Lord's start hunt to replace legendary groundsman Mick Hunt who will retire next summer after 48 years

  • Mick Hunt will retire one year short of his half-century working for MCC 
  • Hunt has told his MCC bosses that he doesn't want to continue in his role 
  • The jet to bring over Adrien Silva from Portugal cost Leicester City £40,000 
  • Cricket pundit Geoff Boycott is expected to be part of BT's Ashes coverage

Lord's legendary groundsman Mick Hunt, who has worked at cricket's headquarters for 48 years, is preparing to retire after next summer — one year short of his half-century working for MCC.

Hunt, 65, feels in good health after fighting cancer since 2008, something which has never affected his ability to do the job. 

But he has told his MCC bosses that he doesn't want to continue with the major responsibilities that go with the Lord's role for more than another year. 

Lord's legendary groundsman Mick Hunt is preparing to retire after next summer 

Lord's legendary groundsman Mick Hunt is preparing to retire after next summer 

The summer of 2019 will bring the extra spotlight of a World Cup final and an Ashes series, but Hunt says: 'I'd rather go out on 49'. Although he is happy to stay in the background and advise his successor.

The MCC are expected to launch a global search to find the right replacement for Lord's longest serving employee.

 

To further the upset of Leicester City at missing the deadline to sign Sporting Lisbon's Adrien Silva by 14 seconds, the jet to bring him over from Portugal cost £40,000 to hire. Jet companies know they can name their own price on the frantic last day of transfer business.

It cost Leicester City £40,000 to hire a plane to fly Adrien Silva over from Portugal 

It cost Leicester City £40,000 to hire a plane to fly Adrien Silva over from Portugal 

 

Geoff Boycott, one of cricket's best-known pundits, is expected to be part of BT Sport's team for the Ashes this winter.

Boycott is in negotiations to join a group of analysts that will include Michael Vaughan, Graeme Swann, Ricky Ponting and Damien Fleming. 

All-round sports broadcaster Matt Smith will present the coverage, replacing Greg James, the original choice, who is no longer available after preferring to sign a BBC deal to present a new entertainment show.

Cricket pundit Geoff Boycott is expected to be part of BT Sport's team for the Ashes 

Cricket pundit Geoff Boycott is expected to be part of BT Sport's team for the Ashes 

 

West Ham, who finally host their first Premier League game of the season against Huddersfield on Monday night, are insistent they can block the European Athletics Championships being held at the London Stadium in 2022.

British Athletics are considering bidding to stage the event in Stratford as their 50-year tenancy contract allows them to host major events every four years, provided they give owners E20 two years' notice. 

But the Hammers' anchor tenant agreement states there is a priority privilege for Premier League fixtures to take precedence during the football season. And, to complicate matters further, West Ham can't just veto the event and must show their 'best endeavours' to accommodate it.

West Ham are insistent they can block the hosting of the European Athletics Championships

West Ham are insistent they can block the hosting of the European Athletics Championships

 

England seek new coach

A proper selection process is taking place to recruit the England bowling coach who will replace South Africa-bound Ottis Gibson. But the short time before the Ashes starts means England might well appoint a consultant coach for the tour. 

Plenty of names have been bandied about for the permanent post, including former England bowler Chris Silverwood, who has taken Essex to the top of the County Championship.

 

It is understood that Aston Villa scout Tony Coton's revelations of his colourful past in his highly entertaining autobiography There To Be Shot At haven't gone down well with everyone at Villa Park.

But Coton says his misdemeanours are well known and that he has had a clean slate for 35 years. Former Birmingham City goalkeeper Coton was part of a group of footballers known as the 'Birmingham Six'. 

But Coton never liked the connotations with the group who were wrongly convicted of an IRA bombing. And in any case, only four of that Birmingham City side — Coton, Noel Blake, Robert Hopkins and Howard Gayle — knocked around together.

Former goalkeeper Tony Coton (pictured play for Manchester City) will soon release a book

Former goalkeeper Tony Coton (pictured play for Manchester City) will soon release a book

 

La Liga president Javier Tebas reckons it is too soon for any of the digital media heavyweights to bid for Premier League rights. Yet Twitter, Amazon and YouTube have all acquired recent sports content and Facebook are understood to have bid for the Indian Premier League.

La Liga chief Javier Tebas has weighed in on the likelihood of digital media bids for TV rights 

La Liga chief Javier Tebas has weighed in on the likelihood of digital media bids for TV rights