne said. “I think we’ve got a better understanding on that. Last year that balance was skewed too much in favour of resting some players so from now on there will be a lot more discussion between CA and the broadcaster about that.”The issue of senior Australian players being rested and rotated during the limited overs portion of the summer was a particular sore point with Nine last season. ESPNcricinfo reported in January that the CA team performance manager Pat Howard had two meetings with Nine’s director of sport Steve Crawley and members of the commentary team during the Sydney Test to explain why Michael Clarke, David Warner and Matthew Wade were to be rested and Michael Hussey dropped.Browne was clearly of the view that such discussions would become more consultative than merely explanatory in the future, but Sutherland was adamant that the national selectors would not be unduly influenced by the commercial demands of broadcasters, no matter how much they were paying to provide television coverage.”Cricket has a long-standing and successful relationship with the Nine Network but team selections and scheduling are matters for Cricket Australia,” Sutherland said. “The National Selection Panel selects the Australian teams. With the volume of international cricket being played, it will continue to be necessary for us to manage player workloads appropriately.”We’ll continue to consult with our broadcasters on scheduling issues. It’s something we have always done. We have a common goal with our broadcast partners to maximise the number of fans watching and enjoying cricket. We’ll consider all ideas and then make the appropriate decisions.”Following the Sydney meetings, Nine and CA were engaged in a public slanging match after the stand-in ODI captain George Bailey responded to suggestions he was leading a “B-team” by contending that it was in Nine’s interests to talk the game down somewhat as it entered broadcast negotiations. This drew a furious response from the network’s executive producer of cricket, Brad McNamara.”Nowhere has Channel Nine ever talked the one-day game down, nowhere have we ever said this is a ‘B team’,” McNamara told an Australian radio station. “It’s rubbish and George should stick to playing cricket and leave rights to the people who know what they’re talking about. I reckon he’s got his hands full as it is. He needs to concentrate on staying in the side.”And he needs to understand where his money’s coming from. Without the TV rights deal, George is probably working in a coal mine or flipping burgers at McDonald’s. All this talk about the death of one-day cricket, it’s not coming from us. Given we were lacking star quality, we were very happy [with the ratings].”At the announcement of the broadcast deal, Nine’s chief executive David Gyngell had rejected suggestions the network would seek assurances that rotations would be reduced. “No, I don’t have those political discussions with James,” he said. “I don’t agree with the rotation policy, but not enough to not buy the cricket. That’s up to James to sort out.”

England under Charlotte Edwards are looking forward to winning back the World Twenty20 title

20-Sep-2012England’s women conceded their World Twenty20 title in 2010 but remain favourites to win it back this year, given their extraordinary run of success in the format over the last two years.Their captain, Charlotte Edwards, will be leading the side in the tournament for the third time, having lifted the trophy in the inaugural event in 2009.Speaking to Alison Mitchell on ESPNcricinfo, Edwards said that the 2010 defeat had made her stronger. “It’s made me more hungry for success and I think that has probably come out in the team as well. They are really hungry to win back this Twenty20 trophy.”She described the 2010 tournament as a turning point for England’s T20 cricket. “We came home, had a good look at what we were doing and realised we needed to change a few things, and from there we set up a brand of cricket that has worked really really well for us.”Since failing to qualify for the World Twenty20 semi-finals in West Indies, England have lost only four of their 32 T20s – a run that included a streak of 19 consecutive wins. They arrived in Sri Lanka on the back of a 4-1 victory against West Indies at home.Edwards said she looked at Australia, India, New Zealand and West Indies as England’s main threats for the title in 2012.”This is an exciting time to be part of the women’s game,” she said, about the crop of promising players around – among them Australia’s Ellyse Perry, Danielle Wyatt and Sarah Taylor of England, and Harmanpreet Kaul of India. “This World Cup is an opportunity for those youngsters to really shine.”Edwards said she demanded a lot of her players, but only as much as she did of herself. “I’m hard but I’m fair. I set very, very high standards but I’m part of the team. I’m not a person who sits up there dictating to the rest of the girls. I’m part of it. I’m one of the girls and I really enjoy their company. I really enjoy other people’s success, and hopefully that comes through in our cricket.”Having Mark Lane as England’s coach helped, Edwards said, because the two constantly challenged each other. “I think we complement each other really well. We’re quite similar in a lot of ways. He’s a really funny man who makes everyone really relaxed and we both challenge one another, I think that’s really important. It’s not about ‘what I say goes’ or vice-versa. Most importantly we’ve got brilliant players. We’ve got some world class players who are really doing the business at the moment.”

Bryan Cristante hailed AS Roma's owners for showing the door to Jose Mourinho at a "difficult moment" and bringing in club legend Daniele De Rossi.

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Mourinho was sacked by RomaClub named De Rossi as his replacementCristante believes that it was the right decisionGettyWHAT HAPPENED?

Following a disappointing 3-1 defeat to AC Milan, Mourinho's tenure at the Italian club came to an abrupt end. The decision to remove the Portuguese manager from his position was swiftly followed by the appointment of De Rossi, who signed on as head coach until June 30, 2024.

De Rossi, a beloved figure among Roma supporters, spent 18 illustrious years as a player at the Stadio Olimpico, endearing himself to the fans with his passion and commitment to the club.

AdvertisementWHAT CRISTANTE SAID

Cristante, who had the opportunity to work with De Rossi during Euro 2020 when the latter served as one of Roberto Mancini’s assistants, expressed his admiration for the new coach's seamless transition into the role.

“The coach didn’t need to be introduced when he arrived. It could have been tough to join the team in a difficult moment and work with footballers he had played with, but he’s been managing the group well and it should not be taken for granted,” said Cristante.
“We are happy with what we are building and who we are becoming. It’s proving to be the right solution. It was a decision made by the club owners at a difficult moment. We have built self-awareness in European games."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Mourinho inspired Roma to the Europa Conference League trophy in 2022 and guided them to the Europa League final in 2023, where they fell short to Sevilla. However, Cristante insisted that the club have set their sights on another European final and added: "Of course, it is our objective and we have a chance to make it. We are happy with the coach. We want to go back to the final and win it.”

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT?

Roma drew against Feyenoord in the Netherlands last week and the Giallorossi will now host the Dutch outfit in the second leg of a Europa League playoff fixture to seal a round of 16 berth. The Stadio Olimpico has already been sold out and the Romans are ready to hand their favourite team a rousing welcome on Thursday evening with the hope of inspiring them to another memorable European night.

Karim Benzema has long been regarded as one of the greatest strikers of his generation, but just how many times in total has he found the net?

Karim Benzema has long been regarded as one of the most well-rounded forwards in the game and his recent Ballon d'Or win confirmed his status as one of the greatest of his generation.

He has been a constant presence for Real Madrid for over a decade, but he was not always been the dominant force at the Santiago Bernabeu as he spent a large chunk of his career in the shadow of Cristiano Ronaldo.

Known for his exceptional work-rate, potent finishing and playmaking, the Frenchman sacrificed his own attacking returns for many seasons to be an amazing provider for the Portuguese star, who garnered all the media attention.

Following Ronaldo's departure in 2018, Benzema's rise has been a meteoric one. His reputation as one of the world's best operators in European football grew multi-folds year after year, as did his goal-scoring output.

Now plying his trade in the Middle-East with reigning Saudi Pro League champions Al-Ittihad, and as they say, he is ageing like a fine wine and if anything he only seems to be getting better with age.

But just how many goals has he scored during his outrageous career at Lyon, Real Madrid, Al-Ittihad, and France?

Let's take a look.

GettyHow many goals does Karim Benzema have for Al-Ittihad?

In a shock move, Benzema left Real Madrid in the summer of 2023 after 14 trophy-laden seasons at the Bernabeu, following in Cristiano Ronaldo's footsteps and becoming the second global superstar to quit European football for Saudi Pro League adventure.

Al-Ittihad come off of an emphatic title win over Ronaldo's Al-Nassr and are considered the dominant force in Saudi Arabia. Add a five-time Champions League winner and current Ballon d'Or holder to the mix, as well as a sprinkling of other high-profile signings, they are the odds-on favourites to repeat their success from last season.

Season

Games

Goals

2023-24

7

4

AdvertisementGettyHow many goals did Karim Benzema score for Real Madrid?

In 2009, Benzema joined Real Madrid for a transfer fee of €35 million, rising to €41 million based on add-ons.

However, he had a rough start at his new club as he scored just nine in 33 appearances in his debut season.

He eventually came good, though, and following Gareth Bale's then-record transfer from Tottenham Hotspur, Bale, Benzema, and Cristiano Ronaldo forged one of Europe's most fearsome attacking trios, dubbed the BBC.

However, the French star's selfless contributions, work ethic, and ability to creating plays and spaces for others to exploit seemingly went unnoticed at times.

Now that Ronaldo has left the Santiago Bernabeu, however, Benzema is finally thriving more and getting the spotlight he deserves.

He is currently second on the all-time scoring list for Madrid and fourth on all-time UEFA Champions League charts, with former team-mate Ronaldo topping both podiums.

Season

Games

Goals

2022-23

43

31

2021-22

46

44

2020-21

46

30

2019-20

48

27

2018-19

53

30

2017-18

47

12

2016-17

48

19

2015-16

36

28

2014-15

46

22

2013-14

52

24

2012-13

50

20

2011-12

52

32

2010-11

48

26

2009-10

33

9

Total

648

354

Getty ImagesHow many goals did Benzema get for Lyon

Benzema began his youth career with Bron before joining boyhood club Lyon in 1997. He progressed through the youth ranks and then made his first senior appearance for the French outfit in 2005.

He assisted Lyon’s second goal and subsequently went on to sign his first professional contract with the club.

Despite his tender years, Benzema earned a reputation for himself as a lethal finisher from within the box with either foot and his head, despite being typically right-footed.

Benzema recorded 66 goals in 148 competitive appearances for Lyon and later became one of France's highest-paid players after renewing his contract in 2008.

During his time at Lyon, he earned himself the Ligue 1 top scorer, French Cup top scorer, several player of the month awards.

Season

Games

Goals

2008-09

47

23

2007-08

52

31

2006-07

27

8

2005-06

16

4

2004-05

6

0

Total

148

66

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Getty ImagesBenzema goals for France

It's safe to say Benzema's international career has been a turbulent one, full of controversy.

In 2006, before his international career even started, he spoke openly about his desire to play for the Algerian national team, the native country of both of his parents, but would play for France for only sporting reasons.

In 2015, Noel Le Graet, the president of the FFF, suspended the striker indefinitely from the national team after he was arrested by police for his alleged involvement in blackmailing fellow France international player Mathieu Valbuena.

He didn't appear for France between 2016-2020 and this absence has tainted his CV. He was called back by Didier Deschamps in 2021

Since his return, he has been showing what France missed out on and he also helped them win a Nations League trophy.

Season

Games

Goals

2022

3

1

2021

13

9

2020

0

0

2019

0

0

2018

0

0

2017

0

0

2016

0

0

2015

4

2

2014

13

7

2013

10

3

2012

12

2

2011

10

2

2010

5

3

2009

8

3

2008

11

2

2007

8

3

Total

97

37

Jesse Ryder and Doug Bracewell will not be considered for selection for New Zealand’s third ODI against South Africa because they broke team protocol after the defeat in Napier

ESPNcricinfo staff01-Mar-2012Jesse Ryder and Doug Bracewell have been dropped for New Zealand’s third ODI against South Africa after they were found to have broken team protocol following the defeat in Napier. Ryder and Bracewell went out to a hotel after the match and became involved in an argument with a patron.In a statement NZC said the players had “compromised their preparation” for the third one-dayer by their actions. “Team protocols dictate that players who are rehabilitating from injury should not consume alcohol and unfortunately both players went to a Napier hotel following the conclusion of the match,” the board said in a release. “Also, while at the hotel both players verbally reacted to taunts from a member for the public.”Bracewell was being treated for a tight hamstring, while Ryder split the webbing of his hand during the Napier match. Ryder had only just returned to the New Zealand squad after recovering from a calf injury, which had kept him out of the team since the tour of Australia in December. He made 52 in the third Twenty20 against South Africa, and 0 and 6 in the first two ODIs.”Further to the issue of breaking team protocols related to their preparation, we are disappointed they [Ryder and Bracewell] become involved in a verbal argument with a patron,” New Zealand team manager Mike Sandle said. “Despite the fact that the players were goaded, and they didn’t allow the situation to escalate past a short exchange of words, we expect players to walk away.”Both players have apologised for their actions and said they fully understood the consequences. They know they have let down fans and team mates alike.”While this is Bracewell’s first such indiscretion on the international circuit, that is not the case for Ryder. In August 2010, Ryder was fined for “intoxicated and rowdy” behaviour at a hotel during an indoor cricket tournament and he said he had feared for his career while NZC were investigating the incident. The most serious of Ryder’s indiscretions was in 2008, when he put his right hand through a glass window during a late-night session at a Christchurch bar. In January 2009, NZC said Ryder had given up alcohol after another incident, which resulted in him missing an ODI against West Indies. Edited by George Binoy

The match between NBP and SNGPL was called off after the completion of the first innings on account of heavy rain

ESPNcricinfo staff19-Jul-2013Match abandoned
ScorecardWith the match having already been reduced to 14 overs-a-side because of inclement weather, the fixture between National Bank of Pakistan and Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited was called off after the completion of the first innings, on account of rain. SNGPL posted 145 for 2 in their allotted overs, with Azhar Ali top-scoring with 72 off 39 balls, and Ali Waqas (57*) supporting him in a 112-run stand for the second wicket.

The PCB has announced a domestic calendar in which the two first-class tournaments willbe conducted simultaneously, with the same structure applying for the List A tournaments

Umar Farooq02-Oct-2013Pakistan’s domestic season 2013-14

Quaid-e-Azam Trophy: October 23, 2013-January 28, 2014, 14 teams, two groups, 61 matches

One-day Cup for Regions: October 28, 2013 – January 1, 2014, 14 teams, two groups, 45 matches

President’s Trophy (first-class): October 23, 2013 – February 11, 2014, 11 teams, 1 group, 56 matches

President’s Cup (one-day): October 28, 2013 – February 4, 2014, 11 teams, 1 group, 56 matches

Inter-region three-day Under-19: October 26 – December 9, 23 teams, 4 groups, 58 matches

Inter-region one-day U-19: October 30-December 13, 23 teams, 4 groups, 58 matches

National T20 tournament: November 20-November 29, 17 teams, 4 groups, 35 matches

T20 tournament for departments: February 18, 2014 – February 24, 2014, 11 teams, 2 groups, 28 matches

Patron’s Trophy Grade-II: March 1, 2014 – March 31, 2014, 24 teams, 4 groups, 63 matches

The Pakistan Cricket Board has announced a domestic calendar in which two first-class tournaments – the Quaid-e-Azam trophy and the President’s Trophy – will run simultaneously. The two List A events, like the first-class tournaments, will also be held concurrently. The Super Eight T20 Cup has been scrapped to make way for an 11-team departmental Twenty20 cup. The calendar has been chalked out to make the season financially cost-effective, and regional and department tournaments being played at the same time will allow more young players to feature for the regional teams. In previous years, players from various departments would feature in regional teams, making it difficult for other players to break into the side.The structure of domestic cricket in Pakistan has been inconsistent and revamps have occurred every two years over the last decade. However, this year, the tournament formats have been retained and the schedule adopted to accommodate simultaneous first-class and List A tournaments. The Quaid-e-Azam trophy, the country’s premier first-class tournament will have 14 regional teams, while the President’s Trophy will have 11 departmental teams playing a round-robin league phase. The first round of both tournaments begin on October 23 and the regional and department teams will play a round of one-day matches on October 28. Apart from the senior circuit, the PCB has scheduled inter-regional Under-19 three-day and one-day tournaments between October 26 to December 13. A 10-day National T20 Cup will be played between 17 teams from November 20 to 29, sandwiched between Pakistan’s international series against South Africa and Sri Lanka.One season of domestic cricket costs the PCB approximately Rs 300 million ($2.8m). With the board going through a financial crunch, it plans to reduce the cost by switching to locally made Grays cricket balls, instead of the imported Kookaburra. The department teams, who are expected to bear their own logistical costs and the costs of the ball refused to sustain the Kookaburra idea and the move is likely to help save nearly Rs 10 million. The decision to use Kookaburra balls was taken last year as the board tried to introduce international standards on the domestic cricket circuit.”We believe the season will bring a more prosperous result to our cricket,” Shakeel Sheikh, the head of PCB’s cricket committee, told ESPNcricinfo. “There is a desperate need to unearth the talent from regional nurseries, but for some reason the cycle of getting the quality young cricketers is not working as it should be. We want change and want to have more young legs in the field that will eventually replace players at the department level. Having all tournaments at the same time prevents departmental players from featuring in regional teams.”ESPNcricinfo understands that there are approximately 220 players recruited by the departments. Around 28 of those players will be on national duty during the domestic season; from the main pool, about 65-70 players age between 30 to 40 years while 67 players does not qualify for national selection due to poor fitness and performance.”This is the reason we want to induct a plan to blood youngsters in the pipeline and replace ageing players,” said Sheikh. “We want to encourage the player at the regional level and want to extend the pool of quality players and give them ample opportunity at the domestic level, and create a sense of security for their place.”Former skipper Rashid Latif, the sports head of the department team, Port Qasim Authority (PQA), supported the idea of hosting tournaments simultaneously. “It will be easier for the departments to assemble their teams for these tournaments and will save time and money,” Latif said. “Previously, there used to be a gap of a month or more between one-day and first-class tournaments, which made things difficult for departments. Regions have always been a nursery to produce new talent and hopefully we’ll see new good players coming up this season.”

Graeme Swann’s autobiography has been nominated for two prizes at the British Sports Book Awards

ESPNcricinfo staff11-May-2012Graeme Swann’s autobiography has been nominated for two prizes at the British Sports Book Awards. Swann is nominated in the cricket book and autobiography of the year categories for his tale of drunken exploits, England exile and making offspin cool once again. will be up against Chris Waters’ , which is also nominated in the new writer category, with biographies dominating the field in the cricket award. Simon Wilde’s book on Ian Botham, Leo McKinstry on Jack Hobbs and David Tossell’s reappraisal of Tony Greig’s career make up the rest of the shortlist.There are also nominations for two cricket titles in the illustrated book of the year award. by Chris Arnot and by Laurence Griffiths will compete against Sir Steve Redgrave’s , among others.The awards, which are celebrating their 10th anniversary, will be presented at a black tie ceremony on Monday May 21. The winners of the 10 categories, which include football, rugby and golf, will then be entered into an online public vote to find the overall British Sports Book of the Year.Cricket Book of the Year by Chris Waters (Aurum)
by Simon Wilde (Simon & Schuster)
by Leo McKinstry (Yellow Jersey)
by Graeme Swann (Hodder & Stoughton)
by David Tossell (Pitch Publishing)
Autobiography / Biography of the Year by Ronald Reng (Yellow Jersey)
by Paul Kimmage (Simon & Schuster)
by Paul Merson (HarperSport)
by Jonny Wilkinson (Headline)
by David Millar (Orion)
by Gary Neville (Bantam Press) by Willie Thorne (Vision Sports Publishing)
by Graeme Swann (Hodder & Stoughton)
Illustrated Book of the Year by Chris Arnot (Aurum)
by Laurence Griffiths (Atlantic Publishing)
by Sir Steve Redgrave (Headline)
by Daniel Friebe and Pete Goding (Quercus)
by Bill Burrows with Tom Bailey (Simon & Schuster)
by Adam Powley (Haynes Publishing)
by Bob Martin and Ian Hewitt (Vision Sports Publishing)New Writer of the Year by Patrick Collins (Wisden)
n by Andy Holgate (Know the Score Books)
by Chris Waters (Aurum)
by Alastair Hignell (Bloomsbury)
by Ed Hawkins (Know the Score Books)
by Bill Jones (Mainstream)