From coaching badges to Steve Smith bunny memes, seamer reflects on how far he’s come

Matt Roller24-Jul-2023Josh Tongue would have spent the 2023 summer coaching but for a specialist diagnosing a nerve problem in his shoulder last year. Instead, he has made his England debut, played an Ashes Test and been sent memes depicting Steven Smith as his bunny.”I don’t think it’s really sunk in at the minute,” Tongue said. “Being out for so long with my shoulder, having two operations on it, not knowing what I was going to be doing and maybe retiring, then getting that call-up for the Ireland Test, words can’t really describe how I felt. Now, being in the Ashes squad, it just feels so surreal.”Tongue qualified as a Level 2 coach early in his career and, if the shoulder issue which kept him out of the game for 14 months between June 2021 and August 2022 had not been resolved, he would have quit the professional game and followed a different career path.Related

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“I would have gone into coaching,” he said. “I’d have kept doing my badges.” He suggested he would have tapped into “a few contacts” at his old school, King’s Worcester, or worked with the former Worcestershire batter Gavin Haynes, whose son Jack has played alongside Tongue at the county and for England Lions.”It’s a bit different: doing a bit of coaching or playing for England in an Ashes series. It’s very weird. I don’t think it’s really sunk in at the minute. It’s just crazy: where I was two years ago to now. Obviously as a young kid, I dreamed of being in an Ashes series. Now I’m in one, it’s just an amazing feeling.”Tongue grew up watching James Anderson and Stuart Broad bowling; now, he is in contention to replace one of them in the fifth Test at The Kia Oval, starting on Thursday. “It’s just amazing to be in the training, training with them and learning from them,” he said, speaking before the fourth Test at a #Funds4Runs session organised by LV= Insurance at Stockport Georgians Cricket Club.”The first couple of weeks in the squad, I was trying to find my feet, not asking too many questions as the new kid on the block. I feel like now I’m getting to know everyone, getting a bit more confidence with everyone in the squad, I can ask those questions.”It’s different when you’re in competition. There’s not much training between each Test match, so I try and take as much out of it as I can. Being on the pitch with Jimmy and Broady at Lord’s, them being at mid-on and mid-off, [I tried to] just tap into anything they can offer.”Josh Tongue at a #Funds4Runs session at Stockport Georgians Cricket Club•LV= Insurance/#Funds4RunsTongue finished the Lord’s Test with figures of 5 for 151 in the match, bowling a prolonged spell of bouncers on the fourth day and dismissing David Warner and Steven Smith in both innings. “I didn’t think I’d play at Lord’s and that first day, coming through the Long Room and hearing the national anthem, I thought, ‘Wow! I’m actually playing in the Ashes.'”Having earlier trapped him lbw in a County Championship game, Tongue has dismissed Smith in three innings out of three this summer. “I did see a little picture of him in the corner, me, and then a rabbit – something like that,” he said, laughing. “I have seen some funny stuff on Twitter.”The one at Worcester, I did a bit of analyst work against him and tried to mix up the angles. He does draw you in and goes off his stumps. I tried not to play to his strengths which is obviously when you try to bowl straight, he’ll clip you through the leg side.”I feel like bowling that fourth or fifth stump and trying to bore him and force him to do something wrong [is the way to go] and obviously that happened in the first innings. Then, in the second, he was bumped out. It’s just so good to bowl against him, really.”Tongue generally bowls in the mid-80s mph but has touched 90mph/145kph at times this summer, and has enjoyed the novelty of looking up at his speeds on big screens. “I was trying not to look too much but you naturally look sometimes and it was great to get up to that sort of speed,” he said.”It’s a nice feeling. Growing up as a kid, you want to bowl as fast as you can so getting up to 90mph is a nice little achievement. I’m a big rhythm bowler: when I’m bowling at my best, I don’t try too hard. My skills, my height, my bounce, my pace… when I don’t try to bowl too quick, and my attributes kind of sink in.”He has only played at The Oval once before, in a high-scoring draw in 2018, but fresh from a five-wicket haul in Worcestershire’s win against Leicestershire, Tongue is confident that he can make an impact there if selected this week. “From Lord’s, knowing I bowled nicely there, I’ll take confidence for maybe playing at The Oval.”Josh Tongue was speaking on behalf of LV= Insurance, title sponsors of this summer’s LV= Insurance Ashes Series. Head to https://www.lv.com/gi/cricket to find out more

The franchise also parts ways with spin-bowling coach Mushtaq Ahmed while bringing back Nathan Leamon as director of strategy

ESPNcricinfo staff07-Sep-2023

Abdul Rehman, a stalwart of the Pakistani domestic coaching circuit, has been promoted to Multan Sultans’ head coach after serving as the team’s assistant coach for the last five years. He replaces former Zimbabwe wicketkeeper-batter Andy Flower at the helm.Rehman, currently the assistant coach of Pakistan men’s team, had joined Multan in 2018. Under Flower and him, the team reached the final of the last three PSL editions and won the tournament in 2021.”The past five years have been a great journey for the Multan Sultans and I am privileged to have been part of it,” Flower said. “When I agreed to join the Sultans, my first request was for Abdul Rehman to be my assistant coach. He is an exceptional coach and a consummate professional, and I am confident the team will benefit with him at the helm.”A month ago, Flower, who is one of the most decorated coaches in the game, was appointed head coach of Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL for a three-year term. Till the end of IPL 2023, he was head coach of Lucknow Super Giants and under him, the franchise made back-to-back playoffs in their first two years in the competition.”It is an honour to be carrying forward Andy Flower’s legacy at the Multan Sultans,” Rehman said. “Together with our leadership team, our coaching and support teams, we look forward to taking Multan Sultans forward with passion and innovation.”Multan have also parted ways with Mushtaq Ahmed, who was their spin-bowling coach for the last four years. They have also brought on board Nathan Leamon as Multan’s director of strategy. Leamon had worked closely with England across all three formats from 2009 for more than a decade. He has also worked exclusively with the white-ball teams since 2016, and had spent time with Multan in 2019 and Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL.Recently, Multan also became the first T20 franchise in Pakistan with a female general manager.

Arsenal now hold a “strong interest” in an “incredible” striker, with new sporting director Andrea Berta a “firm admirer”, according to The Athletic reporter David Ornstein.

Berta's arrival confirmed as summer planning begins

Berta has been expected to complete a move to the Emirates Stadium for quite some time, with the new sporting director coming in to replace Edu, who resigned from the role to take up a job with Nottingham Forest back in November.

Now, the move has been confirmed, with the Italian stating he is extremely happy to get the deal over the line: “I am thrilled to be joining Arsenal in what is a hugely exciting period for the club.

“I have watched with great interest the way Arsenal has evolved in recent years and I have admired the hard work that has gone into re-establishing the club as a major force in European football with a passionate following around the world.”

Offer made: Arsenal now submit £59m bid for "extremely quick" top target

The Gunners have reportedly tabled a huge offer for one of their priority targets.

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Dominic Lund

Mar 30, 2025

As we edge closer to the summer transfer window, the 53-year-old will be well-aware one of his main tasks is to bring in a new striker, and he is wasting no time identifying potential targets.

According to Ornstein, Arsenal are now developing a “strong interest” in Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres as a possible striker signing, with the Sweden international expected to be a prominent name on the list of targets.

Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak is also of interest, but Gyokeres could be a more realistic addition, given that Sporting could be willing to green light his departure for a fee of around £58m this summer.

Berta is said to be a “firm admirer” of the Sporting star, indicating the new sporting director could be the driving force behind a deal, although Mikel Arteta is also believed to be a close friend of the player’s agent.

"Incredible" Gyokeres has earned big move

It has been a steady rise to the top for the 26-year-old, who has proven himself during spells with Coventry City and Sporting, but his performances for the Portuguese side indicate he is now entering his prime and ready for a big move.

The “incredible” forward has scored five goals in his last eight Liga Portugal games, taking his tally to 42 for the season in all competitions, with six of those coming in the Champions League.

Gyokeres’ performances in Portugal have showcased he could be the missing piece of the jigsaw for Arsenal, who are lacking on options at striker, with Mikel Merino leading the line in Gabriel Jesus’ and Kai Havertz’s absence.

£58m also feels like a fair fee for a player of the striker’s quality, so it is exciting news the Gunners’ interest is growing, and his arrival could get the Berta era off to the perfect start.

Sean Dyche has revealed that Everton missed out on signing prolific Sporting CP star Viktor Gyokeres back when the striker was in the Championship.

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Gyokeres starring at Sporting CPDyche tried to sign him at EvertonReviews Man Utd & Arsenal targetFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The Sweden international is currently one of the most sought-after strikers in world football due to his goal-scoring exploits at the Portuguese side. Amid links with Arsenal and Manchester United, ex-Everton boss Dyche has revealed how close the Toffees came to signing the 27-year-old when he was at Coventry City in 2023.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportWHAT DYCHE SAID

The former Burnley manager saw Gyokeres first-hand in a pre-season friendly between Everton and Sporting in the summer of 2023 and was left mightily impressed.

He told talkSPORT: "The boy Gyokeres, I've got to be honest, I think he's a real player. I saw him in the Championship. Then we played him in pre-season and I thought, 'Strong, honest'. Not just the fact he was scoring goals by the way, there's more to his game I think."

Dyche added that he wanted to sign Gyokeres prior to his Sporting switch but "the numbers kept growing".

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Gyokeres was at a crossroads in his career after leaving Brighton in 2021. But he found his feet at Coventry and then made an eye-catching move to Sporting for £17 million ($23m). But very few would have expected him to score 97 goals in 102 games and be coveted by top teams across the planet.

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT?

It remains to be seen which team Gyokeres, who has a £85m ($114m) release clause but could be sold for around £60m ($81m) this summer, will join ahead of next season but it seems his time with Sporting is set to end.

Wyatt, Mandhana lay platform before bowlers close out three-run win at Ageas Bowl

ECB Reporters Network16-Aug-2023Southern Brave 132 for 4 (Wyatt 43) beat Birmingham Phoenix 129 for 8 by three runsSmriti Mandhana overtook Tammy Beaumont to return to the top of the Women’s Hundred scoring charts as Southern Brave beat winless Birmingham Phoenix by three runs in a thriller.Indian opener Mandhana has 224 runs in the 2023 edition of the Hundred after a stylish 39, which all made her the first women past 600 runs in the tournament’s history.The 84 runs she put on with opening partner Danni Wyatt set Brave on their way to fifth victory from six fixtures to send them back top of the table.Lauren Bell, Georgia Adams and Anya Shrubsole all took two wickets to make sure Brave defended 132 as already eliminated Phoenix reached 129 in front of a record 9,829 for a women’s Hundred game at the Ageas Bowl.Brave won the toss and eased through the gears with Mandhana and Wyatt cruising to 36 in a no-thrills powerplay.The overseas star was formidable through the leg side – with 25 of her runs coming from hits across the line, with a clear plan to rotate the strike with singles into the midwicket expanse.Wyatt struck all but one of her six boundaries behind the wicket before she was bowled by an impeccable legcutter for 43.The 84 the opening duo put on was the Brave’s fourth highest stand and the eighth time the pair had scored over 50 together.Mandhana fell 11 balls later to the 70th ball when she was given leg before to Arlott – who ended with two for 22. Replays showed it should have been reviewed as it pitched outside leg stump.Phoenix played three leg spinners on a pitch which turned but all three were milked, with only Katie Levick getting on the wicket list when she had Georgia Adams stumped.Maia Bouchier swept Erin Burns’ off spin onto her own stumps – the Australian was the only bowler to go at under a run a ball as Brave posted a slightly above-par 132.Sophie Devine swatted the third ball of the innings to midwicket but Sterre Kalis and Eve Jones built a platform with a 40-run stand.They both fell within nine balls of each other as the spin duo of Kalea Moore and Adams both pulled Brave back on top – Kalis lbw to Adams and Jones caught at midwicket.Another stand, this time of 43 between Burns and Jones edged the visitors towards favourites.But Jones was run out by Bouchier’s strong arm after some slow running to leave Phoenix needing 36 off 24 balls.Burns hit Adams for the first six of the day and then a four, but was caught at long-on.Defending 15 off the last end, Bell built pressure with a pair of slower-ball dots before finding Abbey Freeborn mishitting to mid-off.And Shrubsole had Tess Flintoff caught-and-bowled and Hannah Baker stumped while defending five off the final ball as Brave boosted their hopes of a third trip to Lord’s, with their play-off place now all but ensured.

Harvey Elliott has emerged as a transfer target for Brighton & Hove Albion as the 22-year-old may depart Premier League champions Liverpool.

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• Brighton are interested in £40m Elliott
• He has played a bit-part role under Arne Slot
• Seagulls could offer Elliott more first-team football

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Brighton have identified England U21 midfielder as a top target according to The Sun, and feel that they can tempt Elliott with a £40m move to the Amex Stadium with the offer of a starring role to play in the Seagulls' attractive brand of football. Fabian Hurzeler's side reportedly believe that Elliott can take them to a new level, be that from a central role or out wide.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Elliott is a boyhood Liverpool fan, but has spoken out previously about his desire to play more regular first-team football, though he previously hoped that would be at Anfield. With the recent arrival of Florian Wirtz, Elliott is likely to fall further down the Reds' pecking order and may reluctantly decide that his best option is to move and kick-start his career elsewhere. Nottingham Forest have also been reported to hold an interest, but it is thought that Elliott would prefer a move to Brighton due to their attacking style of play.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Elliott became the youngest-ever player to start a game for Liverpool at the time back in September 2019, aged 16 years and 174 days. Having joined the Reds from Fulham in a high-profile transfer for such a young player that summer, Elliott was touted for big things and saw his influence within the squad gradually increase under Jurgen Klopp. He has made 147 appearances for Liverpool in all competitions, but just 28 in 2024/25 after 53 the previous season.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR ELLIOTT AND BRIGHTON?

  Elliott has a big decision to make this summer about where his long-term future lies, particularly with the 2026 World Cup on the horizon as he aims to force himself into Thomas Tuchel's plans. Brighton may have to deal with the departure of Joao Pedro this summer, and will be hoping, as ever, to find their next young gems in the transfer market.

كشف مصدر مسؤول داخل النادي الأهلي، عن آخر تفاصيل ملف ضم الصفقات الجديدة لتدعيم صفوف الفريق الأول لكرة القدم، خلال فترة الانتقالات الصيفية.

وتعاقد الأهلي في موسم الانتقالات الحالي، مع 5 صفقات حتى الآن، هم، محمود حسن تريزيجيه، أحمد سيد زيزو، محمد علي بن رمضان، أحمد رمضان بيكهام ومحمد سيحا، إلى جانب عودة أليو ديانج من الإعارة.

وقال المصدر لـ بطولات: “محمد شكري لاعب سيراميكا كليوباترا يوقع عقود انضمامه للأهلي لمدة 5 سنوات”.

طالع أيضاً.. الأهلي يخطر وسام أبو علي بقرار جديد قبل انطلاق الموسم

وتابع: “اللاعب وقع على عقود انتقاله في حضور مسئولي الناديين، الأهلي وسيراميكا كليوباترا”.

ويتواجد فريق الأهلي في الوقت الحالي، في فترة راحة سلبية، ومن المقرر أن يخوض معسكره الإعدادي في تونس وسيخوض 3 مباريات ودية منتصف شهر يوليو الجاري.

وكان الأهلي شارك مؤخرًا في بطولة كأس العالم للأندية، المقامة في الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية، وودع منافسات المسابقة العالمية من دور المجموعات.

Ireland middle-order batter Shauna Kavanagh has retired from international cricket. Kavanagh, 31, played 27 ODIs and 58 T20Is, the last of which came in September 2022 against Bangladesh in the T20 World Cup Qualifier. She was picked for the recent T20Is against Netherlands but didn’t get a game.Kavanagh played in the 2016 and 2018 T20 World Cups and was part of the squad this year too. She will continue to play for her club, the Pembroke Cricket Club, and with the Scorchers in the Evoke Super Series.”The decision to retire from international cricket is something I have been thinking about for a little while and now feels like the right time to finish my playing journey with Ireland, she said. “Playing cricket for Ireland has been a significant part of my life for a very long time and there is no doubt this will be an emotional transition.”My international career has been a hugely rewarding journey and I am incredibly grateful for all the opportunities and experiences I have had. I would like to thank the staff at Cricket Ireland for their continuous support, particularly all the support staff I have worked with over the years.”Kavanagh made her international debut in April 2011 in both formats. She scored 345 runs from 41 T20 innings and 206 runs in 20 ODI outings, averaging just under 11 in both formats. She had developed a new skill in wicketkeeping late in her career.”Shauna is the quintessential team-player, a hard-working professional who was always seeking to improve and grow her game. Even to make the decision to develop wicketkeeping skills late in her career exemplifies how she always had one eye on the team’s needs, and with hard work has become a really proficient keeper,” Ed Joyce, Ireland Women’s head coach, said. “She will be missed greatly, but will continue to feature in the Super Series where she can share her experience and knowledge with the next crop of players coming through the system.”Laura Delany, the Ireland captain, said Kavanagh was a “brilliant role model” for youngsters and was “highly respected” for her “work ethic, commitment to the team and the passion and support she’s shown her team-mates over the years.”

MatériaMais Notícias

Pode parecer loucura, mas a não convocação de Gabriel Jesus aproximou o jogador do Arsenal ainda mais da Copa do Mundo do Qatar. Nesta sexta-feira, o técnico Tite anunciou a lista dos atletas para os amistosos contra Gana e Tunísia, nos dias 23 e 27 de setembro, com novidades no setor ofensivo da Seleção Brasileira.

RelacionadasSeleção BrasileiraSaiba quando será a convocação da Seleção Brasileira para a Copa do MundoSeleção Brasileira09/09/2022Seleção BrasileiraLista de Tite tem surpresas, indicações e ausências importantes na última convocação antes da CopaSeleção Brasileira09/09/2022Seleção BrasileiraEm 2018, cinco nomes convocados para amistosos às vésperas da Copa não disputaram o Mundial da RússiaSeleção Brasileira09/09/2022

A principal delas é a volta do centroavante Pedro, do Flamengo, que vive grande fase na temporada com 24 gols e dez assistências em 51 partidas. Jogador com características diferentes das que Tite tem atualmente, o artilheiro rubro-negro permite variação ao esquema adotado pelo treinador. Hoje com Neymar atuando mais centralizado, numa espécie de “falso 9”, a Seleção agora ganha um homem de referência na posição.

+ Veja a tabela, os jogos e os grupos da Copa do Mundo de 2022

Outra novidade é Roberto Firmino, do Liverpool, que não atua com a Amarelinha desde a Copa América, no meio de 2021. O atleta dos Reds faz grande início de temporada, com três gols e três assistências em sete jogos, e está na briga por uma vaga no Mundial. O estilo, entretanto, como é sabido, é diferente do apresentado por Pedro.

E onde que Gabriel Jesus entra nesta história? Como esta ausência o aproxima ainda mais da Copa? A resposta está justamente na convocação e nas palavras de Tite. Por mais que o treinador não tenha cravado, o bom desempenho do atacante no início pelo Arsenal será suficiente.

– Gabriel Jesus, especificamente, está em um grande momento e concorrendo (a uma vaga na Copa). Absolutamente sim. Esta convocação serviu para dar oportunidades a outros – declarou Tite em entrevista coletiva.

As convocações de Pedro e Roberto Firmino, além de Matheus Cunha, que esteve na última Data Fifa, é justamente para definir quem será o nome que estará na relação final junto com Gabriel Jesus. Desses três, apenas um deverá ir para o Oriente Médio.

+Tem novidades! Veja a convocação da Seleção Brasileira para os amistosos contra Gana e Tunísia

Desde que deixou o Manchester City e acertou com o Arsenal, Gabriel Jesus tem vivido um excelente momento. Em sete partidas, são três gols e três assistências. Na pré-temporada, números ainda melhores: sete gols em cinco amistosos.

Sem marcar um único gol na Copa do Mundo de 2018, o atacante dos Gunners trabalha agora para apagar a impressão que deixou na Rússia. No Qatar, seja pelo lado, como atuou até a última temporada, ou mais centralizado, como tem jogado agora, o atacante será homem de confiança de Tite.

Southern Vipers coach hails turnaround in form that captured latest trophy of stellar career

Valkerie Baynes24-Sep-2023Charlotte Edwards’ mum called it “a miracle” but in truth, Southern Vipers had it coming, even if it didn’t feel like it at times this season.The first team to claim the domestic double, with a convincing five-wicket win against Blaze in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy Final at Northampton on Sunday, has been building a juggernaut under the guidance of a coach who has also won the inaugural Women’s Premier League title and the Women’s Hundred in the space of six months.But while the prospect of winning both the 20-over competition which bears her name and the 50-over title was prominent during Vipers’ 2022 campaign, when they won the former but lost the final of the latter as Northern Diamonds prevented them from winning a third RHFT in a row, this achievement came against the backdrop of an unremarkable start to the season which saw them ranked fifth when the competition paused in August for the Hundred.Related

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Windsor ties knot on Southern Vipers domestic double

Vipers won their last five group games, including three after the mid-season resumption, to qualify directly for the final, in which they defeated the same opposition as in the Charlotte Edwards Cup title decider in June.”I just can’t believe it,” Edwards said. “To think that the team has played the way they have done, stood up when they needed to. We were miles off the pace, if I’m honest. I just felt we had the momentum coming into today, but finals are finals and you never quite know. To have pulled this off is quite remarkable, as my mum says, ‘a miracle’.”It was Edwards’ 11th final and seventh trophy in 12 campaigns as coach – and she isn’t finished. After a 10-day break, she will head to Australia to join up with Sydney Sixers for the upcoming WBBL, where her side will be looking to go one better than last season’s runners-up finish.”I’ve got good players, good staff, good people, and people who are committed and are winners,” Edwards said of her successful teams. “When I recruit, I look at the character.”A case in point is Emily Windsor, whose match-winning 57 off 53 balls on Sunday was typical of what Edwards described as her effectiveness, smarts and “big heart”. Two years ago, Windsor had played a similar knock when Vipers defeated Northern Diamonds at the same ground for back-to-back RHFT titles.Windsor was well supported on this occasion by Freya Kemp, one of three 18-year-olds in Vipers’ Final line-up , alongside Ava Lee and Mary Taylor, which proves that Edwards is also building for the future. Kemp was making her return as a batter only during this domestic season after a back stress fracture interrupted a promising start to her England career as an allrounder.Freya Kemp and Emily Windsor leave the field after Southern Vipers won the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy Final•Getty Images”That is as good as I’ve seen her play, and for England that is a massive highlight,” Edwards said of Kemp. “Once she gets bowling again, she will be one of the best allrounders in the world.”I just prepare the team as best I can. If we’d lost today, it wouldn’t have made me a good or bad coach; that’s what coaching is about – preparing the players and hopefully getting the reward for the players when they do well like that. It is something special. Watching Kemp bat like she did was the highlight of my season.”Windsor was also full of praise for her batting partner, with whom she shared an unbroken stand of 94 for the sixth wicket after Vipers had slipped from 100 for 2 to 109 for 5.”She has the most unbelievable amount of talent, and I think we’ve seen that,” Windsor said. “Early on in the innings, I was saying to her: ‘Let’s be there at the end, mate; let’s be the ones who do this.'”How she played is probably the best I’ve seen her play. She played with maturity, at points she was telling me to calm down, which is a challenge for her. It is really special for her to be there at the end; she probably should have hit the winning runs.”It was Windsor who completed the job with a four over deep extra cover off Kirstie Gordon.”I don’t know what it is, but throughout my career, when it’s been tough and when there’s pressure on, my game has just seemed to go up a gear,” Windsor said. “But I think when I was out there today, I just wanted to do it for the team. It has been a special year for this group; the squad and all the playing staff have dug so deep just to get us to this position. To go straight through to the final, we couldn’t even believe that. To win it is probably the most special that we have done.”Windsor also paid tribute to her coach: “For me, Lottie just gets the best out of every player that she has in her team. She treats everyone as individuals. She gets to know her players on and off the field, and she knows what makes us tick.”That is why teams perform for her: people love playing for her, it’s a great environment. She just always finds a way of making things fun and getting the best out of her players. It is an absolute pleasure to play under her. Her knowledge of the game is pretty phenomenal, and the experiences that she has had.”