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Livingstone named Lancashire captain for 2023 T20 Blast
Livingstone spent a single season as Lancashire's all-format club captain as a 24-year-old in 2018 but stepped down after struggling for form as the club were relegated from Division One of the County Championship.
"I think I was a very different person and player back then," Livingstone told LancsTV. "I think my experience around the world over the last couple of years will obviously make things a little bit different for me, and we've got a lot of players to bounce ideas off so it certainly won't just be me making all the decisions.
"We've got a really good squad. I don't think it's too difficult a job: we've got a lot of experience, we've got more experience coming back in - hopefully Jos in the next couple of games. I don't think it's a difficult task. We've got a lot of people to bounce ideas off and hopefully the team should pretty much captain itself anyway - it's just a few decisions here and there."
Buttler, Livingstone and Phil Salt all returned from the IPL this weekend but Buttler will take a short break before returning to the Lancashire set-up on June 1, when they play Yorkshire at Headingley. He is due to play 10 group games for Lancashire this season - more than he has managed across the last five years combined - as well as any knockout fixtures, having dropped out of England's Test set-up and with no clash between the Blast and England's white-ball fixtures this season.
"I'm really looking forward to pulling on the Red Rose once again and representing Lancashire Lightning in this summer's Vitality Blast," Buttler said in a press release.
"To have the opportunity to play so many matches in this year's Blast is really exciting for me and it's a chance to really help the team after coming so close in last year's final."
Lancashire's next Blast fixture is against Leicestershire on Thursday afternoon.
Rohit proud of Mumbai for 'scrappy' show this year after deflating IPL 2022
When asked at the presentation if he thought two weeks ago that Mumbai would make it to Qualifier 2, Rohit said: "I definitely thought about it. That's what we've done over the years. People don't expect us to do certain things but we come out of all obstacles and manage our way through to get what we want. Honestly, at the start of the season, of course we knew that we had a lot of work to do compared to what happened in the last season. But we managed our work through it, we scrambled through it. Yes, it was a scrappy one but I would take that any day."
"First and foremost, it's important to make them feel special, make them feel part of the team," Rohit said. "They play a lot of domestic cricket but this is a different ballgame with so many people here, a lot of pressure as well. My job as a skipper is to make sure that they feel comfortable on the ground. When they are about to execute with the bat or ball, our job - myself and the coaching staff - is to make sure that they're comfortable and very clear in their roles about what they have to do for their team. As long as you make it very clear for them, that's all [they] want.
Mumbai had made it to the playoffs largely by winning high-scoring games at Wankhede Stadium, where they won five out of seven, but the conditions in Chennai for the Eliminator were quite different with the boundaries being bigger and the pitch offering more turn and not being as batting friendly. Rohit was pleased that his team came together to script a massive win in spite of the different conditions.
"We knew coming to Chennai it's not going to be one man who will take us trough; it's going to be the whole unit who needs to come to the party and deliver at different points of time," he said. "At Wankhede, you know you need one or two individuals to step up and take the game through, but when you play on a pitch like this, conditions like these, you need everyone to come together and that's what we spoke about before coming to this game."
Akash Madhwal a 'gamechanger'
Rohit also heaped praise on Madhwal, who took the first wicket in the chase, and then dismissed Ayush Basoni and the hard-hitting Nicholas Pooran off consecutive balls in his second spell to reduce LSG to 74 for 5 before fittingly taking the final wicket.
"He was part of the season last year as a support bowler, but he didn't get to play. We knew what he had," Rohit said. "Once Jofra was gone, we needed someone to bowl at the back-end. Having seen him enough I was confident that he can get the job done for us. [He has a] lot of skills, good attitude, a lot of character as well. So that was very pleasing to see about him."
"He's been awesome," Green said of Madhwal. "Ever since he came into our team, we kind of realised we've got someone special here. The way he carries himself out there - in his first IPL season he doesn't seem like he's overawed at all. He bowled beautifully."
Mumbai in Qualifier 2 after Madhwal knocks LSG out with incredible 5 for 5
Mumbai Indians 182 for 8 (Green 41, Naveen 4-38, Thakur 3-34) beat Lucknow Super Giants 101 (Stoinis 40, Madhwal 5-5) by 81 runs
Look out, Ahmedabad. Mumbai Indians are coming. The five-time champions put on a clinic to rout Lucknow Super Giants on Wednesday night and march into Qualifier 2. They are now two wins away from lifting a trophy they might soon trademark.
Super Giants fell from 74 for 3 to 101 all out in a chase of 183.
Mumbai's boundary bash
Naveen intervenes
The impact of the Impact Sub
Mumbai had gone in a batter light in their bat-first XI. The logic was that if they needed the guy, they would sub him in for someone who was already dismissed.
If they hadn't needed him, they might have brought in an extra spinner to help defend whatever total they got. Mumbai kept both options open. It's a fun way to use the Impact Sub. It's not formulaic.
Wadhera played a massive role. He came in at a time when Mumbai had managed only 30 runs in the previous 4.2 overs. And he smashed 23 off 12, including two fours and a six in the final over.
Madhwal stands tall
Madhwal went to Mumbai for INR 20 lakh. Money extremely well spent.
He wasn't part of Plan A. An entire month had gone by before he played his first game, and there he went for 37 runs in three overs. Two of them were at the death.
Madhwal has bowled 129 balls this season. Fifty-one of them have been in overs 17 to 20. A rookie has been bowling 40% of his deliveries in the hardest phase of a T20 game while maintaining an economy rate of 7.5. Only one fast bowler has done better (min 18 deliveries) and he belonged to the opposition - Mohsin Khan.
Madhwal's biggest impact in this game, though, came in the middle overs when he picked up two wickets in two balls, including an absolute peach from around the wicket, angling into the left-handed Nicholas Pooran and nipping away off the pitch to have him caught behind.
Seventeen dots in 21 balls and five wickets for five runs. Nobody had done this much damage in the entire history of IPL playoff matches. Most teams wouldn't be able to recover from losing bowlers of the class of Jasprit Bumrah and Jofra Archer.
Mumbai aren't most teams.
'Everything started where I played that shot' - Krunal accepts blame for LSG's 32 for 8 collapse
It was the second successive season - the only two they have been part of since becoming one of two new teams, Gujarat Titans the other, in 2022 - where LSG have been knocked out in the Eliminator, having gone down to Royal Challengers Bangalore last year.
"We were in a really good position," Krunal, who took over the captaincy after an injury ruled KL Rahul out, said in the post-match presentation ceremony. "Everything started where I played that shot that was not on and I completely take full responsibility."
"At that situation, we should have played better cricket," Krunal said. "The shot I played was not on and I completely take all the blame for where we ended up."
Akash Madhwal was the wrecker-in-chief, picking up five wickets for just five runs and hastening LSG's slide. Three run-outs - all, incidentally, involving Deepak Hooda - didn't help either.
"The wicket was not bad, the ball was coming nicely on the bat," Krunal said. "It remained the same in the second innings as well. We just had to bat better and take responsibility to play good cricket, but we didn't do that after the break."
"It's always a tough decision. Quinton de Kock is a quality player, he is a world-class batter," he said. "Kyle had a better record over here and it was a tough decision but we felt we can go with Kyle at that time."
Much before all that, LSG opened their bowling with Krunal himself and K Gowtham, and Krunal explained that he wanted to deny the Mumbai top-order batters the extra pace upfront. However, the move didn't really work as Mumbai raced to 29 for no loss in the first three overs - two of those bowled by Krunal - and 62 for 2 in the powerplay.
"Their batters bat really well to the fast bowler," he said. "So I thought we can try something different and start with the spinners and then take it from there."
Ravens' Jackson expects to run less, throw more
OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- Lamar Jackson's first impression of the Baltimore Ravens' new offense: more freedom and less reliance on his legs.
After his first practice with new Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken, Jackson was extremely pleased with the direction of the new scheme and believes a philosophy change was needed to be successful going forward.
"Less running and more throwing," Jackson said when asked what this offense will allow him to showcase.
Jackson is the most prolific running quarterback in NFL history. His 4,437 career rushing yards are the most by any quarterback in their first five seasons -- 1,230 yards more than Cam Newton, who ranks second.
Baltimore is 16-1 when Jackson runs for 90 or more yards, but the quarterback has also taken an NFL-high 877 hits over the past five seasons.
Jackson flashed a big smile when asked if his rushing attempts will be scaled back this year.
"Absolutely, absolutely," Jackson said. "Especially with the receivers we have."
The Ravens revamped a group that ranked last in the NFL last season in receiving yards. Baltimore signed Odell Beckham Jr. and Nelson Agholor in free agency and then drafted Zay Flowers in the first round.
Jackson indicated the improved supporting cast will change the focus of the offense. In four seasons under former offensive coordinator Greg Roman, the Ravens ranked first in rushing attempts (2,194) and second to last in passing attempts (1,945).
"Running can only take you so far," Jackson said. "And I feel like with this new era of teams and offenses in the league, I feel like we need that. Coach Todd Monken, what I'm seeing in his offense so far, is looking tremendous."
Wednesday's practice was Jackson's first since he became the NFL's highest-paid player at $52 million per season. He missed the last two weeks of voluntary on-field workouts and skipped the first organized team activity on Monday before reporting Tuesday.
The Ravens held out Jackson from team drills, but coach John Harbaugh said the team will "ramp him up" moving forward.
"I'm excited that he's here, of course," Harbaugh said. "He was into the meetings. He was locked in the last two days, been completely locked in. So it's a good thing."
In addition to a five-year, $260 million contract, the Ravens are giving Jackson more leeway at the line of scrimmage. He pointed out that Monken is "basically just giving us the keys to the offense, really."
"You can change things when you want to," Jackson said. "You see the defense, and it's not looking right to you. You see some guy blitzing, you might want your receiver to do something different. Coach is giving you the free will to do whatever you want to."
Bail denied for ex-Alabama hoops player Miles
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- A judge denied bail Wednesday for former Alabama basketball player Darius Miles, who is facing a capital murder charge related to a fatal shooting near campus.
Tuscaloosa County Circuit Judge Daniel Pruet said at a hearing Wednesday that the bail issue could be revisited later.
Miles has pleaded not guilty in the January shooting death of 23-year-old Jamea Harris. The former reserve forward and Michael Lynn Davis, both 21 at the time, are charged with capital murder.
Former Alabama teammates including Jahvon Quinerly, Jaden Quinerly and Noah Gurley attended the hearing, according to al.com.
The shooting occurred on the Strip, a student-oriented business district of bars and restaurants near the Tuscaloosa campus. Investigators said Harris was sitting in the passenger seat of a car when she was struck by a bullet, which brings a capital murder charge in Alabama.
Davis is accused of firing the gun that killed the young woman, according to court documents filed in Tuscaloosa. Investigators wrote in a court document that Miles admitted to providing the handgun immediately before the shooting.
Defense lawyers suggested in an earlier court hearing that the two were reacting defensively after an altercation with a young man in Harris' group.
Miles was dismissed from the Alabama team after his arrest.
Rivera: Young 'understands' decision on option
ASHBURN, Va. -- Washington Commanders coach Ron Rivera said defensive end Chase Young understands why the team failed to pick up his fifth-year option.
Rivera said he hopes Young responds the same way Daron Payne did last season.
Young was eligible for an extension that would have paid him $17.452 million. But Rivera said earlier in the offseason that he wondered whether not picking it up would motivate Young, the No. 2 pick in the 2020 draft. Young suffered a torn right ACL and a ruptured patellar tendon in 2021.
Rivera said he has communicated with Young via text messages and conversations. Young has not attended Washington's voluntary offseason workouts since the opening week in April, preferring to work out elsewhere.
"He gets it, he understands," Rivera said of the fifth-year option. "He'll come in and give everything he's got. Look what Daron did.
"Guys that produce for us we want to keep them around. That's been the message. I believe [Young] has adapted to it nicely. He's working hard. I'll be excited to see him when he has to be here."
While Washington did pick up Payne's fifth-year option, it did not offer him a contract extension last offseason. There was concern it would lead to Payne leaving via free agency. However, Payne responded with his best season -- recording 11.5 sacks and 18 tackles for a loss. Both were, by far, career highs. He also earned a Pro Bowl berth.
In March, Payne and the Commanders reached agreement on a four-year, $90 million deal.
Young earned NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year honors in 2020 with 7.5 sacks, 4 forced fumbles and 3 fumble recoveries -- including one for a touchdown. In nine games the season he was injured, Young recorded only 1.5 sacks and frustrated the coaches with his pass-rush approach.
He returned for the final three games of 2022.
Fellow defensive end Montez Sweat also hasn't shown up for the voluntary workouts since the opening week. He'll be a free agent after the season. Rivera said he did not think their absences stemmed from their contract situations, as both have missed portions of the voluntary workouts in the past.
Washington's mandatory minicamp is June 6-8.
"You always like to have all your guys here," Rivera said. "It's voluntary. We understand."
Mahomes amid QB deals: 'I worry about legacy'
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Ever since signing what at the time was the richest contract in NFL history, Patrick Mahomes has watched as his annual pay has slipped to seventh among the league's quarterbacks.
Mahomes indicated Wednesday after the Chiefs concluded their first week of offseason practice that he didn't find this development troubling.
"I've always said I worry about legacy and winning rings more than making money at this moment," he said. "We see what's going on around the league, but at the same time, I'll never do anything that's going to hurt us from keeping the great players around me. So it's kind of teetering around that line."
Mahomes became the NFL's highest-paid player in summer 2020 when he signed a 10-year extension worth $450 million. No player has since topped that contract in terms of total value, but six other quarterbacks -- including Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson and, this offseason, Jalen Hurts and Lamar Jackson -- have passed Mahomes in average pay.
Mahomes could fall further down the salary list this summer if lucrative extensions are signed by Joe Burrow and Justin Herbert, who are both eligible for long-term deals for the first time.
Chiefs general manager Brett Veach said in the offseason that the Chiefs would look at sweetening Mahomes' contract, although he gave no timetable. Mahomes' current deal runs through 2031.
"You just want to do whatever to not hurt other quarterbacks [financially]," Mahomes said. "Whenever their contracts come up, you want to keep the bar pushing [higher].
"It's not about being the highest-paid guy; it's not about making a ton of money. I've made enough money where I'll be set for the rest of my life. But at the same time, you got to find that line where you're making a good amount of money but you're still keeping a lot of great players around you so you can win these Super Bowls and you're able to compete in these games."
Mahomes said it was a difficult balance between the two.
"I think it is for all these guys," he said. "I think you see the guys that are getting paid this last offseason -- they're trying to find that right spot.
"If you look at the greats in the league, they find that right spot where they're getting paid a lot of money but at the same time keeping a lot of these great players around. ... I understand you look at the team and you've got guys like Chris [Jones] and [L'Jarius] Sneed and even Travis [Kelce] -- all these guys that you need to keep around you to have these great teams. But at the same time, you want to make sure you're taking care of yourself."
Police conduct Morant welfare check after posts
Police in Tennessee conducted a welfare check on Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant following cryptic messages on his Instagram account Wednesday, with officials telling ESPN that he's just "taking a break from social media."
Earlier Wednesday, Morant posted -- and then deleted -- messages and pictures to social media saying "Love ya ma [blue heart emoji]," "Love ya pops [blue heart emoji]" and "You da greatest baby girl [blue heart emoji] love ya." He then followed those with a post that simply said, "Bye."
The Public Information Officer for the Shelby County Sheriff's Office confirmed to ESPN that officers went to Morant's home on Wednesday morning to check on him and "he is fine."
Morant, 23, was suspended from all team activities following a video of him holding a gun that circulated on social media on May 13.
The video appeared during an Instagram Live session on the account of Morant's friend Davonte Pack, with the All-Star flashing a handgun in a car while rapping along with a song. The video was deleted.
Morant left the Grizzlies and entered a counseling program in March after a video showed him holding a gun while intoxicated at a Denver club when the Grizzlies were in town to play the Nuggets. He was eventually suspended eight games after meeting with NBA commissioner Adam Silver, who called Morant's conduct "irresponsible, reckless and potentially very dangerous."
At the time of the suspension, Morant told ESPN that he realizes "what I have to lose" and said he would try to be "more responsible, more smarter and staying away from all the bad decisions."
Morant has been involved in several off-court incidents over the past year. He is being sued by a high school prospect after a fight during a pickup game in Morant's backyard, where Morant and Pack are alleged to have punched the boy in the head. The teenager told police that Morant entered his house after the fight and came back outside with a gun in his waistband.
Morant's five-year, $194 million max contract is set to begin this coming season. It could have escalated to a supermax if he had made All-NBA this season; he was not voted onto that team, which cost him about $39 million in future earnings. He has endorsement deals with Nike and Powerade, though the sports drink company pulled an ad featuring Morant after the March video and the ad currently is not running.
Morant averaged 26.2 points this season and helped Memphis secure the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference playoffs.
ESPN's Tim MacMahon and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
NEW YORK -- Yankees third baseman Josh Donaldson will start a minor league injury rehabilitation assignment on Thursday and slugger Giancarlo Stanton could begin one as soon as this weekend.
New York manager Aaron Boone said Donaldson, sidelined since April 5 by a strained right hamstring, will report to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes Barre on Thursday. His first rehab assignment was cut short after one game with Double-A Somerset on April 18.
Boone said Donaldson likely will play the field on Thursday, be a designated hitter Friday, be off Saturday and play Sunday.
New York opens a three-game series in Seattle on Monday, then plays at the Los Angeles Dodgers starting June 2.
"Possibly in Seattle, probably more likely later in the week, just because he's been down for so long," Boone said of Donaldson's return, speaking before Wednesday's game against Baltimore. "We'll kind of evaluate at the end of Sunday, assuming we get there and everything is going well, whether we want to have him get another one or two (games) or not."
Stanton has been sidelined since April 15 by a strained left hamstring.
"We're going to get him imaged tomorrow.," Boone said, adding it is possible he could head to the minors this weekend.
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