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A return to Test cricket is at the forefront of Nic Maddinson’s mind, as he looks to bring last season’s strong finish in the Sheffield Shield to New South Wales after his winter return home, while he also hopes to reignite his T20 career after completing a double switch by joining Sydney Thunder.Maddinson hit three centuries in three Shield matches in the second half of last season for Victoria after missing the first part of the summer through injury before opting to move back to where his career began in Sydney.Those performances stood out in a Shield season where runs were hard to come by and started to have Maddinson’s name mentioned for a possible return to Test cricket. His previous three Tests came in 2016-17 against South Africa and Pakistan when the selectors revamped the batting order, but he made just 27 runs in four innings.Related

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“Probably [think about it] most days to be fair,” Maddinson told ESPNcricinfo. “Obviously throughout the winter and off season you have other stuff and family at home, but when you start coming into cricket, we’ve been outdoor training on the centre wickets, [Josh] Hazlewood and [Mitchell] Starc have started to roll through, it’s hard not to think about the progression of your career.”I love playing the game and want to help New South Wales win but also from a personal point of view still feel like I offer something at international cricket and would love to have that chance again. There’s a lot of motivations for people and still playing for Australia is there for me.”He also believes there is no comparison to the player he is now to the one who first played Test cricket. Overall in six seasons with Victoria he averaged 50.63 in Shield cricket.Nic Maddinson made three hundreds in three Shield matches last season•Getty Images

“Ten times better, maybe more,” he said. “Think I’m probably a much better player than I was even three or four years ago. Felt like Shield runs last year were pretty hard to come by on some of the wickets we got dished up. Opening the batting was always a great spot to bat but it was never really my strength. To be able to score the runs I did last year gave me a lot of confidence, being able to adapt and play a different style. As you look to progress career you have to adapt and last year felt I really made some good progress.”Maddinson’s prolific finish to the Shield came off the back of a difficult BBL campaign for Melbourne Renegades where he was dropped despite being captain after 48 runs in four innings. He had come into the tournament on the back of very little cricket after recovering from an ACL injury. His overall T20 record is underwhelming with an average of 20.30 from 134 innings but he hopes to reinvigorate his game with Thunder.”I’ve been pretty disappointed with how I’ve been probably since I left the Sydney Sixers [in 2018] to be fair,” he said. “I really found it challenging going into BBL off not much cricket [last season] having had such a long break. For me, what’s important is having a decent block of longer-form cricket to channel into BBL and then expand your game from there.”There’s definitely stages in people’s careers where you have a bit of a lull in formats and can bounce back. Last year was a bit disappointing for me because the only thing holding me back from feeling like I was going to do well was just the amount of game time. There were a few technical changes and bad habits I’d got into from practising for T20 that took away from the overall structure of my batting. Going forward it’s about trying to find a game plan that works regardless of where I fit in in the order.”Joining Thunder means there is the prospect of Maddinson opening with David Warner, with whom he shared a Shield opening stand of 233 in 2011 after he was confirmed as having full availability for the season”Think I opened with him for the very first time when I was 16 in a 2nd XI game,” Maddinson said. “To think we could be batting together again, it’s been quite a long time. That top order, you put Cam Bancroft into that, Ollie Davies, Sam Billings, it’s quite a nice-looking line-up and hopefully I have a role in that somewhere.”

Will Chelsea be crowned champions of the world this week?

Last Friday night, the Blues beat Palmeiras 2-1 in the Club World Cup quarter-finals in Philly.

Enzo Maresca’s men then took on another Brazilian side in Fluminense in Tuesday’s semi-final at MetLife Stadium, reaching the final after Joao Pedro delivered a stunning individual performance, scoring twice in a 2-0 win. Now, they will take on either Paris Saint-Germain or Real Madrid in East Rutherford on Sunday.

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Estêvão Willian captured many of the headlines at the weekend, scoring for the Verdão against his future employers last week, but could Chelsea now sign an even bigger Brazilian talent?

Chelsea looking at £78m superstar after Gittens move

Already this summer, including pre-agreed deals, Chelsea have signed eight players, costing in excess of £222m.

Chelsea’s 2025 summer signings

Players

Selling club

Fee

Penders

Genk

£17m

Delap

Ipswich Town

£30m

Sarr

Strasbourg

£12m

Essugo

Sporting CP

£18.5m

Páez

Independiente del Valle

£17.3m

Estêvão

Palmeiras

£29m

Pedro

Brighton & Hove Albion

£50m

Gittens

Borussia Dortmund

£48.5m

Total outlay:

£222.3m

All information courtesy of Transfermarkt

Straight off his sunbed, João Pedro made his debut as a substitute against Palmeiras in Pennsylvania, while Jamie Gittens’ debut will have to wait, ineligible to feature, having played 13 minutes for Borussia Dortmund earlier in the tournament.

Oliver Kay of the Athletic outlines how the Blues are ‘stockpiling’ young talent, forecasting that they’re not likely to stop any time soon.

Well, supporting this assertion is the fact that, as reported by Graeme Bailey of TBR Football, Chelsea have been in talks with the representatives of Brazilian Rodrygo from Real Madrid.

The Blues are not the only side to have held initial contacts with Manchester City, Liverpool, PSG and Bayern kept abreast of the situation.

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The winger has been linked with a move away from los Blancos this summer, having seen a miserly 27 minutes on the field across their last four Club World Cup fixtures, an unused substitute against both Pachuca and Juventus.

Arsenal have been most strongly linked with signing the 24-year-old, who reports believe could be sold for €90m (£78m).

How Rodrygo compares to Estevao

Now, could he end up in West London, rather than the north side of the capital? Well, the Blues surely wouldn’t complain if that was the case.

Chelsea do have plenty of wide-attacking options on their books, but the quality of Rodrygo could make him the best of the lot

Cole Palmer, Pedro Neto, Noni Madueke, Christopher Nkunku, Jamie Gittens, Kendry Páez, Estêvão Willian, Raheem Sterling, João Félix, Mykhailo Mudryk, Tyrique George and Omari Kellyman, we could go on, could all be deployed there, but the Brazilian is simply sensational and would make for an upgrade on all of them, perhaps besides Palmer.

Indeed, teammate Jude Bellingham believes the Brazilian to be the “most gifted player” in Real Madrid’s squad while Luka Modric has already said that he is a “superstar”.

Praised for his ‘versatility’ and willingness ‘to be selfless for the team’ by Mario Cortegana of the Athletic, despite his outstanding performances for Real Madrid, the best is surely yet to come.

Coincidentally, Rodrygo arrived in the Spanish capital from Santos, the club of Pelé and Neymar, in 2019, so let’s see how his time in the Brasileirão compares to that of Estêvão, as well as his exploits in Madrid since.

Rodrygo vs Estêvão

Stats

Rodrygo – Santos

Rodrygo – Madrid

Estêvão – Palmeiras

Games

80

270

83

Minss

5,363

16,152

5,611

Goals

17

68

27

Assists

8

51

15

Brazil caps

0

33

5

All statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt

As the table outlines, while Estêvão’s statistics in Brazil are slightly more impressive than those of Rodrygo, the latter has very much since proven himself at an elite level in Europe.

He’s won an enormous 13 major honours, including the Champions League twice, while scoring 19 goals for Madrid during the 2022/23 campaign.

So, while Estêvão could be a superstar, there is certainly an element of the unknown; he could be the new Luis Guilherme, Anderson or Kleberson. Unlike Rodrygo, he’s not yet proven himself in the big leagues either.

Thus, if Chelsea want to get back to winning the Premier League and Champions League, which is their stated objective, then Rodrygo would all but guarantee taking them to the next level.

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Newcastle United are battling a host of clubs for the signing of a “world-class” Premier League player this summer, according to a new transfer claim.

Newcastle narrowing down attacking targets

The Magpies felt too reliant on the goals of Alexander Isak at times last season, so it’s no great surprise to see a plethora of attacking stars linked with summer moves to St James’ Park.

Bournemouth winger Justin Kluivert has been lined up as an alternative to Bryan Mbeumo, should the Brentford ace join United or Spurs instead, with the Cherries star scoring a hat-trick away to Newcastle in a shock 4-1 win there last season.

The Magpies are also believed to have increased their efforts to complete the signing of Brighton striker Joao Pedro, as they look to add depth in central attacking areas ahead of their return to the Champions League in 2025/26.

When it comes to young, long-term options for Newcastle, RB Leipzig wide man Antonio Nusa has emerged as a target for Eddie Howe’s side, with the 20-year-old already bagging 12 goal contributions (five goals and seven assists) in 36 appearances for the Bundesliga outfit. Now, another attacker has been backed to be a potential addition at St James’.

Newcastle battling to sign "world-class" ace

According to a new update from Caught Offside, Newcastle are in the race to sign Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford this summer.

The 27-year-old may be surplus to requirements at Old Trafford, having been loaned out to Aston Villa last season, and the Magpies are battling to snap him up. Villa themselves are keen on a permanent move, while Tottenham, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Inter Milan and Saudi Pro League clubs are all mentioned as possible suitors, too.

Rashford has reached a key point in his career, in terms of making sure he isn’t on a permanent decline and overcoming what has been a disappointing year or two at United.

The Englishman is clearly a massive talent who is capable of match-winning brilliance, though, which is why Luke Shaw has had this to say about his club and international teammate in the past: “He is in a really good way at the moment. Extremely confident, very positive. He is world-class, and he can be one of the best players in the world if he keeps going.”

Newcastle have first hand experience of what a menace Rashford can be to play against, with the forward scoring five goals against them, four of which have come in the Premier League.

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Granted, there would be some risk involved if the Magpies took a punt on him, considering he hasn’t looked like the player of old in recent years, and he would be on big wages, but he could explode with a new challenge, needing to move away from United.

Aston Villa had an ideal chance to reach their first FA Cup final in a decade at the weekend. With Crystal Palace standing in the way, Unai Emery’s men let the occasion overawe them as the club slumped to a 3-0 defeat at Wembley.

Having been knocked out of the Champions League by PSG just 11 days prior, the FA Cup represented the last chance for the club to end a near 30-year wait for a major trophy.

Despite the result, Emery must gather his men for the crunch tie against Fulham this afternoon. A win is a must if the Midlands side wants to play in Europe’s premier club competition next term.

The Spaniard will certainly be making a change or two, especially in his attacking department…

Why Ollie Watkins should be dropped for Aston Villa

Ollie Watkins started the semi-final against Palace, yet delivered one of his poorest performances in a Villa shirt.

In a game of such high magnitude, the striker completed only eight passes throughout the match and lost possession seven times.

He failed to even register a single shot against the Eagles, while also failing with both his dribble attempts and winning just one of his seven duels.

Goals

15

Assists

7

Goal conversion percentage

19%

Shots per game

2.3

Big chances created

6

Big chances missed

24

It was a performance that the Englishman will be keen to forget, that’s for sure. Marcus Rashford looks certain to miss the rest of the season due to a hamstring injury, otherwise, he may well have started against Palace.

This leaves the door ajar for another January signing to be unleashed against the Cottagers today – Donyell Malen.

The Aston Villa star who could replace Watkins

It’s safe to say that Malen hasn’t quite enjoyed the start to life many expected of him after his £20m move from Borussia Dortmund in the winter transfer window.

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Indeed, across 14 games for the club, he has started just three times, scoring three goals in the process.

He might not start often, but Malen has recorded a goal conversion percentage of 25%, showcasing his finishing abilities.

Furthermore, he averages 1.1 shots per game as well as scoring once every 96 minutes. Perhaps he offers more coming off the bench against tired legs, but with Watkins performing so poorly last week, it is now time for Malen to shine.

When compared to peers across Europe’s big five leagues, the Dutchman ranks in the top 11% for touches inside the opposition penalty area (6.44) and in the top 1% for non-penalty goals (0.71) per 90 over the previous 365 days.

This suggests Emery must not have any reservations about unleashing him in the starting XI, that’s for sure.

Dubbed “very dangerous” and “extremely fast” by his former teammate, Mario Götze, the former Dortmund man has plenty to offer Villa over the next few weeks.

Having scored three Premier League goals since the start of April, another one or two this afternoon would help Villa get over the FA Cup disappointment and spearhead their charge towards a top-five finish.

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Newcastle United have enjoyed tangible success under Eddie Howe this campaign and may now be willing to follow that up by showing ambition in the transfer market.

Newcastle in Champions League race ahead of summer window

Retaining a game in hand over most of their rivals for continental qualification, Newcastle will feel a sense of quiet optimism over their chances of securing a Champions League berth ahead of next season.

Mathematically, England is now set to have five positions available for Europe’s premier competition via the Premier League. At the same time, either Manchester United or Tottenham Hotspur could clinch a spot if they win the Europa League.

Eddie Howe deserves a lot of credit for leading his side into the mix, and it is likely PIF will back the Englishman on the market following his role in helping the Magpies to claim their first silverware since 1955.

Alexander Isak’s future will come under the microscope at St James’ Park, so it is no surprise that Newcastle could target Benfica forward Vangelis Pavlidis as a replacement for the Sweden international.

In addition, Callum Wilson is expected leave the Magpies on a free transfer at the end of the season, which will require work to be done behind the scenes to provide adequate squad depth at centre-forward.

Newcastle contracts set to expire this summer

Callum Wilson

No option

Mark Gillespie

No option

John Ruddy

No option

Jamal Lewis

No option

Jamaal Lascelles

No option

Aaron Ramsdale is on Newcastle’s wishlist up the other end, but it is likely that firepower will be the first port of call on the agenda this summer for Howe and the recruitment department.

Now, the Geordies have identified who they feel could be a main contender to succeed Wilson ahead of 2025/26, per recent developments.

Newcastle want to sign Dominic Calvert-Lewin on a free transfer

According to reports, Newcastle have made contact with Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s entourage and the Three Lions international is viewed as a priority signing to replace Wilson at St James’ Park.

They also have another unnamed star in the frame, but they are believed to be ‘very keen’ on the Everton man after he turned down multiple offers to extend his time on Merseyside.

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Labelled a ‘top striker’ by Carlo Ancelotti, Calvert-Lewin has registered 71 goals and 20 assists in 269 appearances for his current employers. However, frequent injury problems and goal droughts in recent years have led him to a career crossroads in his prime.

Earning £100,000 per week at Goodison Park, the former Sheffield United man possesses a lot of distinctive qualities that could offer Newcastle a more physical Plan B in attack, alongside the carrot that he is a homegrown star who would offer leeway in European squad registration.

Given his availability on a free transfer, the Magpies may feel Calvert-Lewin is a risk worth taking to bolster their forward line.

Manchester United are rivalling Premier League rivals Liverpool and Arsenal for the signing of Bayern Munich and France winger Michael Olise.

The 23-year-old has arguably matured into one of the best wingers in world football, excelling in a Bayern shirt since joining from Crystal Palace in the summer of 2024.

Olise has six assists already in the Bundesliga this season, which is more than Bruno Fernandes (three) and Bryan Mbuemo (one) combined in the Premier League, with a half-dozen league goals also coming his way, outlining his end product.

The Frenchman is a hugely sought-after player, which is no great surprise, given his age and talent – Liverpool have been linked with a move – and Bayern will be desperate to fend off any interest in him.

United may have spent big on attackers in the summer transfer window, bringing in Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko, but they are likely to be on the lookout for further additions in 2026, in order to make competition for places as fierce as possible.

Man Utd in the mix to sign £123m-rated Michael Olise

According to Caught Offside‘s Mark Brus, Manchester United are showing “serious interest” in £123m-rated Bayern star Olise, but Liverpool and Arsenal are also in the race to snap him up.

Olise would be a spectacular addition for United, with Bayern centre-back and teammate Dayot Upamecano heaping praise on his brilliance in the past, saying: “He’s a magician. His technical level is very high. He can do everything. He can score, set up, and even defend.”

That said, the one confusing aspect of United potentially signing him is the fact that he plays a similar role to Mbeumo, in terms of being a left-footed right winger who cuts inside to wreak havoc.

It could be argued that the Red Devils don’t need both, especially with Amad Diallo continuing to grow as player in that role, with those funds being focused on other key positions, such as central midfield.

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That’s not to say that United should pass up the chance to bring in Olise, though, and beating Liverpool and Arsenal to him would be a massive statement, and he has the talent to light up Old Trafford for years to come.

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Tottenham Hotspur are now reportedly willing to launch a £70m offer to sign Rodrygo from Real Madrid after the Spanish giants weakened their sale stance ahead of 2026.

The Lilywhites are looking to make a statement move next year in a new era without Daniel Levy. They already stole headlines when they won the race to sign Xavi Simons in the summer, but signing one of Real Madrid’s attacking stars would take Thomas Frank’s side to a whole new level.

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Whether they’ll be in a position to convince Rodrygo to join is difficult to say, however. Whilst Tottenham sit as high as fifth and only four points off second place Manchester City, they’re also on a run of just one win in their last four games in all competitions. Life under Frank has simply shown promise but featured inconsistency.

Saturday’s frantic 2-2 draw against Manchester United summed things up. Spurs were toothless and then ruthless as they came from behind to lead 2-1 in the 91st minute only for Matthijs de Ligt to equalise for the Red Devils in the last minute.

The international break comes at a good time after such a dramatic game, but things don’t get any easier for those in North London. Up next, Spurs are set to square off against Arsenal in the North London derby. The Gunners haven’t lost since August and just conceded for the first time in over 13 hours against Sunderland.

Up against the best defence in the league, if not the world, questions will be asked about the star power in Tottenham’s frontline. They’ll already likely be without summer arrival Randal Kolo Muani through injury in a frustrating blow despite his goalscoring woes, and will be forced to turn to Richarlison to get their frontline firing on all cylinders.

It’s a problem that needs addressing in 2026 and one that Rodrygo could certainly help solve.

Tottenham now willing to launch £70m Rodrygo offer

According to reports in Spain, Tottenham are now willing to launch an offer to sign Rodrygo worth as much as €80m (£70m) in 2026. The Brazilian has struggled for game time under Xabi Alonso and could yet seek a move away ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

Meanwhile, Florentino Pérez and co. are now reviewing the winger’s future and are more likely to accept a big-money offer for a player who is becoming less motivated sat on their bench week in, week out.

Alonso’s trash would instantly become Frank’s treasure. Rodrygo would transform Tottenham’s attack as a multiple-time Champions League winner and as one of the best wingers in world football. The Brazilian is also a player who has received incredibly high praise and comparisons with Real Madrid legend Raul – that’s the level that he’s at.

At £70m, everything points towards a player that Tottenham should go all out to sign when the January transfer window swings open.

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Everton have joined the race to sign a want-away England international in January, according to reports, but face competition from the likes of Manchester United.

Grealish admits "love" for Moyes & Everton

The general rule is that fans should never fall in love with a loan player, but what if a loanee falls in love with them? For Jack Grealish and Everton, the admiration is going both ways and the Manchester City man couldn’t help but heap praise on David Moyes and onwatching fans after scoring the winning goal against Bournemouth on Tuesday night.

Speaking to reporters, Grealish said: “It is a brilliant team and I love the manager to pieces. I have only known him a few months and I can’t speak highly enough of him as a person. How he makes me feel, how he makes me want to play for him – credit to him. We are doing well.

“I am so lucky that I have had such great clubs and great fanbases, this is another one of them. They have been so good to me today. They were singing my name before the goal, I feel like they wanted a bit more from me and I gave it to them!”

There was plenty of cautious optimism when Everton signed the England international on loan in the summer. He was struggling under Pep Guardiola, but a move away and much-needed minutes always seemed likely to spark his love for the game back into action.

It’s been such a successful deal that The Friedkin Group could look to strike a similar transfer in January. Reports have already linked Everton with moves for struggling stars like Joshua Zirkzee and they’ve now even set their sights on welcoming Conor Gallagher back to the Premier League.

Everton join Conor Gallagher race

According to reports in Spain, Everton are now racing to sign Gallagher alongside Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United and, of course, Man United.

The England international has struggled for consistent game time as of late, starting just three La Liga games so far this season – and is now ready for a return to the Premier League in an attempt to secure his World Cup place.

Man United’s interest has been well-documented in recent weeks, but Everton could yet spoil their January plans by swooping in. Whether it’s the Red Devils or the Toffees, however, deal is unlikely to come cheap. Atletico are reportedly demanding around €60m (£53m) to sell their midfielder this winter.

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Despite his current struggles, Gallagher often received praise during his time in England, with Chelsea legend Petr Cech telling reporters in 2024: “He’s one of the players that’s always cared about winning and about the club.

“You find that even young players can have special abilities to be a leader. Conor is one of those players – he’s always worked hard, he’s always cared and he always tries his best.”

Having seen the success of Grealish at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, Gallagher could yet follow suit to hand Moyes an impressive addition in January.

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It’s been three years since she played for her country, but allrounder hasn’t been short of job offers

Valkerie Baynes30-Jul-2025Amanda-Jade Wellington is something of a pioneer in women’s cricket.Still only 28 years old, Australian leg-spinner Wellington isn’t afraid to say she would choose the franchise circuit over an international career if it came to it, and is part of a new generation of women for whom that is a viable option.It’s arguably as much a case of Australia turning their back on her as Wellington moving on from them but, with her second Women’s Hundred season at Oval Invincibles starting against cross-town rivals London Spirit on Tuesday, Wellington is okay with that.”Personally, I think I’ve made the decision to stop playing international cricket,” Wellington tole ESPNcricinfo’s Powerplay podcast. “If there was ever an opportunity to play, I think I would personally prioritise franchise cricket over that.”I know it’s tough to say, but that’s something I really enjoy playing and it brings out the best of me in terms of personality and enjoyment. That’s one thing I’ve got to put first is my mental health and the way I play franchise cricket, the feeling and just being involved in it, is just a whole new level.”Don’t get me wrong, playing for Australia is amazing and it’s such an achievement. But to be able to travel the world, fly to different places, play a sport you love and just create bonds with so many different people and different franchises – the amount of people I’ve met – it’s ridiculous.”Wellington hasn’t played for Australia since the 2022 World Cup, the last of her 14 ODIs. She was part of the Commonwealth Games squad later that year but didn’t add to her eight T20 international appearances. She also has a solitary Test cap, having produced a Shane Warne-esque ball-of-the-century-style legbreak to remove Tammy Beaumont during the 2017 Women’s Ashes.She has since been overtaken by fellow leg-spinners Georgia Wareham and Alana King and is unable to break back into the Australian team, a fact she has come to terms with.”I absolutely love playing for Australia,” she said. “I’ve won a gold medal, I’ve won World Cups and I’ve got a baggy green. I feel like I’ve ticked all boxes, the feeling of playing for Australia and the achievement is unbelievable.”For me personally, I get more joy out of playing franchise cricket and that’s a personal thing. Someone else might be different, they might strive to play for Australia, but that’s just not me.Wellington’s prowess with the bat has been a vital part of her appeal as an overseas player•Andrew Miller”I’ve come to that realisation and I’ve come to that decision that for me, my mental health, I’m much better playing franchise cricket, being myself, being the person I am, rather than playing for Australia.”I just feel like if I play for Australia again, I’d be a whole different person and I don’t want to feel like that. That’s okay for me to say, because that’s how I feel.”Men’s cricket has seen a couple of high-profile international retirements in recent weeks, with South African wicketkeeper-batter Heinrich Klaasen switching focus to T20 leagues and Andre Russell leaving West Indies while he has been pre-signed for this year’s SA20 and is expected to continue his IPL career.When Dane van Niekerk’s and Lizelle Lee’s South Africa careers ended, both took to franchise cricket to varying degrees, the latter playing domestic cricket in Australia and at the WBBL as recently as the season just gone.Deandra Dottin played franchise cricket only, including at the Hundred, before making her West Indies comeback, while Wellington’s Oval Invincibles team-mate Lauren Winfield-Hill – another who hasn’t played international cricket since 2022 – has been a regular in the Hundred and at the WBBL.

For me [and] my mental health, I’m much better playing franchise cricket, being myself, being the person I am, rather than playing for Australia.Wellington on the priorities in her career

But they remain the minority in a game where playing international cricket is still seen as the pinnacle.”I wouldn’t change my life for anything,” Wellington said. “I felt like I couldn’t be myself around certain people or certain teams. I feel a bit freer playing in the Hundred, playing at Somerset, playing in the WBBL. I feel more at home… it feels right.”That’s not to say franchise cricket doesn’t carry pressure of its own.”You’ve got all eyes on you,” Wellington added. “Being one of the overseas players, you’ve got a reputation of being one of the outstanding players or one of the MVPs. You’ve got to do all that you can for the team. Playing in franchise comes with that responsibility.”Another byproduct of the expansion of women’s franchise leagues is the prospect of keeping more players in the game for longer, on and off the field.Wellington said she was already thinking about opportunities beyond playing while she is part of tournaments run by major organisations around the world – “the networking stuff” – as she put it.The playing opportunity that has so far eluded her, however, is the WPL. She is keen to change that as early as next year and has been working on her batting in a bid to be recognised as a true allrounder.She took strides in that area when she was instrumental in taking Somerset to victory over Surrey in their opening One Day Cup fixture in April.Wellington had already taken three wickets when she arrived at the crease with her side, chasing a revised target of 238, needing 31 off 10 balls. She promptly struck four consecutive fours – six boundaries off seven deliveries in all – during an unbeaten 24 and Somerset ultimately won a last-ball thriller.