The PGA Tour plans to stop onsite COVID-19 testing for players, caddies and officials in July, according to a memo sent to players outlining the circuit’s adjusted protocols.

Players and caddies who have been fully vaccinated will be exempt from testing and while the memo points out “the Tour does not plan to mandate vaccination,” the circuit is encouraging it.

“There are common misconceptions and concerns about infertility, altering DNA, microchipping, becoming infected with COVID as a result of the COVID-19 vaccine. These misconceptions and concerns are false,” the memo read.

Starting in July the Tour will end onsite testing, which began when the circuit restarted its schedule last June, and anyone who hasn’t been vaccinated will be required to take a PCR test within 72 hours of arriving at a Tour-affiliated event. Those tests will be at a player’s own expense and will be a “condition of competition.”

Under the adjusted policy, anyone who has been fully vaccinated and comes in contact with someone who has COVID-19 won’t be forced to quarantine unless they have symptoms associated with the coronavirus.

Here's a look at what's happening on the PGA Tour and elsewhere this week, and how you can watch it:

PGA Tour

Zurich Classic of New Orleans

Thursday-Sunday, TPC Louisiana, Avondale, La.

Course specs: Par 72, 7,425 yards, designed by Pete Dye

Purse: $7.4 million

Defending champions: Jon Rahm and Ryan Palmer (fueled by Skittles, Rahm and Palmer won by three shots over Tommy Fleetwood and Sergio Garcia in 2019, the last time this event was played)

Notables in the field: Rahm/Palmer, Patrick Cantlay/Xander Schauffele, Tyrrell Hatton/Danny Willett, Cameron Champ/Tony Finau, Marc Leishman/Cameron Smith, Collin Morikawa/Matthew Wolff, Scottie Scheffler/Bubba Watson, Billy Horschel/Sam Burns, Louis Oosthuizen/Charl Schwartzel, J.B. Holmes/Robert Garrigus, Scott Piercy/Akshay Bhatia, Kevin Tway/Kelly Kraft, Martin Laird/Nick Taylor, D.J. Trahan/Ricky Barnes

Tee times: TBD

TV schedule: Thursday-Friday, 3:30-6:30 p.m. ET (Golf Channel); Saturday-Sunday, 1-3 p.m. ET (Golf Channel) and 3-6 p.m. ET (CBS)

LPGA

Hugel-Air Premia LA Open

Thursday-Sunday, Wilshire CC, Los Angeles

Course specs: Par 71, 6,450 yards, designed by Norman Macbeth

Purse: $1.5 million

Defending champion: Minjee Lee (defeated Sei Young Kim by two shots in 2019)

Notables in the field: Lee, Kim, Lydia Ko, Jin Young Ko, Nelly Korda, Inbee Park, Danielle Kang, Lexi Thompson, Brooke Henderson, Michelle Wie, Sophia Popov, Patty Tavatanakit, Gabi Ruffels, Jennifer Kupcho, Brittany Altomare

Tee times: TBD

TV schedule: Thursday-Friday, 3:30-6:30 p.m. ET (Golf Channel); Saturday-Sunday, 1-3 p.m. ET (Golf Channel) and 3-6 p.m. ET (CBS)

European Tour

Gran Canaria Lopesan Open

Thursday-Sunday, Lopesan Meloneras Golf, Gran Canaria, Spain

Course specs: Par 70, 6,503 yards

Purse: 1.5 million euros

Defending champion: Inaugural event

Notables in the field: Lucas Bjerregaard, Rafa Cabrera Bello, Eddie Pepperell, Thorbjorn Olesen, John Catlin, Sam Horsfield, Grant Forrest, Chris Wood, Toby Tree

Tee times: TBD

TV schedule: Thursday-Friday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. ET (Golf Channel); Saturday, 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m. ET (Golf Channel); Sunday, 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m. ET (Golf Channel)

Other notable events

KORN FERRY TOUR: Veritex Bank Championship, Texas Rangers GC, Arlington, Texas, Thursday-Sunday

SYMETRA TOUR: Copper Rock Championship, Copper Rock GC, Hurricane, Utah, Thursday-Saturday

USGA: U.S. Women’s Amateur Four Ball, Maridoe GC, Carrollton, Texas (April 24-28)

Anniversaries

• Monday (1987): Davis Love III earns the first PGA Tour victory of his career at the RBC Heritage.
• Wednesday (1974): Lee Elder wins the Monsanto Open and becomes the first Black player to earn an invitation to the Masters.
• Thursday (1984): Nick Faldo earns his first PGA Tour victory at the RBC Heritage.
• Friday (1951): Charlie Brown, in describing various trees to his friend Violet, mistakes a flagstick for a “bamboo tree” in the first golf-themed Peanuts comic strip.
• Sunday (1996): President John F. Kennedy’s golf equipment, split into lots of woods, irons, and putters, sells at a Sotheby’s auction for $1.3 million.

A year after both of the USGA's national opens were played without spectators because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the governing body announced Monday that it plans to re-open its gates to the general public, albeit on a limited basis, for the U.S. Open and U.S. Women's Open in California.

Both major championships will feature a “limited number of fans” who will either have to show proof of vaccination or return a negative COVID-19 test result before arrival.

California residents must show proof that they’ve been vaccinated at least 14 days prior to the championship or have a negative test result. Out-of-state fans, meanwhile, will need to show proof of vaccination before the event. Regardless of vaccination status, face coverings must be worn at all times while on-site.

The U.S. Women’s Open will be held June 3-6 at Olympic Club, while the men’s U.S. Open will be held two weeks later, June 17-20, at Torrey Pines.

"Last year, we missed the energy that fans bring to our U.S. Open championships," said John Bodenhamer, the USGA's senior managing director of championships. "We are grateful to our local and state health and safety officials in California to be in a position to welcome some fans back this year to witness the greatest players in the world contending for these prestigious championships, while working to maintain the health and safety of all involved."

The PGA Tour has contested several events with reduced crowds this year while the Masters Tournament also recently welcomed limited patron attendance. The LPGA, though, has yet to offer general-admission tickets since the tour resumed play last July.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp called out Leeds for placing a Champions League T-shirt bearing the message "earn it" inside the Reds' dressing room ahead of the two clubs' 1-1 Premier League draw on Monday.

For their pregame warm-ups, Leeds players took the pitch at Elland Road wearing the shirts, which also displayed the message "Football is for the fans" on the back.

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Liverpool confirmed on Sunday they were one of six Premier League clubs to become part of a breakaway Super League. And despite the league's plans to have 15 permanent members benefit from the potentially lucrative 20-team enterprise, Klopp said his team did not need to be reminded how qualification for Europe's top competition works.

"I saw there are warm-up shirts, which we will not wear. We cannot, but if someone thinks they have to remind us that we have to earn it to play in the Champions League, it's a joke. A real joke!" Klopp said.

"And they put [the shirt] in our dressing room. If it was a Leeds idea, thank you very much. Nobody has to remind us. Maybe they should remind themselves."

The German, who has spoken out in the past against a European Super League, told Sky Sports television that his opinion had not changed since 2019 when he said he hoped it never happened.

"I heard first-hand about it yesterday," Klopp said. "We got some information, not a lot to be honest. Most of the things you can read in newspapers or wherever.

"It's a tough one. People are not happy with that, I can understand that. But I cannot say a lot more about it because we were not involved in any processes, not the players, not me. We didn't know about it."

While no fans are allowed into Elland Road, a large banner draped across the seats read: "Earn It on the Pitch. Football Is For the Fans."

Some fans gathered outside Elland Road to voice their anger, with one banner reading: "RIP LFC. Thanks for the Memories."

A philosophical Marcelo Bielsa called the announcement of the Super League unsurprising.

"It doesn't surprise me. The most powerful teams have achieved their power from the competition against the rest of the teams. Now it looks like they don't need us anymore to earn more money and the method they use is to discard the ones that no longer serve their objectives," he said before the match.

"This didn't happen from one day to the next. A lot of regulations and rules that limit inequality have been made more flexible and granted this situation to become inevitable.

"There are two sides about this. The most powerful teams are what they are because of what they produce and the attention they provoke. But the rest of the teams are indispensable. The core of competition is helping the weak to develop, not the excess growth of the strong. The logic that prevails in the world, and football is not out of it, is that the rich are richer at the cost of the weak being poorer."

The game itself was crucial for Liverpool's hopes of qualifying for next season's Champions League. They now sit in sixth place but a victory would have seen them leapfrog into fourth spot, above Chelsea and West Ham United.

Leeds' Twitter account poked fun at Liverpool after the result.

"#LUFC hold Super League side Merseyside Reds to a 1-1 draw after late Llorente equaliser," the tweet said.

FULL TIME: #LUFC hold Super League side Merseyside Reds to a 1-1 draw after late Llorente equaliser

— Leeds United (@LUFC) April 19, 2021

Speaking after the game, Klopp reiterated he and his players had nothing to do with the Super League plans.

"I don't think it is right. They put them in our dressing room, I don't think we deserved that. I don't like the way a lot of people are talking about Liverpool.

"This is a fantastic football club. In this specific moment we can't blame the team for that. I take the criticism for everything, but this we have nothing to do with.

"Now people write articles about what they should do with it. People are shouting at us. We have to be careful because we are people as well. We have to be careful. I understand all the talk and I don't like it as well."

Liverpool midfielder James Milner added to BBC Sport: "I can only give my personal opinion and I don't like it one bit and hopefully it doesn't happen.

"It [the current system] has worked well for a long time. What has made it special what we have done over the last few years is we have earned the right to win the Champions League and earned the right to win the Premier League. The product we have currently is very good.

"It is difficult. Coming into the game today Leeds fans were making their feelings shown. As players we don't really have a say, so it feels a bit unjust. All we can do is try and win football matches."

Liverpool fan group Spion Kop 1906 announced that they and other groups involved in decorating Anfield's iconic Kop during the coronavirus pandemic will remove their flags as a protest against the club's involvement in the Super League.

"We, along with other groups involved in flags, will be removing our flags from The Kop," the group wrote on Twitter on Monday.

"We feel we can no longer give our support to a club which puts financial greed above integrity of the game."

American-owned Liverpool are joined by Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur as founders of the Super League, along with AC Milan, Inter Milan, Juventus, Real Madrid, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid.

Supporters' clubs of all six Premier League clubs have come out in opposition to the Super League, which would be a direct rival to UEFA's Champions League -- the competition Liverpool won for the sixth time in 2019.

Information from Reuters was used in this report.

Florentino Perez has said he's "completely sure" Real Madrid and other Super League participants won't be thrown out of this season's Champions League over their role in the proposed breakaway group -- and blasted the current competition's format, saying it's "only attractive from the quarterfinals" and clubs "will all die" without major reform.

Madrid president Perez -- one of the driving forces behind the Super League project, who has been named as its chairman -- is the first senior executive involved in the plan to speak publicly since Sunday's announcement.

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"The Champions League is attractive from the quarterfinals, that's all," he told late-night Spanish talk show El Chiringuito. "We play against small teams that aren't attractive. Young people prefer to entertain themselves with other things. But if we do it all season, five games on Tuesday, five on Wednesday, that would be unstoppable.

"What would bring in money is the 15 clubs playing each other every week. That's the greatest show in the world, there's nothing like it," he added. "A Real Madrid-Manchester [United] or a Barcelona-Milan is more attractive than Manchester [United] against a small club.

"What does the world demand? We have fans in Singapore, in China, all around the world, you see that on social media, the followers they have. That's what brings in money."

12 clubs -- AC Milan, Arsenal, Atletico Madrid, Chelsea, Barcelona, Internazionale, Juventus, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Real Madrid and Tottenham Hotspur -- have joined the ESL as founding members.

The breakaway competition, intended as a replacement for UEFA's Champions League -- which announced its own plans for reform on Monday -- has said that three more clubs are expected to join, while another five would qualify based on performance.

"Today, with the income from the Champions League as it is, we'll die," Perez said, stressing the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. "Less audience, less money. We'll all die, the big clubs, the medium-size clubs, the small clubs. They say the new Champions League format will come in by 2024, we'll be dead by then."

Perez is the Super League's first chairman, while Andrea Agnelli of Juventus and Joel Glazer of Manchester United have been named as vice chairmen.

The project has met vociferous criticism from football's governing bodies, fans and other high-profile clubs who are not involved.

La Liga called the ESL a "selfish, egotistical proposal designed to further enrich the already super rich" in a statement on Monday.

Sevilla -- currently in fourth place in La Liga behind the three ESL backers Atletico, Real and Barca -- expressed their "complete rejection of a tournament based exclusively on economic parameters."

Perez, 74, who was reelected without opposition as Real Madrid president for another four-year term earlier this month, also rejected the suggestion that the club could be thrown out of this season's Champions League.

Madrid are due to face Chelsea in the first leg of their semifinal on Tuesday, April 27, before the return leg on Wednesday, May 5.

"They won't throw Madrid out of the Champions League, for sure," Perez said. "Not Madrid or [Manchester] City or anyone. I'm completely sure. Or La Liga either."

Jesper Moller, the Danish member of UEFA's executive committee, said on Monday that he expected Madrid, Chelsea and Manchester City to be removed from the competition.

Perez also insisted that players "can be completely calm" about being banned from participating in UEFA and FIFA international tournaments such as the World Cup, "because that won't happen."

LEEDS, England -- On a night when fans set a Liverpool shirt alight in protest at the club's involvement in plans for a European Super League, the persistence of a saxophonist outside Elland Road, who played ABBA's "Money, Money, Money" throughout Leeds United's 1-1 draw against last season's Premier League champions, provided a mournful soundtrack to the existential crisis facing football as we know it.

For 90 minutes, the lone musician played the same song as Liverpool -- one of the 12 breakaway clubs branded the "dirty dozen" by UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin earlier in the day -- saw their Champions League qualification hopes dashed by Diego Llorente's 87th-minute header, which cancelled out Sadio Mane's first-half opener.

Talking about Champions League qualification for Liverpool seems almost laughable considering their involvement in the Super League plan. If Ceferin's tough talking is to be believed, they and every other club signed up to the proposal will be banned from competing anyway, but as it stands, they might not even make the top four after failing to beat Marcelo Bielsa's team.

Then again, the jeopardy that comes with playing in a competitive league, in which you can be champions one year and halfway down the table the next, is one of the big reasons Liverpool and their Super League partners want to create a closed-shop league that will guarantee annual participation against their fellow super clubs for the rest of time. It's just not what the fans, or anyone outside the Super League boardrooms, want, though. They want to see games like this, when Leeds can upset the odds and land a blow on the bigger and richer teams who want it all their own way.

If those involved with the breakaway clubs were in any doubt as to the anger that their Super League plan has generated among football supporters, the greeting afforded to the Liverpool team bus prior to the game, by fans of both sides, will have given them a sharp dose of reality. Up to a thousand fans had amassed outside Elland Road, despite rules prohibiting large gatherings due to COVID-19 safety measures, and they welcomed the Liverpool bus with boos, jeers and anti-Super League chants. Some fans even attempted to block the vehicle's path into the car park.

A plane flew overhead, trailing a "Say No to Super League" message, while banners were displayed by supporters with anti-Super League slogans and one that read: "RIP LFC -- Love for the working class game ruined by GR££D and CORRUPTION."

Inside the stadium, a huge banner had been placed on the seats behind one goal, reading: "Earn it on the pitch, football is for the fans." Prior to kickoff, the Leeds players wore T-shirts with the same slogan under a Champions League logo during the warm-up.

The T-shirts had also been left on the benches inside the Liverpool changing room, perhaps optimistically hoping for Jurgen Klopp's players to wear them too, but those players, paid by the owners who want to break away, opted against such an incendiary move. Klopp, while saying he could "understand why people aren't happy about [the Super League]," was unhappy with Leeds for placing the shirts in the Liverpool dressing room. "If someone thinks they have to remind us that we have to earn it to play in the Champions League, it's a joke. A real joke," he said.

Leeds are one of those clubs most likely to be disenfranchised by the Super League plan. A big club with a proud history and tradition -- Leeds have been English champions three times since Tottenham Hotspur last managed it in 1961 -- Leeds would argue they have the fan base and potential to play in the Champions League, as they did in the early 2000s.

After 16 years outside the Premier League, Bielsa's team has made an impressive return to the top flight this season, but Leeds are maybe two to three years from challenging for Champions League qualification. But by then, who knows how the landscape will look? Will there even be a Champions League two to three years from now? The attempts by the Super League cabal to create their own exclusive club will all but end Leeds' hopes of re-creating their glory days, which is perhaps why director of football Victor Orta stood with a protest T-shirt in the director's box before kickoff.

Leeds believed they had reclaimed their place alongside the elite with promotion last season, enabling them to renew a rivalry with Liverpool dating back to 1924, which saw this being the 117th meeting between the two clubs. But Liverpool's owners would rather play the whites of Real Madrid than those of Leeds United, and there is no escaping that.

In normal times, without stadiums being closed because of the pandemic, a full and noisy Elland Road would have given a clear message to those aiming to destroy the fabric of English football, and every other top league. But even without fans inside the ground, the scenes outside and the T-shirts worn by the Leeds players got the point across.

Liverpool captain James Milner, a former Leeds player, was surprisingly blunt in his assessment of the breakaway plan, saying, "I don't like it one bit and I hope it won't happen. Coming into the game today, Leeds fans were making their feelings shown. As players, we don't really have a say, so it feels a bit unjust. All we can do is try and win football matches."

That was a sentiment his manager shared. "The Leeds fans were shouting at us on our walk in the city today and when we arrived at the ground," Klopp said. "But we have nothing to do with it. We are human beings, and maybe the Leeds fans didn't know that."

Leeds forward Patrick Bamford joined Milner in voicing his opposition to the proposals. "From what I have seen, I haven't seen one fan who is happy, and football is ultimately about the fans," he said. "Without the fans, football is nothing, and it is important we stand our ground and show football is for the fans."

But the rebel owners, who are attempting to take their clubs where nobody wants them to go, have arrogantly underestimated football and its supporters. The protests at Elland Road are likely only to be the start of things.

The ECB are confident they will be able to fulfil their home international fixture programme despite India being added to the 'red list' of countries from which most travel to the UK has been banned due to fears of a new Covid variant.

Under new regulations, most people who have been in India in the last 10 days will be banned from entering the UK from 4am on Friday. British or Irish residents, or those with residence rights within the UK, will be obliged to serve a 10-day quarantine period. There is, at present, no dispensation available to allow sportspeople to train out of their rooms while they serve that quarantine period.

There is a concern that a new variant of the virus, which appears to be relatively prevalent in India, could spread more easily and prove more resistant to vaccinations. The UK's Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, has cancelled a visit to India which was scheduled to take place next week.

India are scheduled to play in the World Test Championship final against New Zealand in June and a five-Test series against England starting in August. Pakistan, which is also on the red list, are also scheduled to play ODI and T20I series in England in the coming months, while India's women's team is also scheduled to play a series in June.

But although the ECB are likely to require dispensation from the UK government to stage such tours, they are optimistic that all games will be given the go-ahead.

Having fulfilled their full home schedule in 2020, the ECB feel they have the experience and capability to combat the demands of the situation. Crucially, they also believe they gained the confidence of the UK government by demonstrating their ability to build an effective bio-bubble and stage matches without compromising safety. England were able to host series against West Indies, Pakistan, Ireland and Australia in 2020 with players of all sides obliged to abide by strict protocols, including serving quarantine periods.

"We are currently discussing with Government the impact of countries being on the 'red list'," an ECB spokesperson said. "By working collaboratively we demonstrated how we can stage international cricket safely in the middle of a pandemic and hope to be able to do so again this year."

It is unlikely the news will have much of an impact on England's players involved in the IPL. While some may be alarmed at infection rates in India - new cases have risen to over 200,000 a day and only the USA has reported more deaths from the virus - the players are already living in bio-bubbles and playing in empty stadiums.

It could, however, lengthen the process by which players can appear elsewhere, having been involved in the IPL. That could make it difficult for players at the IPL to be available for the Test series between New Zealand and England which starts on June 2. New Zealand players involved in the tournament include their captain, Kane Williamson, while England players involved include Jos Buttler. The IPL final takes place on May 30.

The ICC are also confident that the World Test Championship final, due to be played at the Ageas Bowl near Southampton in June, will go ahead as planned, although they may need the UK government to grant dispensation for the event, and for the hotel at the ground to be considered an approved quarantine centre.

"We are currently discussing with the UK Government the impact of countries being on the 'red list'," an ICC spokesman told ESPNcricinfo. "The ECB and other Members have demonstrated how we can stage international cricket safely in the middle of a pandemic and we are confident that we can continue to do that and that the World Test Championship Final will go ahead as planned in June in the UK."

Tonight we have MS Dhoni's Chennai Super Kings facing off against Sanju Samson's Rajasthan Royals. We'll have the likes of Ravindra Jadeja, Moeen Ali, Deepak Chahar and Shardul Thakur against the likes of Jos Buttler, David Miller, Chris Morris and Jaydev Unadkat. If this blog doesn't load for you, click here. For our ball-by-ball commentary, click here

South Africa's cricketers have apologised to sponsors and fans for the administrative upheaval that has led to ministerial intervention into Cricket South Africa (CSA).

National captains Dean Elgar, Temba Bavuma and Dane van Niekerk along with South African Cricketers' Association (SACA) president Khaya Zondo signed a statement urging that cricket's issues be resolved to stop the game being "severely prejudiced," by the threat of suspension from both the government and the ICC.

Sports minister Nathi Mthethwa has issued notice of his readiness to use the National Sports and Recreation Act to intervene in CSA after the board's failure to establish a new Memorandum of Incorporation that will pave the way for a majority independent board. The Act gives Mthethwa the right to withdraw CSA's status as the game's governing body, which would mean the national teams could not claim to represent South Africa. If Mthethwa uses that power, the ICC could interpret his actions as going against their code of conduct, which forbids government interference and could result in South Africa being isolated from the global game too.

SACA fear "dire consequences", including an impact on the financial viability on the game and spoke directly to corporate backers in its statement.

"As players, we wish to speak directly to the many sponsors of our beloved game - such as SAB, Betway, Momentum, KFC," the statement read. "We recognise and acknowledge that your involvement in the game supports our careers and provides funding for the development of the game throughout South Africa. We apologise for the actions of our administrators who have undermined and betrayed your commitment to the sport. And finally, to the most important stakeholder in the game - the public - we ask that you continue to support cricket. It is the most wonderful game, and we are immensely proud to represent you on the field."

It is not yet known what Mthethwa's intervention will be or when it will be enacted after his office issued a statement on Sunday saying the necessary steps would be taken in the coming week. South Africa are currently in the off-season, following the conclusion of the men's series against Pakistan on Friday, and neither the men nor the women have any confirmed fixtures for the next two months. However, SACA have the bigger picture in mind and are concerned that the schedule could be irreparably affected.

"The Women's team has enjoyed unparalleled success over the past 14 months, and the women's game in South Africa is on the verge of significant expansion," the statement continued. "The development of the game is now under serious threat, and at a time when we should be enthusiastic about the future, we have to be concerned about its future. The men's team has an ICC World T20 Event in November. Preparation has already started for this event, and the current state of cricket administration undermines our work in this regard. It may even lead to our suspension from this event should the ICC decide to suspend South Africa."

South Africa don't have to look too far for a precedent in that regard. In 2018, Zimbabwe were unable to play in qualifiers for the T20 World Cup because the board was suspended by the ICC for government interference and, as a result, they will miss out on this year's tournament.

CSA can avoid ministerial interference if the Members' Council - the organisation's highest decision-making body consisting of 14 provincial presidents - agrees on an MOI that lays the foundation for a majority independent board and independent chair. The Members' Council voted against this at a Special General Meeting on Saturday.

The longest Australian season ever has wrapped up but there won't be much downtime for some players. A group have already been at the IPL for a few weeks and the cohort with county cricket deals will soon start taking the field. Here's where they will be, what they'll offer their clubs and what they could stand to gain.

CC = County Championship, RLC = Royal London Cup (50 overs, starts July 22), T20 = T20 Blast (starts June 9)

Sean Abbott - Surrey (CC - from late May, T20)

Sheffield Shield Matches: 8; Runs: 570; Average: 63.33 | Wickets: 21; Average: 29.14
Marsh Cup Matches: 4; Runs 93; Average: 31.00 | Wickets 10; Average: 15.20; Econ: 4.53
BBL Matches: 4; Wickets: 7; Average: 18.71; Econ: 9.35

Had an outstanding domestic season where he was New South Wales' second-most consistent batsmen behind Moises Henriques while his four wickets in the Shield final made put him second behind Nathan Lyon as he developed into a full-fledged allrounder. Was also their leading wicket-taker in the one-day competition after taking four in the final against Western Australia. His BBL campaign was limited to a handful of matches due to being in the Australia Test bubble.

Australia ambitions
Was part of the Test squad for the postponed South Africa having been around the set-up all season and played ODIs and T20Is against India. With the emergence of Cameron Green and the depth of fast bowling available the limited-overs formats may be the more accessible to him. He said that his main aim with the Surrey deal was to keep his name in the frame for the T20 World Cup.

Cameron Bancroft - Durham (CC)

Sheffield Shield Matches: 8; Runs: 678; Average: 48.42

A strong bounce-back season for Bancroft after he averaged just 13.16 in 2019-2020 and frequently fell to catches at leg gully as opposition exploited a major technical weakness. Although an average of 48 needs to tempered by a season where many batters filled their boots this was much more like the Bancroft that earned international honours.

Australia ambitions
Hasn't played since the 2019 Ashes and with the emergence of Will Pucovski and the recall of Marcus Harris against India he is some way down the list at the moment although it's certainly not out of the question that he could get another go.

Ben Dwarshuis - Worcestershire (T20)

Marsh Cup Matches: 4; Wickets 8; Average: 18.75; Econ: 4.39
BBL Matches: 13; Wickets: 24; Average: 16.79; Econ: 8.85

He is a versatile white-ball bowler who holds his own with New South Wales' international cohort and remains a standout performer for Sydney Sixers where he was their leading wicket-taker in the successful title defense. Bowls a lot of tough overs in the Powerplay, Power Surge and at the death.

Australia ambitions
He was part of an Australia T20 squad in 2017-18 but has not featured since despite consistent returns and may struggle to squeeze past the amount of bowling options available.

Peter Handscomb - Middlesex (CC, RLC)

Sheffield Shield Matches: 8; Runs: 511; Average: 46.45
Marsh Cup Matches: 4; Runs 299; Average: 74.75

Will be captain of Middlesex. Was leading a Victoria side blooding a number of young players this season and wins were hard to come by, but personally the returns were solid with a standout contribution being the century against New South Wales to help earn a draw.

Australia ambitions
Has slipped someway down the pecking order but has time to force his way back if he can string together a strong county campaign and then start next summer well in Australia. His renowned ability against spin could put him in the frame for the subcontinent tours next year if the selectors go horses for courses.

Marcus Harris - Leicestershire (CC, RLC)

Sheffield Shield Matches: 8; Runs: 695; Average: 63.18
Marsh Cup Matches: 3; Runs 72; Average: 24.00

An impressive Shield season included a double century which was part of the record stand of 486 with Will Pucovski although his unbeaten hundred in tricky conditions against Queensland was an equally good innings. Still has a bit of a habit of not quite cashing in on the number of starts he makes, but Chris Rogers' arrival at Victoria appears to have been good for his game.

Australia ambitions
Was recalled to the Test side for the decider against India in Brisbane when Pucovski was injured, but with such a long gap between matches incumbency may not mean much come next summer. However, plenty of runs for Leicestershire will keep him in the selectors' minds.

Travis Head - Sussex (all formats)

Sheffield Shield Matches: 7; Runs: 893; Average: 68.69
Marsh Cup Matches: 5; Runs 276; Average: 55.20
BBL Matches: 4; Runs: 70; Average: 17.50; S/R: 98.59

A prolific season for South Australia as he filled his boost either side of losing his Test place, finishing as the second-highest run-scorer in the Shield, including a career-best 223 against Western Australia. Also churned out the runs in one-day cricket although as captain could not lead the Redbacks to a single victory all season. Had limited chance to make an impact in the BBL for Adelaide Strikers and couldn't get going.

Australia ambitions
Having been dropped after two Tests against India to accommodate the return of David Warner, debut for Pucovski and retention of Matthew Wade, Head would have had a good chance of reclaiming his spot in South Africa although faced competition from Henriques. With the selectors now seemingly moving on from Wade he'll be firmly in the running for the No. 5 spot in the Ashes, especially if he impresses with Sussex.

Josh Inglis - Leicestershire (T20)

BBL Matches: 17; Runs: 413; Average: 34.41; S/R: 140.00

Must have been a tempting all-formats signing for somebody after an outstanding all-round domestic summer for Western Australia and Perth Scorchers, but it will just be T20s for him with Leicestershire. A hugely versatile batter and excellent wicketkeeper he is something of a rarity in Australia in that he has adapted to a move from the top of the Scorchers' order to the middle.

Australia ambitions
Very close to recognition. Could easily have made either the Test or T20I squad a couple of months ago, although there is no shortage of keepers in the latter. Making a strong claim to move ahead of Alex Carey to replace Tim Paine. This county spell could help him make a late T20 World Cup push.

Marnus Labuschagne - Glamorgan (CC, RLC)

Sheffield Shield Matches: 8; Runs: 821; Average: 82.10
Marsh Cup Matches: 4; Runs 145; Average: 36.25

Heading back to where the rise really started. The story of his development at Glamorgan ahead of the 2019 Ashes is well known, but no one could truly have known the heights he would already have reached. Capped his Australian summer with the defining innings, 192, of the Sheffield Shield final and he was the only batter to score four hundreds in the competition (and made another against India). Few would have blamed him for wanting some time off, but his love of batting holds no bounds.

Australia ambitions
Reckon he's going okay on that front. On a slightly more serious point it will be interesting to watch how his 50-over batting continues to develop and he is not yet in Australia's T20 plans (he won't be playing the Blast for Glamorgan, either).

Mitchell Marsh - Middlesex (T20)

BBL Matches: 15; Runs: 315; Average: 39.37; S/R: 147.88 | Wickets: 4; Average: 18.75; Econ: 6.52

One of the strongest hitters of a cricket ball going around, Marsh should provide a dynamic package for Middlesex in the Blast. Had a good season with the bat for the Scorchers in the BBL but his bowling was limited by injury - something he has had to deal with frequently over the last few years.

Australia ambitions
Is firmly in plans for the T20 World Cup having featured on the recent New Zealand tour although his position rarely feels entirely secure. Has the game to be a finisher in the middle order.

Ben McDermott - Derbyshire (RLC, T20)

Marsh Cup Matches: 2; Runs 68; Average: 34.00
BBL Matches: 12; Runs: 402; Average: 36.54; S/R: 139.58

At his best he can be hugely destructive and he was the leading run-scorer for the Hobart Hurricanes in the BBL. His one-day season was limited by being in the Australia T20 squad. Offers another wicketkeeping option for any team he plays for, but also superb in the outfield.

Australia ambitions
Is in the thinking for T20 World Cup although could struggle to make the final cut depending on squad sizes. Has even been talked about as a Test candidate despite just two first-class centuries (the second coming for Australia A against India this season) but white-ball cricket would seem the likelier opportunity.

Michael Neser - Glamorgan (CC, RLC)

Sheffield Shield Matches: 8; Runs: 161; Average: 32.20 | Wickets: 18; Average: 24.33
Marsh Cup Matches: 3; Wickets: 6; Average: 15.83

Started the season in style with a century and a five-wicket haul in the same match against Tasmania then claimed another five-for to set-up the Sheffield Shield final victory. If there is any assistance in a surface Neser will find it. Should provide huge value for Glamorgan.

Australia ambitions
Is there a player more unfortunate to not yet have a Test cap? Rightly or wrongly still feels that he needs at least a couple of injuries or players to lose form to push his way in. Isn't really in the frame for the ODI side.

Billy Stanlake - Derbyshire (all formats)

Marsh Cup Matches: 4; Wickets 6; Average: 19.66
BBL Matches: 12; Wickets: 13; Average: 24.92; Econ: 8.34

An interesting all-formats signing by Derbyshire given he did not feature in the Shield for Queensland this season. Gave a reminder of what he can offer with a career-best 4 for 24 in the Marsh Cup and was solid for Melbourne stars in the BBL

Australia ambitions
Well down the list now having last appeared in late 2019 and it would be a surprise if he was back in contention next season.

Peter Siddle - Essex (CC, RLC)

Sheffield Shield Matches: 6; Runs: 146; Average: 24.33 | Wickets: 18; Average: 28.16
Marsh Cup Matches: 2; Wickets: 4; Average: 19.50

Remains a hugely consistent and skillful seam bowler and the average of 28 from this season does not do justice to how well he often bowled for his new state Tasmania having moved from Victoria.

Australia ambitions
Having earned ODI and Test recalls in 2019 he retired from the international game last season.

Daniel Worrall - Gloucestershire (all formats)

Sheffield Shield Matches: 5; Wickets: 12; Average: 45.41
Marsh Cup Matches: 4; Wickets: 4; Average: 47.00
BBL Matches: 11; Wickets: 10; Average: 27.10; Econ: 7.29

A stalwart domestic performer for South Australia and Adelaide Strikers he will be happy to put in some big shifts if needed for Gloucestershire. As with all the Redbacks' bowlers this season there was plenty of toil. In the BBL he produced some outstanding new-ball bursts for the Strikers and in T20 is a candidate to bowl the majority of his overs upfront if conditions suit.

Australia ambitions
His three ODI caps came back in 2016 and the chances of further representation have probably passed him by.