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Patterns in his celebrappeals show he is actually a fine judge of when a leg-before shout is out

Charles Reynolds15-Jun-2023It is testament to how good Stuart Broad has been with the ball throughout his career that he is still thought of primarily as a bowler. In reality he should be considered one of the greatest allrounders the game has ever seen.No, not in the gaudy sense of combining both bowling and batting skill – any Jacques, Dick or Garry can do that. Broad is at the apex of his sport in the twin disciplines of bowling and comedy.That last owes much to his reputation for being overzealous with DRS – an aspect this article wishes to address: the widely held belief that Broad is a liability when it comes to third-umpire referrals, his insatiable lust for wickets leading him to have absolutely no sense of judgement when involved in any sort of DRS situation.Yes, there may well be countless examples of his over-eagerness leading to highly questionable referrals – at this point there’s probably even a YouTube montage dedicated to them somewhere – but I have long maintained that, in fact, subconsciously, Broad is one of the finest instant judges of lbw in the game.The key to Broad’s DRS judgement is in his celebrappeal
My theory is that far from being the hapless, trigger-happy, review-eater of public perception, Broad, in fact, has a highly sophisticated, subliminal, inbuilt Hawk-Eye. Nighthawkeye, if you will.Fittingly, the key to unlocking this revolves around another key pillar of the church of Stuart Broad, the “celebrappeal”. For the uninitiated, this is a term coined by Dave Tickner for the manner in which Broad usually appeals lbw or caught-behind decisions to the umpires: celebrating the wicket first and then only very belatedly turning round to appeal, if even bothering to do so at all.It has long been my theory that Broad’s subconscious DRS wizardry can be unleashed simply by analysing at which point during his celebrappeal he instinctively turns around to the umpire. The earlier he turns, the less out it is, the later he turns, the more out it is.How does this theory hold up in the face of data?The method: analysing every Broad lbw appeal since 2019
Thankfully in the modern age of cricket analysis, practically every ball bowled is filmed, tagged and logged in a database somewhere. So using video generously provided to me by an organisation that wishes to remain anonymous – the cricket establishment is clearly not quite ready yet to be seen supporting such controversial research – I looked at every Broad international lbw appeal from the start of 2019 up to, but not including, the recent Test against Ireland.The starting year of 2019 was chosen simply because it was the furthest point in the past from which deliveries were tagged in the database with “lbw appeal”, but it nevertheless gave me a healthy sample of 83 deliveries to analyse.I took an imaginary top-down view of a cricket pitch and from popping crease to popping crease, divided it into ten equal horizontal segments, starting with No. 1 at the bottom, the non-striker’s end, going up to No. 10 at the top, the striker’s end, noting down at roughly what point in each appeal Broad turned around to the umpire, and correlating it with the result of the appeal.From this I was able to calculate the out percentage for each of the ten sections of the pitch – that is, the percentage of times a batter was actually out (from dismissals given on the field that were not overturned by DRS, and those given out after successful reviews). This would allow me to see whether there was, in fact, any correlation between the point at which Broad turned to appeal and whether the delivery was actually out.A disclaimer here: while cricket has made great strides in analytics in recent years, one area where it still lags behind other sports is player positional tracking – i.e. recording player movements for exact positioning data, much like Hawk-Eye does for the movement of the ball. (It is largely because of this lack that effective metrics for judging players’ fielding ability still don’t exist and too much subjective human input is required.)Sadly, that does mean that an element of subjectivity – in this case, the point I judged Broad to have turned around for each of these 83 deliveries – had to be inserted into this otherwise highly rigorous scientific study. However, I strove to maintain the highest levels of consistency throughout the result-recording process.Stuart Broad: lbw expert
A thorough analysis of the data revealed fairly overwhelmingly that Broad is, in fact, a highly sophisticated lbw-judging machine.Firstly if we look at the heat map of the points in his celebrappeals at which he turned round to appeal, we can see that, rather surprisingly, 43.4% of the time, he appeals before he gets to the halfway mark on the pitch – a little earlier than you might expect from the game’s premier celebrappealist – although there a still a solid amount of those late turnarounds that have established his standing in the field.Compare this however with the out-percentage heat map above and we can instantly see the huge correlation between the point at which Broad instinctively turns round to appeal and whether the batter is out or not. Quite definitively, as you can also see from the graph of the compiled data below, there is a clear link between the point at which Broad subconsciously decides to turn and appeal to the umpire and how unequivocally out the delivery actually is.

In our first batch of report cards for the year: England, Ireland, Bangladesh, West Indies, New Zealand and women’s cricket

ESPNcricinfo staff28-Dec-2020Englandby Andrew Miller
It’s not the winning, it’s the taking part that counts. Who knew that Covid’s onset would bring such crusty old Corinthian values surging to the fore? Such was the impact of a season like no other.Judged purely by that outdated old yardstick of “results”, England actually fared pretty damned well in every on-field facet in 2020. They lost just one of their ten series across three formats, and just one of their nine Tests against three opponents – a series-opening cliffhanger against West Indies that confirmed the sport’s intensity could survive the absence of crowds.And if the planning for England’s next World Cup campaign – the T20 version in India next year – has been back-of-the-fag-packet stuff compared to the glories of 2019, the confidence and ferocity of Eoin Morgan’s men translated with ominous poise across the white-ball formats. In particular, Dawid Malan’s surge to the top of the ICC batting rankings proved that pressure need not always be a downward force.But nothing that happened in 2020 mattered more than the fact that it happened at all. When the Test squad abandoned their warm-up in Colombo in March to rush back to England before the world’s borders slammed shut, the doomsday scenarios were writ large across the sport.The county season went into abeyance for the first time since the Second World War, and the ECB warned of a catastrophic £380 million bill if the summer in its entirety was canned.But then, out of adversity, rose something quite magnificent. A patched-together itinerary, masterminded by the ECB’s Steve Elworthy – the year’s true MVP – enabled England to play all 18 of their scheduled men’s home fixtures in the space of nine weeks, across two venues and two “bubbles”.None of it could have been possible without some above-and-beyond buy-in from England’s visitors – Pakistan, Ireland, Australia and, most especially, West Indies, who not only braved the bubble at the pandemic’s height in June, but also agreed to send a women’s squad in September, for a short but compelling campaign at a time when Heather Knight’s squad were resigned to their international season being a write-off.More’s the pity, therefore, that England themselves were unable to find quite the same tolerance for the invidious circumstances come their year-end return to South Africa. By that stage of an arduous year, however, the thrill of winning and the thrill of taking part were insignificant compared to the thrill of just getting the hell out of the bubble lifestyle and getting back home for Christmas.Results
Tests: P9 W6 L1 D2
ODIs: P9 W4 L4 NR1
T20Is: P12 W8 L3 NR1West Indies led the way in taking a stand on the Black Lives Matter movement and in bringing cricket back after the Covid-19 hiatus•Getty ImagesWest Indiesby Nagraj Gollapudi
On July 8, an emotional Jason Holder, along with the rest of the West Indies Test squad, knelt in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. By the end of the day, Holder had career-best bowling figures of 6 for 42. Three days later, thanks also to the batting heroics of Jermaine Blackwood, West Indies created history by taking the lead in the series against England. Holder would go on to sit on a talk show with prime ministers of three Caribbean countries, who told him how proud they were of his leadership and his men.Sadly that would be the only bold statement the Test team would make in 2020. They lost their remaining four Tests – two in England and a two-match series in New Zealand in December. Embarrassed by repeated batting failures, Holder, after the innings defeat in Hamilton, put it bluntly: West Indies were “throwing in the towel too easily”.It was much the same in white-ball cricket, including T20Is, in which West Indies are defending world champions. Both captain Kieron Pollard and head coach Phil Simmons agreed the white-ball teams were works in progress, and said they wanted players who were willing to “die for” the team and play selflessly. A defeat against Ireland in a T20I at home was proved to be not an aberration as West Indies went on to lose to New Zealand 2-0.On-field struggles aside, they showed courage and spirit in travelling to different parts of the world and competing despite the suffocating and demanding conditions of life in biosecure bubbles. Fittingly, the MCC awarded Cricket West Indies with the Christopher Martin-Jenkins award for the Spirit of Cricket, for salvaging cricket by sending both men’s and women’s teams to England at the peak of the pandemic in the English summer.Results
Tests: P5 W1 L4
ODIs: P6 W3 L3
T20s: P8 W3 L3 NR2New Zealand were unbeaten in Tests at home this year•Getty ImagesNew Zealandby Andrew McGlashan
New Zealand’s year started with the disappointment of having failed to compete in Australia, where a patched-up side was hammered in Sydney, but finished with them a few percentage points off being the No. 1 Test side.At home they remained almost unstoppable as they secured 2-0 victories against India and West Indies. A dynamic pace attack was further bolstered by the emergence of Kyle Jamieson, the tall pace bowler and powerful lower-order hitter, who formed a formidable quartet with Tim Southee, Trent Boult and Neil Wagner. Quite what the future for a front-line spinner is on home soil remains to be seen.Kane Williamson produced a masterful unbeaten 251 against West Indies and even his absence on paternity leave barely caused a ripple against an outclassed opposition. Despite the problems in Australia, the line-up remained very stable (Will Young made a belated Test debut) and a debate around Henry Nicholls’ form was halted by his 174 against West Indies.In the limited-overs arena, New Zealand could not escape the spectre of the Super Over. Consecutive T20Is against India went to the tiebreaker, and New Zealand lost both. That series was a 5-0 whitewash, but late in the year the form of Tim Seifert and Devon Conway offered promise as they built towards the T20 World Cup and led to the dropping of Ross Taylor.In the one-day format they earned a 3-0 victory over India before becoming the first team to play behind closed doors at the SCG days before the sporting world shut down.Results
Tests: P6, W4, L1
ODIs: P4, W3, L1
T20Is: P11, W4, L6, NR1Women’s cricket peaked with the T20 World Cup, then screeched to an abrupt halt as the pandemic hit•ICC via GettyWomenby Annesha Ghosh
The best of women’s cricket and the worst of its administration were on view in 2020, and Australia played a starring role in throwing both into stark relief.For Australia, a tri-series win against India and England, and an atypical topsy-turvy league-stage campaign preceded a historic T20 World Cup triumph at home. A record 86,174-strong crowd watched first-time finalists India stumble against Australia in the final. Player-of-the-tournament Beth Mooney’s stocks continued to rise, and pop star Katy Perry brought the house down in a fitting finale.Then the curtains came down on the women’s game altogether.Top-flight women’s cricket remained off the radar for an additional 75 days after men’s bilateral series resumed after a 117-day pandemic-induced hiatus. Germany women’s record-breaking tour of Austria marked the official return of women’s international cricket. Among Full Members, Australia and England showed the way; the subcontinental sides and South Africa faced a raft of tour postponements and cancellations, and decisions that spoke of administrative apathy.Only two ODI series, one either side of the pandemic pause, were played through the year. New Zealand, hosts of the now-postponed 2021 ODI World Cup, featured in and lost both. The second of those series was against Australia, who equalled a record 21 successive ODI victories after clinching a T20I series win, also against New Zealand. The same day, England sealed a 5-0 whitewash of West Indies in T20Is.Other highlights of the year included a first-of-its-kind documentary, on the T20 World Cup, Thailand women’s World Cup debut, and first-ever central contracts for Nepal women. Add to that record viewership figures for the WBBL and the Women’s T20 Challenge, proving that women’s domestic tournaments could hold their own and shouldn’t have to jostle for space.Even while the senior team was being handed a beating in the Rawalpindi Test, the Bangladesh Under-19 side clinched the country’s first World Cup title•ICC via GettyBangladeshby Mohammad Isam
Bangladesh is one of only two Full Member nations not to have played a single international match since the country’s Covid-19 lockdown began in mid-March, in what was to have been their busiest year in Test cricket yet. In the end they played just two of their scheduled ten Tests, plus three ODIs and four T20Is between January and March.On their first tour of Pakistan in 12 years, Bangladesh were outplayed in two T20Is and the Rawalpindi Test that followed. But even as the Test team was staring at an innings defeat, the U-19 team clinched their maiden World Cup title in Potchefstroom.The senior team had better luck against Zimbabwe in a one-off Test a couple of weeks later, in which Mushfiqur Rahim made his third double-century and offspinner Nayeem Hasan took nine wickets.Bangladesh swept the ODI series against Zimbabwe likewise, with Tamim Iqbal breaking his previous national record for the highest individual score in the second ODI. Three days later Liton Das did better, with 176 in the third game, which also saw a number of other records tumble. It was also the last ODI under Mashrafe Mortaza, with Iqbal stepping into the captain’s role.The board has conducted two domestic tournaments, within a bio-bubble, to kick off the 2020-21 season, and there’s hope for more cricket in the new year.Results
Tests: P2, W1, L1
ODIs: P3, W3, L0
T20Is: P5, W2, L2, NR1Mark Adair fetches a ball from the stands from one of the six times Paul Stirling hit it there in the ODI where Ireland chased 329 against England•Getty ImagesIrelandby Peter Della Penna
Prior to 2020, the only times Ireland had been able to schedule a home ODI series of more than two matches were against Afghanistan in 2018, because nobody else would volunteer to play the two newest Full Members; and Zimbabwe in 2019, because neither side had qualified for the World Cup taking place at the time across the Irish Sea.So the introduction of the new ODI Super League for 2023 World Cup qualification heralded a new dawn of sorts. A pair of three-match ODI series and seven T20Is against Bangladesh and New Zealand, not to mention two more T20Is against Pakistan in Dublin, were pencilled in – a bumper crop for fixture-starved Ireland. But like for most countries, the pandemic wiped all of it out. The loss of revenue resulted in Cricket Ireland needing a €1.5 million euro government bailout.However, the fixtures that were completed either side of the shutdown provided a silver lining. Andrew Balbirnie took over from William Porterfield in Tests and ODIs and from Gary Wilson in T20Is as captain at the tail end of 2019. Though they took their fair share of lumps against West Indies and Afghanistan, Ireland also departed both away tours with a T20I victory to their name.Their habit of bounce-back wins after early defeats continued in England. Playing in the series that officially launched the ODI Super League, Ireland suffered lopsided defeats in the first two matches in Southampton before capping their 2020 fixture list with a thrilling reprisal of their 2011 World Cup heroics in Bangalore. Set a target of 329, Ireland completed the highest successful chase by a visiting team in England as Balbirnie and Paul Stirling both scored centuries, offering a hopeful glimpse of what lies ahead in 2021.Results
ODIs: P6, W1, L5
T20Is: P6, W2, L3, NR1Stats current as of December 27, 2020More in our look back at 2020

The Marlins beat the Cardinals 6-2 on Wednesday night in front of a sparse 9,300 fans at LoanDepot Park. Those who did attend got to see Miami's Sandy Alcantara have one of his best outings of the season.

Alcantara gave up five hits and one earned run in seven innings while he struck out a season-high nine batters and walked just one. In the process, he earned his seventh win of the season.

The Marlins' pitcher could have had an even better night, but Agustín Ramírez failed to catch strike three as St. Louis catcher Yohel Pozo swung and missed. Pozo reached on the passed ball as Ramírez framed a pitch he never caught.

Bally Sports Florida analyst Tommy Hutton was not impressed.

"What it does, we've seen a couple of instances tonight, it makes Sandy throw more pitches," said Hutton. "See, to me, DON'T TRY TO FRAME THAT PITCH! Catch it before you try to frame it!"

He also added, "It's all you gotta do."

Three batters later, after what would have been the third out was recorded, Pozo scored on a Lars Nootbaar double.

For some reason the Marlins catchers are having a very unique season.

Juventus have finally responded to reports of an attempted takeover of the club after cryptocurrency firm, Tether submitted a binding proposal to buy a controlling stake in the Serie A side. Tether proposed to acquire the current owner, Exor’s 65.4 per cent shareholding at a price of €2.66 per share and later intended to launch a public tender for the remaining shares at the same valuation.

Why did Tether want to buy Juventus?

Tether has been associated with Juventus since February 2025 after the company acquired a minority stake in the Turin club and increased its position again in April. By that point, it held 10.12 per cent of Juventus’ shares and more than 6.18 per cent of voting rights. Its growing influence became more tangible in November, when Paolo Garino, a nominee of Tether, was appointed to the Juventus board at the club’s annual general meeting. 

That move was widely interpreted as a signal of longer-term ambitions. In a statement released on Friday evening, Tether confirmed it had submitted an all-cash, binding proposal to Exor by releasing a statement which read: "Tether has submitted a binding all cash proposal to Exor to acquire its entire stake in Juventus Football Club. Subject to regulatory approvals, Tether intends to make a public offer for the remaining shares at the same price, fully funded with its own capital and supported by a long term commitment to the club. This proposal reflects a belief in Juventus as more than a football club. For generations, Juventus has stood for discipline, ambition, and the quiet strength of those who rebuild and move forward, season after season. It is a club that has shaped Italian sporting identity and earned the loyalty of supporters around the world. Our interest in Juventus comes from deep admiration and respect. Juventus is a symbol of Italian excellence with a truly global presence, built over generations through hard work, ambition, and the unwavering loyalty of its supporters. These values mirror how we have built Tether, with patience, independence, and a focus on long term resilience. 

"Tether is in a position of strong financial health and intends to support Juventus with stable capital and a long horizon. Our goal is to contribute positively to the club’s future, to support sporting performance at the highest level, and to help Juventus continue to grow sustainably in a rapidly evolving global sports and media landscape. This proposal is made with humility and a deep sense of responsibility toward the club, its supporters, and its legacy. 

"We believe Juventus’ story is still being written, and that its next chapters can be defined by strength, continuity, and ambition. The proposal contemplates the acquisition of Exor’s shareholding, representing 65.4 percent of Juventus’ issued share capital. Completion of the transaction would be subject to Exor’s acceptance, the execution of definitive documentation, and receipt of required regulatory approvals. Following completion, Tether intends to proceed with a public tender offer for the remaining shares at the same price per share. In the event that the transaction completes, Tether is prepared to invest 1 billion Euros in the support and development of the Club. Tether operates with a long term investment philosophy supported by a strong balance sheet and a focus on building resilient, globally relevant institutions. Further updates will be provided in accordance with applicable laws and regulations."

AdvertisementGettyJuventus breaks silence on takeover rumours

The Italian side has now responded to Tether's proposal, as their statement read: "Exor NV ('Exor' or the 'Company') announces that its Board of Directors has unanimously rejected an unsolicited proposal submitted by Tether Investments, SA de CV ('Tether') to acquire all the shares of Juventus Football Club SpA ('Juventus' or the 'Club') owned by Exor. Exor reaffirms its previous consistent statements that it has no intention of selling any of its Juventus shares to third parties, including but not limited to El Salvador-based Tether. Juventus is a historic and successful club, of which Exor and the Agnelli family have been stable and proud shareholders for over a century, and they remain fully committed to the Club, supporting its new management team in executing a clear strategy to deliver strong results both on and off the pitch."

Agnelli family's long-standing relationship with Juventus

Juventus has been under the control of the Agnelli family since 1923, making them the longest-standing owners in world football. Across generations, the family transformed the Bianconeri into Serie A’s most successful club, winning the league 36 times, which is 16 more than their closest domestic rivals Inter. Given their history with the club, it was obvious they won't entertain takeover talks from any parties. 

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AFPWhat comes next for Juventus?

Luciano Spalletti's side, who have endured a difficult start to their 2025-26 campaign, will be back in Serie A on Sunday night as they take on Bologna away from home. 

Emma Coates has left her role as England women’s under-23s head coach to become the new manager of National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) side Bay FC. The Football Association (FA) has announced the recruitment process will begin “imminently” as they look to identify a successor to the 34-year-old, who worked closely with Sarina Wiegman while in charge of the young Lionesses.

Getty Images SportCoates developed several stars for senior Lionesses squad

Regarded as one of the brightest young coaches in the women’s game, Coates developed a number of players at U23 level who have gone on to represent the England senior side.

West Ham defender Anouk Denton and London City Lionesses forward Freya Godfrey were introduced into Wiegman’s senior squad for December’s friendlies against China and Ghana, on the back of Arsenal centre-back Katie Reid and Aston Villa midfielder Lucia Kendall’s October call-ups.

All four players have followed in the footsteps of Manchester City and Manchester United midfielders Grace Clinton and Jess Park, alongside Chelsea and Brighton forwards Aggie Beever-Jones and Michelle Agyemang, in successfully stepping up from England’s youth teams.

In total, more than 25 players reached the England senior squad under Coates, whose U23s side also went unbeaten in their 2023-24 European league campaign.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportFA confirms Coates will be joined by assistant Davies in NWSL

Following Coates’ impressive work with England's U23s, the former Doncaster Belles boss has now been handed the reins at Bay FC, whose squad features the likes of Zambia star Racheal Kundananji and USWNT defender Abby Dahlkemper.

Confirming Coates will be joined by her young Lionesses assistant Gemma Davies in the San Francisco Bay Area, the FA said in a statement: “We thank Emma and Gemma for their time with us and wish them all the best with their new challenge.

“Emma, with Gemma’s support, has played a key role in strengthening the pathway between the WU23s and the senior squad, as well as the younger age groups.

“Together, they have directly impacted the development of many young players who have gone on to become senior Lionesses, and helped to re-establish the WU23s as a team that fans want to watch wherever they play across the country. 

“We are excited to see the WU23s set-up continue to grow over the coming years and have already begun the search for their replacements.”

Bay FCEx-Doncaster Belles boss 'honoured and super excited' to join Bay FC

Growing up in Yorkshire, Coates began her coaching journey at Leeds United’s academy in 2010 before becoming Doncaster Belles manager in 2016. She was previously a first-team coach at The Belles in 2014.

Coates then became a specialist coach with England’s youth teams in 2019 before being named as the U19s manager in 2022. She then moved over to the U23s in 2023, where she forged a strong relationship with Wiegman at St. George's Park.

Expressing her delight at being named as Bay FC’s new manager, Coates told the club’s official website: “I’m truly honoured and super excited to build on the strong foundations that have already been established and to implement a clear identity both on and off the pitch.

“This is a club that has already captured the hearts of so many people in the local community, and it’s a privilege to be part of that journey. From my first conversations with Bay FC, it was clear that the club shares my passion for people, performance, and culture which I believe are fundamental to sustained success. 

“I’m eager to get back on the grass every day, to work closely with the players and staff, and to meet the fans at PayPal Park. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time with the FA (English Football Association), it has helped shape me both professionally and personally. 

“Now, I feel ready and excited to challenge myself in a new environment, and I would like to express my sincere thanks to everyone at the FA for their trust, support, and belief throughout my journey.”

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Bay FCAssistant Davies 'thrilled' to reunite with Coates in San Francisco Bay Area

Alongside Coates, Bay FC have also captured another one of women’s football’s most promising young coaches in Davies, who will act as assistant manager at PayPal Park. The 34-year-old managed Aston Villa in the Women’s Super League between 2018 and 2021 before holding roles with England’s U19s and U23s sides.

“Bay FC represents an ambitious and forward-thinking project,” said Davies. “I’m thrilled to join Emma’s staff in creating an environment where players and staff can thrive and supporters can be proud of the football we play. I’m looking forward to being back on the field on a day-to-day basis as we support the club in its next stage of growth.”

Hailing Davies as an “excellent” coach, Coates added: “Gemma’s track record in both club and international football makes her the ideal fit to help implement our playing philosophy.

“Her delivery on the grass is excellent, and her tactical insight and analytical skills will be invaluable as we prepare the team for start of the 2026 season.”

Bay FC finished 13th in the 2025 NWSL regular-season league table, level on points (20) with bottom-placed Chicago Stars FC but with a slightly better goal difference. Jess Carter's Gotham FC defeated Esme Morgan's Washington Spirit 1-0 in the Championship match on 23 November. The two defenders helped the Lionesses win Euro 2025 in the summer.