The Boston Red Sox say they never placed Taiwanese prospect Chih-Jung Liu under quarantine following his arrival to the United States but acknowledged asking him to delay joining the team at spring training.

Red Sox media relations vice president Kevin Gregg said in an email that Liu "has not been quarantined, has not been sick, nor has he had symptoms."

Reports on Wednesday, including from The Boston Globe and ESPN, had identified Liu as being quarantined amid ongoing worldwide concern about the coronavirus.

"Out of an abundance of caution, in light of evolving events in Asia and globally and the player's travel here to the US from Asia, he was simply asked not to come to our training complex for a few days," Gregg wrote.

Liu, a 20-year-old right-hander, is in his hotel room in Fort Myers, Florida, and says he feels fine. Liu wrote on his Facebook page that he is doing some weight training, getting in an occasional run and reading about the team online.

He is scheduled to join the Red Sox on Saturday.

The coronavirus originated in China and has killed more than 2,700 people worldwide. There are now more new cases of the virus outside China than inside the country, according to the World Health Organization, which declared it a global health emergency last month.

Hammer thrower believes ‘the punishment does not meet the crime’ after being found guilty of tampering with doping control process

Scottish hammer record-holder Mark Dry has been banned for four years for lying about his whereabouts on the day of a drugs test.

The 32-year-old, who won bronze at the Commonwealth Games in 2014 and 2018 and who sits No.5 on the UK all-time rankings with a best of 76.93m, admitted wrongfully claiming he had gone fishing on the day he missed an anti-doping test in October 2018.

Dry was first charged in May last year and then cleared in October, but this week UK Anti-Doping won an appeal against the decision to clear him. However, Dry says he is “heartbroken” and plans to “continue fighting this unfair saga”.

pic.twitter.com/jaK4ysGHvS

— Mark dry (@Markdry) February 27, 2020

On social media he said: “I simply cannot understand how a different panel would arrive at a four-year ban conclusion, given that the Court of Arbitration for Sport clearly indicate that the misinformation I provided does not amount to tampering.”

Dry says he “panicked” as he did not want “a strike against my fully clean record”.

Athletes are allowed to miss three tests within a 12-month period and if he had not written to UKAD making the false claim then no action would have been taken against him.

Stacey Cross from UKAD said: “This case is a very clear example that athletes must conduct themselves with honesty during the anti-doping process and what is at risk if they don’t.

“It is UKAD’s role to uphold the anti-doping rules, which apply to all athletes, and there are very strict sanctions for anyone who deliberately interferes with or tries to obstruct the anti-doping process.”

But Dry says: “I cooperated fully from the start and have admitted my fault, but the punishment here does not even remotely fit the crime. How can they equate me with someone who injects steroids or someone who constantly lies and tries to obstruct authorities?”

The full UKAD decision document can be found here.

Great Britain's Dan Evans beat Russian sixth seed Andrey Rublev in straight sets to reach the semi-finals of the Dubai Tennis Championships.

The British number one, 29, claimed an impressive 6-2 7-6 (11-9) victory over the world number 14.

He set up a last-four encounter against German Jan-Lennard Struff or Greek second seed Stefanos Tsitsipas.

Serbia's world number one Novak Djokovic will play Russia's Karen Khachanov in the quarter-finals.

French compatriots Gael Monfils and Richard Gasquet will contest the final last-eight tie.

Evans' confidence will be building after his most convincing display in Dubai to date.

He came from a set down to beat Italian fourth seed Fabio Fognini in the opening round then edged out France's Pierre-Hugues Herbert following a third-set tie-break to reach the last eight.

NDIANAPOLIS — Superior Auto’s logo will appear on the Andretti Autosport No. 18 Endurance Auto Warranty and No. 36 Window World- MI Windows and Doors McLarens of Jarett Andretti as the auto retailer extends  an eight-year relationship.

Superior Auto will appear on both of Andretti’s cars for the 2020 racing season as the associate sponsor of the Pirelli GT4 racing team at Andretti Autosport. Superior Auto will also continue as a primary sponsor for the Andretti Short Track sprint car program.

Superior Auto began its longstanding support of Jarett Andretti’s racing career in short-track racing.

“We at Superior Auto are proud of the partnership we’ve built with Jarett Andretti over the past eight years and are excited for the opportunity to grow along with him as he continues his career in GT4,” said Chad Melchi, CEO and president of Superior Auto Inc. “As longtime partners and friends, it will be thrilling to watch Jarett this season, especially when he races again at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in October.”

Andretti shares the enthusiasm of his longtime partner, adding “Superior Auto has been a longtime sprint car partner and they have continually supported the next steps in my career with the associate on the Freedom 100 Indy Lights car last year and now an associate on both of the McLaren’s this year,” said Andretti. “We are excited to have them continue to grow with us and continue their longstanding relationship with our family.”

Superior Auto will make its 2020 debut on the No. 36 Window World- MI Windows and Doors McLaren and the No. 18 Endurance Auto Warranty McLaren March 6- 8 at Circuit of The Americas in Austin, Texas.

SOUTHLAKE, Texas – Sportscar Vintage Racing Ass’n officials announced Thursday that Ron Hornaday, Al Unser, Jr., Bobby Labonte and Geoff Brabham have filed entries for the Vintage Race of Champions Charity Pro-Am at Road Atlanta.

The VROC Series has expanded this year to four weekends, with Circuit of the Americas joining Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Virginia Int’l Raceway as host tracks.

In addition, Johnny Bench – a member of Major League Baseball’s Hall-of-Fame – will serve as grand marshal for the Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta Grand Prix weekend, March 26-29.

“All of us at SVRA are honored to have a sports icon like Johnny Bench join us for our SpeedTour Road Atlanta Grand Prix weekend,” said SVRA President and CEO and majority owner of the Trans Am Company, Tony Parella. “As for the hall-of-fame athletes, it’s amazing to walk among so many. Virtually all our professional drivers are members of a hall of fame somewhere.”

Bench, who played catcher for the Cincinnati Reds from 1967 to 1983, was selected as an All-Star player 14 times. He was also named National League Most Valuable Player twice.

During his time with the Reds, the team won six division titles, four National League pennants, and two World Series championships.

Hornaday is in the NASCAR Hall of Fame. His 51 race wins are second to Kyle Busch in NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series history, a championship he won four times.

From Palmdale, Calif., Hornaday also won four NASCAR Xfinity Series races and is a two-time titlist in the now-defunct NASCAR Southwest Series.

Unser, a two-time Indy car champion (1990 and 1994) and the winner of 34 Indy car races including the 1992 and ’94 Indianapolis 500s, is a member of both the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall-of-Fame and the Motorsports Hall-of-Fame of America.

Labonte, the first driver to win both the NASCAR Cup Series championship and the NASCAR Xfinity Series championship, was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame this year. He is also a member of the Texas Motorsports Hall of Fame.

Geoff Brabham, who won the 24 Hours of Le Mans overall in 1993, is a member of both the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America and the Australian Hall of Fame. He won that country’s much-revered Bathurst 1000 in 1997.

The Road Atlanta Charity Pro-Am will support Hope For The Warriors, a national nonprofit organization that provides assistance to combat-wounded service members, their families, and families of those killed in action. The organization focuses on those involved in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom and their families.

The VROC Charity Pro-Am cars are primarily 1963 to 1972 vintage Corvettes, Camaros, and Mustangs of SVRA “Group 6” A and B Production. The professionals will be paired with amateur drivers.

Amateurs will start the race and be required to drive a maximum of seven laps. In addition to the Pro-Am, the Speed Tour Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta weekend is a festival of other activities, including professional Trans Am by Pirelli series races on Saturday and Sunday.

The weekend also presents the Hagerty Insurance “cars & caffeine” car corral, and more than 300 vintage racers ranging over 100 years of automotive history racing in SVRA Groups 1 through 12.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — NASCAR and Elgin Sweeper announced a multi-year partnership renewal as the Official Sweeper of NASCAR Green.

“Considering our dealers’ dedication to – and passion for – NASCAR Green’s goal of protecting the environment through sustainable practices, and our own involvement in the NASCAR culture for more than a decade, it was a logical progression to renew our partnership,” said Mike Higgins, vice president and general manager, Elgin Sweeper. “We are immensely proud of the fact that NASCAR continues to rely on Elgin Sweeper to be present at the tracks every race season to shorten rain delays and cautionary events.”

As the Official Sweeper of NASCAR Green, Elgin Sweeper administers a team of 17 trained, NASCAR-certified driver operators throughout the 36-week race season to help support the NASCAR Toyota Tundra Track Drying Team in drying rain-soaked tracks while saving jet fuel and reducing the sport’s overall carbon footprint.

In addition to its drying efforts, the revolutionary Crosswind Specialty Track Sweeper assists in maintaining safe racing surfaces for competitors. Designed by Elgin Sweeper exclusively for steep-banked racetracks in need of routine maintenance, race event sweeping and emergency response cleaning, the Crosswind Specialty Track Sweeper has passed the most rigorous tilt tests required.

Used for high-speed sweeping during NASCAR races across the country, the machine effectively removes track debris and oil absorbent material and assists in drying wet track areas.

“Throughout our partnership, Elgin Sweeper has consistently proven to be reliable, dependable, and uniquely capable of maintaining green flag racing conditions,” said Scott Miller, senior vice president, competition, NASCAR. “Elgin Sweeper has assisted our sport in putting on numerous events after unfavorable odds and we’re happy to have them remain a part of our weekend stable.”

The Elgin Sweeper made its NASCAR debut in 2001 at Kansas Speedway. The sweeper picks up 50 gallons of water per minute while saving roughly one gallon of diesel fuel per hour. The sweeper’s 10-foot sweep path covers the width of 1.5 race cars, helping officials get cars back on the track in record time.

The stress of the NHL trade deadline is over, and it has been replaced with a completely different kind of pressure: trying to excel in the stretch run of the 2019-20 season.

In this week's NHL power rankings, we look at some of the players under the most pressure as the games tick down to the postseason.

How we rank: The ESPN hockey editorial staff submits selections ranking teams 1-31, and those results are tabulated to the list featured here. Teams are rated through Tuesday night's games, taking into account overall record, recent success and other factors such as injuries.

Last week's rankings

Note: Standings point pace is based on games through Feb. 26. Many stats are courtesy of Hockey Reference.

1. Boston Bruins

Previous ranking: 2
Standings point pace: 115

Ondrej Kase. The Bruins' key deadline acquisition is expected to slot next to David Krejci. The rest of the regular season will be a proving ground for their chemistry, and the oft-injured winger's ability to stay in the lineup.

2. Tampa Bay Lightning

Previous ranking: 1
Standings point pace: 111

Tyler Johnson. The center is having his lowest PPG season (0.48) since his first in the league, has 10 points in his past 24 games and one point in his past nine. The arrival of Barclay Goodrow, who might slide in on his wing, will hopefully make a difference.

3. Washington Capitals

Previous ranking: 4
Standings point pace: 109

Braden Holtby. The Capitals goalie is facing unrestricted free agency this summer and is having statistically his worst season in the NHL (.897 save percentage, 3.12 goals-against average). He is 6-8-1 with an .880 save percentage in his last 17 appearances.

4. Pittsburgh Penguins

Previous ranking: 3
Standings point pace: 106

Conor Sheary. Talk about a new lease on life. Sheary was traded to Buffalo in 2018 after winning two Stanley Cups with the Penguins, spending a good amount of time as Sidney Crosby's linemate. After an underwhelming tenure in Buffalo, he was traded back to Pittsburgh ,where he might be right back on Crosby's line if he earns it.

5. St. Louis Blues

Previous ranking: 5
Standings point pace: 108

Jordan Binnington. The playoffs are nearly here. He's going to be fine. That said ... Binnington has an .896 save percentage over his past 18 games, including an .879 in seven road games. A bit of a change from last season when he posted a .945 save percentage in February.

6. Colorado Avalanche

Previous ranking: 7
Standings point pace: 107

The injured. Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said he expects forward Matt Calvert, goalie Philipp Grubauer, center Nazem Kadri, right wing Mikko Rantanen and forward Colin Wilson all back by mid-March. Colorado fans continue to hold their breath that they will return -- and that no one is added to the list.

7. Dallas Stars

Previous ranking: 6
Standings point pace: 104

Alexander Radulov. The Stars winger has 33 points in 56 games, but only five points in his past 15 games, including just two goals. With the team scoring 2.68 goals per game, they can use all the offense they can get.

8. Philadelphia Flyers

Previous ranking: 8
Standings point pace: 103

Sean Couturier. One of the leaders in the Selke Trophy race, the 27-year-old has a shot at leading the Flyers in scoring for the first time in his career. He has 25 points in his past 24 games.

9. Vegas Golden Knights

Previous ranking: 12
Standings point pace: 98

William Karlsson. "Wild Bill" returned to the Knights' lineup on Feb. 11 and had three points in six games before Tuesday's hat trick against the Ducks. Vegas is 6-1 since his return.

10. New York Islanders

Previous ranking: 9
Standings point pace: 102

Jean-Gabriel Pageau. The big trade deadline acquisition made a heck of an impression in his debut game with the Isles, with a goal and 17 penalty minutes. The Islanders have a 67.3% chance of making the playoffs per Money Puck, and his performance is going to be a key in securing a spot.

11. Carolina Hurricanes

Previous ranking: 10
Standings point pace: 98

Nino Niederreiter. Perhaps the arrival of Vincent Trocheck gets the winger going, as El Nino has seven points in his past 22 games, putting him on pace for his lowest PPG average (0.44) since 2013-14 with the Wild.

12. Vancouver Canucks

Previous ranking: 14
Standings point pace: 98

Thatcher Demko. With Jacob Markstrom on the shelf for at least two weeks, Demko will be tasked with holding down the Vancouver crease. He has a 4-2-1 record in his last nine games with a .906 save percentage. His 37-save performance against Montreal on Tuesday was a great start.

13. Edmonton Oilers

Previous ranking: 13
Standings point pace: 95

Andreas Athanasiou. The speedster was acquired from the Red Wings at the trade deadline, and Edmonton made all our dreams come true by putting him on McDavid's wing. Don't blink or you'll miss them.

14. Toronto Maple Leafs

Previous ranking: 15
Standings point pace: 95

The blue line. The Maple Leafs, a team for whom defense is a challenge, now have their two best defenders on the shelf. Jake Muzzin's broken hand has him out a month, joining Morgan Rielly in the press box, the latter of whom hasn't played since early January. Good luck to the healthy Leafs defenders, aka Tyson Barrie and several current and recent Marlies.

15. Columbus Blue Jackets

Previous ranking: 11
Standings point pace: 96

Gustav Nyquist. As the Jackets stumble through a numbers of injuries, including a few at forward, they could use a bit more from The Goose. He's heating up a bit, with four points in his last seven games.

16. New York Rangers

Previous ranking: 21
Standings point pace: 95

Chris Kreider. The Rangers gave him the seven-year deal he was seeking. He can start earning it immediately with an effort that lifts the Rangers to an unexpected playoff spot in the last month and change of the season.

17. Florida Panthers

Previous ranking: 16
Standings point pace: 94

Sergei Bobrovsky. As Bob goes, so go the Panthers. He is 9-7-1 in his past 17 appearances with a .906 save percentage, but he has won three of his last four starts.

18. Nashville Predators

Previous ranking: 20
Standings point pace: 93

Viktor Arvidsson. The Predators winger has just six points in his past 24 games, one of a handful of Nashville offensive stars who haven't been shining this season. Perhaps his goal against Ottawa on Feb. 25, just his second in 14 games, gets him going.

19. Calgary Flames

Previous ranking: 17
Standings point pace: 92

Johnny Gaudreau. After taking the most infamous restroom break of the trade deadline, Johnny Hockey can continue his resurgent offensive season. The winger has 24 points in his past 25 games; Calgary won 14 of them.

20. Arizona Coyotes

Previous ranking: 18
Standings point pace: 87

Clayton Keller. The Coyotes star had an incredible December, with 13 points in 14 games. Since then, he has cooled off to 11 points in 27 games, although a recent three-point night against Tampa was encouraging. The offensively starved team needs his spark.

21. Winnipeg Jets

Previous ranking: 19
Standings point pace: 88

Connor Hellebuyck. He has carried the Jets for most of the year, but they need him to finish strong. Hellebuyck is only 9-9-2 in his past 20 appearances with a .911 save percentage. For the season, it's at .918.

22. Montreal Canadiens

Previous ranking: 22
Standings point pace: 85

Jonathan Drouin. He returned from injury on Feb. 8 in body, but not on the score sheet: Drouin went scoreless in his first eight games back, skating to a minus-10. That can't happen down the stretch if the Habs are to have a prayer at the wild card.

23. Minnesota Wild

Previous ranking: 24
Standings point pace: 89

Mats Zuccarello. It has been a rough first season in Minnesota for Zucc. The general manager who signed him was fired, followed by his head coach. The winger has 10 points in his last 23 games, although he has had a recent uptick. Momentum headed into next season is important, wherever that next season might be.

24. Buffalo Sabres

Previous ranking: 25
Standings point pace: 86

Jeff Skinner. The winger missed most of January with an injury, and he scored his first goal since Dec. 2 in their win over Pittsburgh on Feb. 22. He has four points in his last 21 games. Not exactly how one wants to begin an eight-year contract extension, but there's still time for Skinner to close strongly.

25. Chicago Blackhawks

Previous ranking: 23
Standings point pace: 81

Kirby Dach. The Blackhawks are giving the third overall pick of the 2019 draft a prominent role this season, and he has responded in fits and spurts: A five-game point streak entering this month followed a stretch of 27 games in which he had a single point. The Hawks would love to see some consistency from their strong young forward down the stretch.

26. Anaheim Ducks

Previous ranking: 26
Standings point pace: 75

Sonny Milano. It's just one game, but boy did the 23-year-old winger look good in his debut with the Ducks. He's a restricted free agent this summer, and one assumes he'll get the ice time to leave an impression on the Ducks.

27. New Jersey Devils

Previous ranking: 28
Standings point pace: 79

Jack Hughes. When the book is closed on his career, no doubt this rookie season will be a regrettable prologue. Hughes has five points in his past 18 games. This final stretch is all about confidence-building for last summer's first overall pick.

28. San Jose Sharks

Previous ranking: 27
Standings point pace: 73

Aaron Dell. The 30-year-old has been one of the low-key best goaltending stories of the season, with a goals saved above average of 7.2. (His crease-mate Martin Jones is at 0.4, both rates per Evolving Hockey.) Dell is an unrestricted free agent this summer, and has made a bold case for himself in San Jose or elsewhere.

29. Ottawa Senators

Previous ranking: 29
Standings point pace: 69

Anthony Duclair. It's a tribute to the Duke's first half of the season that his overall numbers look solid: 22 goals and 15 assists in 62 games. But the reality is that the pending restricted free agent has one goal in his past 25 games. That's not exactly something to bring to the negotiating table.

30. Los Angeles Kings

Previous ranking: 30
Standings point pace: 67

Gabriel Vilardi. The 20-year-old center's long, injury-filled journey finally led him to the NHL this season. The Kings, their fans and Vilardi himself are eager to see what the 11th overall pick from 2017 is able to do in their remaining games.

31. Detroit Red Wings

Previous ranking: 31
Standings point pace: 43

Tyler Bertuzzi. Is there some kind of All-Star Weekend curse we're unaware of? The Wings forward started off the season with 23 points in 29 games; in his past 26 games, he's had 11 points, skating to a minus-16 in those contests.

One day after both withdrew from the Oman Open, Lorenzo Gagli and Edoardo Molinari were added back into this week's European Tour field once a test for coronavirus came back negative.

According to a European Tour statement, Gagli "exhibited flu-like symptoms" and, after meeting with the tournament's on-site medical team, entered self-isolation and was tested for coronavirus. While Molinari was symptom-free, he also entered self-isolation "as a precaution" because he had been sharing a hotel room with Gagli.

With both men already replaced in the field by alternates, tournament officials opted to increase the field size from 144 to 146 to accommodate their reinstatement once Gagli's test came back negative Thursday morning, citing "exceptional circumstances." Gagli and Molinari played together as a twosome in the opening round in Oman.

More than 80,000 people have been infected with coronavirus around the world since December, with the vast majority of those cases in China. Italy, where both Gagli and Molinari are from, has seen a recent surge in cases and with more than 400 positive tests now has more than any other European nation.

Multiple global tours have opted to cancel or postpone upcoming events in Asia because of the virus, including the European Tour which earlier this month postponed the Volvo China Open and Maybank Championship, which were both slated for April.

"This is a difficult global situation, one during which we will continue to follow all guidance given to us on preventative measures, and all decisions will be made in the best interest of public health," said European Tour commissioner Keith Pelley. "We will also continue to work closely with our own health experts and local authorities to ensure we have the latest medical and travel advice for all our tournaments, because the well-being of our players, staff and spectators remains the European Tour's absolute priority."

Ranked No. 407 in the world, Gagli won on the Challenge Tour in 2018 and last year lost in a playoff at the Omega European Masters that also included Rory McIlroy. Molinari, who is the brother of former Open champ Francesco Molinari, won the 2005 U.S. Amateur at Merion and also has three European Tour wins to his credit, most recently in 2017.

Luke Wright, Sussex's white-ball captain, hopes that the launch of Dynamos Cricket, a new kids cricket scheme aimed at 8- to 11-year-olds, can help to build on England's success in winning the World Cup last summer, as well as tap into the interest generated by this summer's first season of the Hundred.

Wright, who was the last name out of the hat in December's Hundred draft, will be playing for Trent Rockets in July, at the same time that his eight-year-old son Josh will be participating in his local Dynamos scheme at Newick CC in Sussex. And Wright believes that that combination of playing and watching will be instrumental in seeding a love of cricket in a generation that has become detached from the sport in recent years.

"I loved cricket growing up, but you could be sure that the whole school, not just the sports fans, would know about the likes of Ian Botham and co," Wright told ESPNcricinfo. "Everyone was a bit shocked by those stats that came out a few years ago, saying that Alastair Cook was less well known than the wrestler John Cena, but this scheme is about opening kids' eyes to cricket, and making it easier and more accessible to them."

The Dynamos scheme is the next step in the ECB's renewed participation drive, which began in 2017 with the launch of All Stars Cricket, an introductory programme for 5- to 8-year-olds which is now available in more than 2200 centres across England and Wales.

Up to 35,000 kids will take part in the inaugural season of Dynamos Cricket, with two 6-12-week courses available to parents, one during the summer term, beginning mid-May, and the other over the school holidays to coincide with The Hundred.

Every child taking part will receive a bespoke shirt with their name and number on the back, and get access to a Dynamos app providing cricket tips, activities and quizzes, alongside skills and tips so that they can practice at home and with their friends. They will also receive packs of Topps Cricket Attax trading cards, featuring some of the best players from The Hundred.

"With the number of phones and tablets around these days, all kids are glued to them," said Wright. "So the fact that there is an app for skills and fun things like that is an important part of engaging them outside of the programme.

"And the fact they can play it while there's a tournament on, that's a big plus," he added. "Normally those schemes are finished by the time the summer holidays are on, so the fact it can be done at the same time as the Hundred is a bonus, especially with some games being on the BBC, which will be massive."

While the prospect of the Hundred has generated mixed reactions, Wright is confident, as a veteran of numerous T20 leagues around the world, that it will succeed in its primary aim, of appealing to a new audience that has never previously engaged with cricket.

"There are obvious pros and cons about the Hundred, some people were worried that cricket was turning into baseball," he said. "But I was there for the first-ever Big Bash in Australia, the first Pakistan Super League, and there were a huge amount of cricket fans who hated the idea at first, but what we saw was an amazing new amount of young fans turning up.

"That's something the Hundred wants to do, get more kids coming to the games, and if they can do that, hopefully it can uplift cricket and get more people involved in it.

"My son Josh did the All Stars programme over the last few years and he really enjoyed it, and I was shocked how many kids turned up - kids who'd never played before, and lots of girls too. But then there was a drop-off after they turn eight, with nowhere obvious for kids leaving the scheme to go.

"Now there's something else. Time will tell if it works, but something like this needed to be done, especially after winning the World Cup. From an ECB point of view, you don't want to waste an opportunity like that."

Nick Pryde, the ECB's Director of Participation and Growth, said: "2020 promises to be another unforgettable year for the game with the launch of The Hundred and Dynamos will give kids a chance to experience for themselves just how exciting cricket can be.

"Dynamos Cricket is a key part of our plans to grow the game in England and Wales and we hope that thousands of children will fall in love with the game this summer."

The programme was launched with a taster session in Harrow over the weekend, attended by England fast bowler James Anderson, Oval Invincibles spinner Laura Marsh, Birmingham Phoenix star Pat Brown and England Physical Disability cricketer and parent Liam Thomas, as well as Clare Stokes, the wife of England all-rounder Ben.

"I've seen today just how much fun Dynamos Cricket is," said Marsh. "It's great that so many children will have the opportunity to take up the game at such a young age.

"I learnt so many lessons playing cricket - from teamwork and communication, to looking out for my friends in tough times. Cricket has made me stronger and more resilient as a person and is something I'd recommend to anyone."

Brown added: "Cricket taught me how to win and lose gracefully. Just as importantly, it helped me to make friends and to learn how to cope with pressure. These are great life skills and you're never too young to learn them!"

The on-field workouts begin Thursday at the NFL's scouting combine inside Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

A look at what you need to know:

The workouts: 7-11 p.m. ET (NFL Network), quarterbacks, wide receivers and tight ends do the vertical jump, broad jump, 40-yard dash, shuttle drills and position drills.

And ...: The offensive linemen and running backs will do bench press; defensive linemen and linebackers have their medical exams; and defensive backs will be measured and weighed and go through psychological testing.

The record holders: Former University of Washington wide receiver John Ross -- now with the Cincinnati Bengals -- ran a 4.22-second 40-yard dash in 2017, which is considered the record in the combine's electronic timing format that began in 1999. Bo Jackson's hand-timed 4.12 in 1986 has long been considered the best combine 40 time.

At the top of the board: LSU's Joe Burrow and Alabama's Tua Tagovailoa, the top quarterbacks in the draft, will not work out at the combine. One of the top tight ends -- LSU's Thaddeus Moss -- also will not work out. A deep group of receivers is expected to rule the day, as scouts say they're prepared to see plenty of speed and potential for immediate impact in the league.

Who can really help themselves: The "other" quarterbacks -- those not named Burrow or Tagovailoa -- have a chance to get attention. Utah State's Jordan Love has compared his own skill set to that of Patrick Mahomes and is trying to convince personnel executives he can add consistency and better decision-making along with what many consider the strongest arm in the draft class. A player such as Georgia's Jake Fromm, who has shown quality decision-making with 42 college starts, has to continue to prove he has enough arm strength to do the job as a pro. All of the quarterbacks in Indy will throw to what is being called the deepest, most talented group of receivers in years.

Don't miss: Tight end Adam Trautman was a lightly recruited prep quarterback when he went to Dayton, but in an NFL looking for pass-catchers who can put pressure on a defense all over the field, he has a growing fan club. Baylor's Denzel Mims can also add to his strong week at the Senior Bowl in a crowded group of wideouts. Former Oklahoma/Alabama quarterback Jalen Hurts has done nothing but win games and pile up touchdowns, and yet he is still trying to convince some in the league about what he can do behind center. He'll get another chance Thursday.

More on the combine:

• Reimagining the NFL combine for quarterbacks

• NFL combine preview: Kiper, McShay answer the biggest draft questions

• NFL combine: Draft needs, prospects to target for all 32 NFL teams

• NFL combine records and the best, worst performances

• Kiper's 2020 NFL draft rankings: Top 25 prospects Big Board and best 10 at every position

• Tom Brady's "favorite" NFL combine picture celebrates 20th birthday

• Why the NFL combine built a myth around QB hand size, a measurement that doesn't mean anything