A beloved Kansas college basketball coach and former Jayhawks standout is in the hospital with serious injuries after a highway crash Tuesday night.
Washburn University head coach Brett Ballard, 46, was behind the wheel of his 2024 Ford F-150 when the crash occurred.
According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, Ballard was traveling westbound on Interstate 470 in Topeka just after 8:15 p.m. when his pickup truck veered off the left side of the roadway.
Brett Ballard of Kansas walks off the court as Maryland players celebrate in the background after the semifinal round of the NCAA Men’s Final Four at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Ga., on March 30, 2002. Maryland defeated Kansas 97-88 and advanced to the championship game.(Getty Images)
The truck struck a delineator post, traveled into a steep embankment, and then collided with a concrete bridge pillar. The impact left the vehicle heavily damaged. Ballard was the only person inside the truck. First responders transported the injured coach to Stormont Vail Hospital in Topeka for treatment. Authorities confirmed he was wearing his seatbelt at the time of the crash.
Washburn University President JuliAnn Mazachek asked the close-knit community to keep Ballard and his family in their thoughts.
“We are deeply saddened to share that Coach Brett Ballard was seriously injured in a car accident last evening,” Mazachek said in a statement. “Our hearts are with Coach Ballard, his family, the men’s basketball program and all who are affected during this difficult time.”
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Ballard has long been one of the most recognizable figures in Kansas basketball. The Hutchinson native played guard for the Kansas Jayhawks from 2000 to 2002 under Hall of Fame coach Roy Williams before spending seven seasons as an assistant on Bill Self’s coaching staff.
A Kansas cheerleader waves the school flag as the team enters the court before the start of the game during the NCAA men’s basketball tournament at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis., on March 24, 2002. Kansas beat Oregon 104-86 to advance to the Final Four in Atlanta, Ga.(Getty Images)
Head coach Roy Williams celebrates as Kansas players cut down the net after beating Oregon during the NCAA men’s basketball tournament at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. The Jayhawks won 104-86 to advance to the Final Four in Atlanta, Ga.(Getty Images)
For the past nine seasons, Ballard has led the Washburn Ichabods, building one of Division II’s most consistent programs.
Ballard has compiled a 198-81 overall record while guiding Washburn to multiple NCAA Tournament appearances and helping establish the Ichabods as a perennial contender in the MIAA.
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Before taking over at Washburn, Ballard also gained head coaching experience at Baker University, where he led the Wildcats to a Heart of America Athletic Conference regular-season championship and an NAIA national tournament appearance.
Ballard’s success at every stop has made him a respected figure throughout the state’s basketball community. As word of the crash spread, supporters across Kansas and beyond shared messages of encouragement while hoping for positive news regarding his recovery.
Authorities have not released additional details about what caused the crash, and the investigation remains ongoing.
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison (3) celebrates after hauling in a fourth-quarter reception during a matchup with the Atlanta Falcons, with Dec 8, 2024 marking the game at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Addison’s late catch energized the Vikings offense as Minnesota pushed for points in front of the home crowd. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images.
The Vikings’ WR2 — Mr. Jordan Addison — boasts terrific talent. Even the best, though, can’t contribute from the sideline.
Thankfully, the thumb injury doesn’t appear too serious. So says Kevin O’Connell, an eternal optimist who does a nice job of trying to be transparent with injury updates: “All imaging and everything came back clean. It’s just a little sore and we want to be able to let him put this thing behind him in the next day or two, but nothing to be concerned about.”
The Vikings’ WR2 Shouldn’t Be Out Long
Chosen at No. 23 in the 2023 NFL Draft, Mr. Addison has proven to be among the better NFL receivers. Few, if any, could debate that he’s a fantastic option. How good is he, though?
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An average season for Addison involves 65 catches for 885 yards and 8 touchdowns (tip of the cap to PFR). No doubt, there’s promise contained within those numbers, but he hasn’t rewritten records like Justin Jefferson has. Somebody could pretty easily pile up ten or fifteen names of receivers who are better. Not more talented, but better.
Nov 9, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison (3) catches a pass against the Baltimore Ravens in the fourth quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images
Still, there’s ample potential here, in no small part due to being just 24.
Addison doesn’t boast a formidable frame but he can shake a corner out of his cleats. Doing so allows him to score more than his WR1 counterpart. There’s a sense, as well, that the young fella could figure it out sooner rather than later due to no off-field issues alongside greater stability at quarterback.
The Vikings lean on Addison to shuffle all over the place. He can win outside and from within the slot. So, too, can he be leaned on to be explosive as a runner on jet sweeps. The Vikings can target him at all three levels of the field. In particular, there’s upside in the kill shot, the deep passes that instantly put 6 points on the board.
If completely healthy for seventeen games, Jordan Addison should clear 1,000 yards. He’s talented enough to clear the benchmark yardage total on an annual basis. Something within the range of 80 catches, 1,000 yards, and 10 touchdowns wouldn’t be at all surprising.
Dec 16, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison (3) catches a pass as Chicago Bears cornerback Terell Smith (32) defends during the first quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images.
Recently, there has been some discussion of an extension for the pass catcher. The receiver business is booming business, so cashing in does have its appeal. The issue for Addison is that he’s coming off his most modest season and working under a new GM in Nolan Teasley. Is the front office willing to pay top dollar for the young fella who doesn’t lack for talent?
Another consideration is that the Vikings already have him under contract for two more seasons. Minnesota sees the fourth season of his rookie contract on the books and then the 5th-year option. Afterwards, the team could opt for the franchise tag, meaning the Vikings boast a ton of leverage.
Jordan Addison stands at 5’11” and weighs close to 180 pounds.
Derry’s Jordan Coyle and Cordiamo made it two wins from two classes for Irish riders in the International Arena at the Gallagher Dublin Horse Show on Wednesday.
The 10-year-old gelding Cordiamo jumped a clear round in a highly impressive time of 55.84 seconds to win the Laya Arena Stakes.
Swiss Anthony Bourquard was over four seconds slower in the runner-up position, as he and Flanagan Semilly also went clear, clocking 60.49 seconds.
Former Team Ireland Chef d’Équipe, Rodrigo Pessoa of Brazil, took third. Riding the 10-year-old Giorgio D’Ellipse, they were clear in 61.06 seconds to complete the podium.
Six days after visiting Shedeur Sanders’ training camp with the Cleveland Browns, former ESPN analyst Ryan Clark delivered a pointed message to defend Deion Sanders’ move. The Colorado coach has been under intense criticism from a section of the fans for his visit to Cleveland.
Speaking during an episode of “The Pivot” podcast released on Wednesday, Clark compared Coach Prime to former New Orleans Saints quarterback Archie Manning. He emphasized that both men deserve praise for their active role in supporting their children rather than criticism.
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“Archie Manning went to practices at Tennessee,” Clark said. “Archie Manning saw both of his sons at practice. Archie Manning supported his sons at games. And Archie Manning should be applauded for that, for being a present.
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“And not only just a present father, but a father that poured into his sons and allowed them to be what they are, as is Deion Sanders. Deion Sanders is doing exactly what you’re supposed to do when you have a level of cachet that allows your sons or allows your children to receive a platform and then take advantage of it in the ways that they should.”
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Archie Manning played a crucial role in the career of both Peyton Manning and Eli Manning, with both winning the Super Bowl twice. Peyton is already a Pro Football Hall of Famer while Eli is primed for a place in Canton. Ryan Clark believes that’s the exact role Deion Sanders is playing in Shedeur’s NFL career.
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Ryan Clark believes being popular shouldn’t stop Deion Sanders from supporting his son
Dropping his opinion on Deion Sanders’ criticism, Ryan Clark believes the popularity of the Pro Football Hall of Famer shouldn’t stop him from supporting his son. The analyst, who was fired by ESPN last month, believes Coach Prime is doing what the average father would do.
“Just because I’m an extremely successful human doesn’t mean I should support my children any less,” Clark said. “Deion Sanders has not only been there for Shedeur Sanders as a father since birth, he coached in high school with him; they moved to Jackson State together; they moved to Colorado together.
“When you think about parenting, when you think about pouring into your seeds, that’s what it’s supposed to look like. That would be the epitome of what it’s supposed to be.”
In an era when many athletes speak about the challenges of absent fathers, Ryan Clark’s message served as a reminder of the scrutiny parents who are involved are bound to face. This comes at a high level when the parent is a popular figure like Deion Sanders.
While fans are perhaps already salivating over a potential unification clash between Murat Gassiev and Agit Kabayel, it could be some time before they finally indulge in the mouth-watering matchup.
It was reported earlier this month that Spencer Brown, the manager of WBC heavyweight champion Kabayel, is targeting Gassiev as a possible opponent for later this year.
But while the WBA champion is, indeed, looking to fight once more in 2026, he has equally told Boxing News that those comments came as a complete surprise.
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“I woke up and saw some messages from my friends saying, ‘Hey, you’re fighting Kabayel’.
“But I never heard about this. After my fight [a sixth-round stoppage of Peter Kadiru earlier this month], I told my team: ‘Don’t talk to me about boxing, because now I’m spending time with my family’.
“After a couple of weeks, or maybe one month, we’ll start talking. But [the Kabayel unification rumours] are not true. This is fake news.
“But maybe it can happen after one fight, or a year. It’s a great fight. Agit is a great champion – a very strong fighter.”
While putting the Kabayel showdown on hold – for now, at least – Gassiev knows there are several other heavyweights he could face later this year.
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Perhaps representing a more realistic option for 2027 but Moses Itauma, who faces Filip Hrgovic on August 29, will surely be sniffing around for a major title shot if he emerges victorious at London’s O2 Arena.
Having already expressed an interest in their possible encounter, Gassiev maintains his willingness to face the heavyweight prodigy on away soil.
“Moses is a young fighter, very talented. I think he has a good future. If they think [facing me] is the right fight after [Hrgovic], then let’s do it.
“I never run; I’m never scared. If this fight happens, I’ll come to the UK.”
Regardless of whether the Itauma fight materialises, Gassiev’s ultimate goal is to replicate his cruiserweight achievement and unify the heavyweight division.
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The path towards doing so became clearer after Oleksandr Usyk, his former opponent, vacated his three world titles last month, affording Gassiev an upgrade from ‘regular’ to full WBA champion.
But even after becoming aware of this news, the 32-year-old felt no different to how he did following his sixth-round finish over Kubrat Pulev last December.
“For me, nothing changed. After the fight against Pulev, I had the regular title. But my dream is to be a [two-weight] unified world champion. I only go forward.”
Speaking of Usyk, Gassiev harbours no bitterness over how their careers unfolded after the Ukrainian emerged as the undisputed cruiserweight king in 2018.
“Usyk went left; I went right. He’s had a sensational career, whereas I went the other way and had a lot of injuries and some problems with promoters. But these things just made me stronger.”
Having made the necessary improvements at heavyweight, Gassiev believes he has the power to knock anyone out, whether it be against Kabayel, Itauma or some other opponent.
As someone who has followed Spider-Man’s comic book journey for years, Spider-Man: Brand New Day feels packed with references while still moving Peter Parker’s story forward. The film ends with Peter alive after surviving a devastating gunshot wound during the final battle, but his greatest challenge is never the injury itself.
Instead, the ending focuses on the emotional weight of the memory spell introduced in Spider-Man: No Way Home and what it has cost him. Watching these final scenes unfold, it becomes clear that the movie is less about defeating another villain and more about Peter finding hope again. At the same time, the truth behind Jean Grey’s attack on the Department of Damage Control and the organization’s hidden agenda finally comes to light, giving several long-running storylines a satisfying payoff.
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Disclaimer: This article contains major spoilers for Spider-Man: Brand New Day. Read at your own discretion.
Why does Jean Grey attack the Department of Damage Control in Spider-Man: Brand New Day?
Spider-Man: Brand New Day (Image via YouTube/Marvel Entertainment)
An invisible threat endangers the DODC during Spider-Man: Brand New Day. In the beginning, Peter Parker thinks the assaults are just random violent incidents. As part of his regular duties as the “friendly neighborhood” protector of New York City, Peter investigates a string of crimes and disturbances in his role as Spider-Man.
Nine months after the events in Spider-Man: No Way Home, the plot picks up. Scenes cut to Ned Leeds and MJ starting their first year at MIT, completely oblivious to Peter due to Doctor Strange’s memory spell. The story then fast-forwards four years. As he deals with mutations in his arachnid DNA, Peter maintains his anonymity. New biological webs sprout from his wrists, and he finds it more difficult to control his talents. This is reminiscent of Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man.
Spider-Man learns that Jean Grey is the enigmatic assailant as the investigation develops. She is able to get into high-security areas undetected because she can use her telepathic powers to transfer her consciousness from one person to another. Even though the Department of Damage Control claims to be completely unaware of V-Max, her goal is to find it.
Over time, the truth is revealed. Bill Metzger, the head of the department, sees Jean and knows why she has chosen the agency as her target. No desire for dominion or devastation drives these assaults. Rather, Jean is engrossed in unraveling mysteries surrounding her sister, Sara.
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Secret tests on Sara were carried out by the Department of Damage Control. Her death was the result of their experiments. Rather than focusing on gathering facts, Jean is now determined to face those responsible after discovering the truth.
Did Spider-Man stop Jean Grey?
The conflicts escalate rapidly as Jean’s abilities keep getting stronger. In her pursuit of Metzger, she assumes the bodies of several people, including Bruce Banner as the Hulk and Frank Castle aka the Punisher.
To stop Jean before she hurts any more innocent people, Spider-Man teams up with Yelena Belova. In order to stabilize his own altered condition, Peter likewise uses the same DNA inhibitor device. The gadget briefly disables Jean’s telepathic powers, which allows Damage Control to kidnap her.
But Metzger wastes no time seizing the chance; he locks Jean up and puts her through the same kind of experimentation that she did to Sara. With this new information, Jean pushes herself to her limits. During her confrontation with Metzger and struggle with Spider-Man and the Hand, her telekinetic talents surge, freezing significant areas of New York City.
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Peter decides against using force to defeat Jean and instead opts for a different strategy. By appealing to her emotions, he persuades her to halt the devastation. The immediate danger to the city will disappear as soon as Jean regains control.
When the Punisher shoots Spider-Man in the middle of all the mayhem, the resolution is halted. Urged to a hospital, Peter sustains serious injuries. According to Frank Castle, Jean employs her psychic powers to sustain Peter’s consciousness until his physical body recovers, enabling him to breathe on his own.
Did MJ and Ned remember who Peter is?
Spider-Man: Brand New Day (Image via YouTube/Marvel Entertainment)
By the end of Spider-Man: Brand New Day, MJ learns the truth about Peter Parker, while Ned begins to recognize him through a familiar shared memory.
Peter spends most of the film honoring the promise he made in Spider-Man: No Way Home by keeping his distance from MJ and Ned. Believing they are safer without him, he never tells them that he is Spider-Man or that Doctor Strange’s spell erased their memories.
That changes when Jean briefly possesses MJ. During the incident, MJ finds the letter Peter wrote years earlier but never delivered. In it, he explains that a magical spell erased everyone’s memories of Peter Parker. Although MJ now understands why Peter disappeared from her life, she makes it clear that knowing the truth does not restore the memories they lost.
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Later, Spider-Man visits MJ and Ned while wearing his mask, allowing the three friends to spend time together again. During their conversation, MJ accidentally calls Spider-Man “Peter” in front of Ned, revealing his identity.
In the final scene of Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Peter approaches Ned without his mask and introduces himself simply as Peter. Ned initially does not recognize him. However, the two instinctively perform the elaborate handshake they shared in high school. The familiar gesture appears to trigger Ned’s recognition through muscle memory, suggesting that some emotional connections have survived despite Doctor Strange‘s spell.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day does not confirm that MJ and Ned fully regain their memories. Instead, it shows that while the spell remains in effect, their bond with Peter may still endure in ways that magic cannot completely erase.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day is now playing in theaters.
A significant barrier trial session is set to take place at Rosehill, featuring notable contenders including Queen Of The Turf Stakes winner Idle Flyer. The Matt Smith-trained mare is continuing her preparation for her racing comeback.
Idle Flyer is slated to compete in the opening 1000m Group heat on Friday. This race will also involve the ATC Australian Derby winner Green Spaces. This trial represents her second and final outing before her resumption at Randwick on August 22.
Smith mentioned that the King Charles III Stakes (1600m) is the mare’s initial target, with a potential trip south to follow. “She will resume in either the Winx (Stakes) or the Show County (Quality),” Smith said. “She’s going super. “She will probably head towards the King Charles and then to Melbourne for the mares’ race, the Empire Rose Stakes.”
Idle Flyer is coming off a successful autumn, having won the Emancipation Stakes (1500m) and defeated Lady Shenandoah and Treasurethe Moment in the Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m).
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Stablemate Headwall is set to contest a 900m Group trial on Friday. This serves as a prelude to his first-up run in the Concorde Stakes (1000m) on September 5.
Headwall triumphed in that race last year but has been absent from racing due to a leg injury. Smith is hopeful the sprinter can return to his prime form and be a contender for a place in The Everest (1200m).
“The 1000 metres first-up will be ideal, and then he’ll go to The Shorts and we’ll see what happens,” Smith commented. “Hopefully he can win one of those and we’ll get a guernsey in The Everest.”
Other prominent horses scheduled to trial include Group 1 winners Apocalyptic, Lazzura, and Private Eye, along with the promising stayer Thebudgiesmugla.
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Find the best betting markets for the upcoming feature races at top Australian betting sites.
FIFA’s leadership on Wednesday apologized for President Gianni Infantino’s plan to open the World Cup to private investment, in a crisis meeting held after growing outrage at the plan and Infantino.
In a statement, the FIFA management board acknowledged “that errors were also made after the proposal was leaked to media.” Infantino has since scrapped the plan.
The football body stressed it supported Infantino in staying on as president.
FIFA accused of blackmail in exchange for Infantino support
What did FIFA say?
“Following a meeting in Rabat, Morocco, the FIFA Secretary General and members of the FIFA Management Board in attendance reaffirmed their full support for FIFA President Gianni Infantino, as the only official elected by the 211 FIFA Member Associations,” the statement added.
FIFA added that a separate letter had been sent to FIFA Council members and the 211 member associations apologizing and promising a review.
But the football body stressed it would “no longer tolerate any attacks on its integrity, good governance and due process” with the plan now withdrawn, vowing to take all necessary measures to protect its reputation.
Calls for Infantino to step down have grown since he abandoned the controversial plan on Saturday.
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The Reds are 12-6 since the All-Star break to improve to 55-58. The Athletics have lost seven straight to fall to 45-69. They have dropped 12 series in a row.
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Lowder (4-7) allowed two earned runs on four hits in sixth innings. It was his first win since April 20, spanning 11 starts and three relief appearances.
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Emilio Pagán pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning for his 13th save.
Sal Stewart reached on an infield single and scored on Marte’s sacrifice fly to give Cincinnati a 3-2 lead in the sixth.
Lawrence Butler hit his seventh home run of the season on the fourth pitch of the game off Lowder. It was his eighth career leadoff homer, first this season.
Athletics starter Jacob Lopez struck out the first four batters before Noelvi Marte singled, stole second, and scored on Jose Trevino‘s single.
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Lopez allowed two earned runs on four hits through five innings with a walk and finished with nine strikeouts, one shy of his career high.
McLain put the Reds ahead 2-1 in the fifth with his ninth home run of the season, and the first since June 7 when he homered twice at St. Lous. The A’s tied it at 2 in the sixth when Tyler Soderstrom singled and scored on Jonah Heim‘s double.
Hayden Juenger (0-1) was the loser.
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RHP Mason Barnett (1-1, 4.85 ERA) was set to start for the A’s on Thursday in the series finale. The Reds hadn’t announced a starter.
New Orleans Saints rookie guard Jeremiah Wright suffered an apparent shoulder injury during Wednesday’s practice, causing him to make an early exit.
While the severity of the injury has yet to be determined, Wright’s departure is noteworthy because of the role he was expected to play this season. Selected in the fourth round of the recent NFL Draft out of Auburn, the versatile interior lineman entered camp as one of the team’s most intriguing young depth pieces.
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His absence is magnified by the uncertainty surrounding starting right guard Cesar Ruiz. After showing flashes of being a dependable starter throughout his NFL career, Ruiz’s consistency has remained an issue. Injuries have also interrupted his development in recent seasons, making reliable depth behind him an important priority for New Orleans.
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That’s where Wright entered the picture. At Auburn, Wright developed a reputation as a physical, technically sound blocker capable of handling multiple responsibilities along the interior offensive line. Those traits made him an ideal developmental prospect and someone who could compete for playing time while serving as insurance if injuries struck the starting lineup.
If Wright is forced to miss time, the Saints could lose valuable developmental reps for a rookie who was expected to push for a role throughout training camp and the preseason. Just as importantly, it would leave the team’s interior depth a bit thinner behind Ruiz at a position where durability has already been a concern.
The Saints are undoubtedly hoping Wright’s shoulder injury proves to be nothing more than a minor setback. But until more is disclosed, his exit from practice serves as a reminder of how quickly depth can become a pressing issue along the offensive line.
“It’s been a little bit hectic the last few days,” Salt told BBC Sport.
“Birmingham, back to Cardiff, up here. It’s a lot to be honest with you in five days and managing bodies through.
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“From a player’s point of view I’d like this competition to be probably a week longer.”
The Hundred group stage takes place over 23 days with teams playing eight games in that period.
In comparison, Indian Premier League sides each play 14 group games in a 56-day period, while in last season’s men’s Big Bash League in Australia teams played 10 group games each in a 36-day window.
Since its introduction in 2021, The Hundred has further complicated a packed English summer schedule, with the Professional Cricketers Association (PCA) continuing to raise concerns about the impact on player welfare.
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In their response to the 2026 schedule, which saw the T20 Blast reduced by two matches, PCA chief executive Daryl Mitchell said, external the unchanged County Championship season “does raise concerns with player burnout with mental and physical dangers attached to an overly intense end to the season following the conclusion of The Hundred”.
Salt acknowledged the difficulties of finding more time in the schedule, while noting the impact the current scheduling had on his squad.
“We import the best stars in the game for this. We’ve got on our side [the 6ft 8in tall] Marco Jansen and Lockie Ferguson,” he added.
“They’ve done a lot of time on the bus in the last three days! A bus that’s not built for lads that size.
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“I’d like a bit more time in between to be honest with you, but I understand we’re working with a pretty tight schedule already as it is.
“I’m not the man for the answer on the schedule, I just like to magic another week of the year somewhere!”
Welsh Fire return to action at Headingley on Sunday (14:30 BST) against Sunrisers Leeds, before playing their final group game at home to London Spirit next Wednesday.
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