Marcus Trescothick has confirmed he is "ready to jump back" into touring life, but accepts he is still "building up" to the long trips usually undertaken by England players and support staff.

Trescothick was named as the ECB's elite batting coach on Monday. As a result, he is expected to spend time on tour with various England teams as well as working with players throughout the talent pathways during the English summer.

But Trescothick, whose international career as a player was curtailed by issues with anxiety and depression that appeared to be exacerbated by periods away from home, admits adapting to the touring lifestyle is part of "an ongoing process". As a result, he expects to spend no more than five weeks away from home on each individual trip.

"It's an ongoing process for me," Trescothick said when asked about the issue. "I think I've learned to adapt and progress where I've gone. I've gradually built it from a couple of days in Spain, to then going to Spain for a week. Then I did two weeks in Abu Dhabi.

"I'm gradually cutting my teeth on it just to get more confident. Every trip that I do, the more I realise how much I enjoyed the touring life. But that's not to say I'm ready to jump back in and do six weeks or two months or three months away. That's not what I'm ready for yet. And we've discussed that."

Trescothick's role is not quite the same as previous batting coaches. While Mark Ramprakash, for example, was with the senior England teams nearly all the time - which could mean three months on tour in a single stretch - Trescothick is also is also expected, at times, to work with players at U19 and Lions level as well, and with those identified for attention in county cricket. The likes of Graham Thorpe and Paul Collingwood will remain regular faces on England tours, with Trescothick utilised for shorter spells as required.

"Do I know how much touring I will do? Not exactly," Trescothick continued. "We have discussed it and I'm ready to jump back on and do bits and pieces.

"Do I want to do three months in a row? No, I don't. I'm building up to that sort of point. The little journeys I've done for a couple of weeks here or a month there: that works really well.

"I said I would do three, four, five weeks, I'm open to all that. It's gradually getting easier for me. My kids are growing up and are less dependent on me and I've grown more and more confident to deal with it."

While Trescothick was due to arrive in India last week with the England limited-overs party, he was obliged to pull out due to a family bereavement. But he has dipped his toe in the water of his new role already. He was part of the support staff on the limited-overs tour to South Africa just before Christmas and found that, without the pressures that plagued him as a player, he was much better placed to enjoy the experience. But while the anxieties may be diminished, he says the thrill of representing his country - albeit it in an indirect way these days - remains undimmed.

"I've loved it," he said. "I know South Africa is a great place, but I really enjoyed my time doing those tours again. And it reminded me of the good bits that I did.

"It felt different because of the stresses and strains of playing the game and the intensity that goes with it [had gone]. As a coach, you work hard but in a different way. And that's what I've really enjoyed. It's given me the opportunity to be there, enjoy it for the right reasons in comparison to what I did before.

"I remember going to South Africa and walking out at the Wanderers with your [England] kit on. It feels so special. You dream of it. You look forward to it all your career. That's not changed from being a player to being a coach.

"I was given an England helmet the other week and I took it home and I was like, 'Oh, wow'. Just small things like that. The appreciation of what a special environment you are involved in. It's still no different for me."

The rising number of Covid-19 cases in Maharashtra is likely to rule out Mumbai as an IPL venue for the first time in the tournament's history. Originally Mumbai, which is the home base of defending champions Mumbai Indians, was meant to be the central hub in hosting the 2021 IPL, but ESPNcricinfo understands the BCCI is thinking about staging the tournament outside of Maharashtra.

Although a final decision remains to be taken it is understood Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Ahmedabad and Delhi have been tentatively earmarked as possible venues. A final decision is likely to be taken by the BCCI senior management along with the IPL governing council soon. The IPL will also finalise the tournament dates, which have not been announced yet but are likely to start anywhere between April 8-12 and stretch until end of May-early June period.

At the IPL auction, held on February 18, franchises were informally told that the 2021 edition was likely to be largely based in Mumbai, along with Pune for the group phase and the play-offs in Ahmedabad.

However, at a meeting last week in Ahmedabad during the third Test of the England series, top BCCI officials including board secretary Jay Shah, treasurer Arun Dhumal, IPL governing council chairman Brijesh Patel and interim board chief executive officer Hemang Amin, discussed the viability of Mumbai as a venue with concerns raised over the latest spike in coronavirus cases.

As per the latest data published on the Indian government's Ministry of Health and Family Welfare website on Monday evening, Maharashtra had reported nearly half of coronavirus cases in India. Out of the nearly 169,000 cases in India, Maharashtra had 78,212. There were 4,478 new cases officially reported in the western state compared to Sunday, with 62 additional deaths.

Last week's meeting decided that the tournament could be played in multiple cities, but a final plan would only be arrived after the Election Commission of India announced the poll dates in various state including West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, which will conducted during the league phase of the IPL. West Bengal elections will be conducted across eight phases between March 27 and April 29 with the votes counted between May 2-4. The election in Tamil Nadu will be a day-long affair on April 6 with results on May 5.

Even though a question mark hangs over Mumbai, the IPL has not included Mohali and Jaipur in the list of tentative venues. It could not be confirmed exactly the reasons behind the omission. The uncertainty over venues as well as the delay in announcing the tournament dates has left franchises disgruntled. Several confirmed that they are yet to receive any update formally from the IPL on either front.

Some, including Punjab Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad, contacted Amin asking him to shine light on the venues. Senior officials at both the Kings and the Sunrisers confirmed to ESPNcricinfo that after reading reports in Indian media at the weekend about the omission of their home bases of Mohali and Hyderabad they were curious.

Satish Menon, the chief executive officer at the Kings, said the franchise wanted to know on what grounds the IPL had shortlisted the potential venues and left Mohali out. "We have written to the IPL asking them to throw light on how they have decided on these venues and why also have they decided not to hold the IPL in Punjab," Menon said.

K Shanmugham, the CEO at Hyderabad, said he also had checked with the IPL whether Hyderabad was included as a potential venue or not.

Shimron Hetmyer and Roston Chase are available for selection in West Indies' Test series against Sri Lanka this month after meeting the minimum fitness standard required by CWI.

Hetymer and Chase were among four players who were deemed unavailable for the T20I and ODI legs of Sri Lanka's tour, along with fast bowlers Sheldon Cottrell and Oshane Thomas.

"The policy asks for a minimum standard in certain aspects of fitness testing," Jimmy Adams, CWI's director of cricket, said on Saturday. "It's pretty simple, and it's something all the players are aware of: failure to get to [the minimum standard] makes them unavailable for selection."

However, Adams confirmed at a press conference on Monday that Chase and Hetmyer had since reached the minimum threshold, and as a result would be available to play in the Test series which starts on March 21.

"Two of those four players have since met the minimum standard: Roston Chase and Shimron Hetmyer," Adams said. "They would be now available for the next selection meeting before the Test matches coming up later in March."

Both players have been included in a provisional 26-man group who will participate in a "best v best" four-day practice match in Antigua from March 8-11, with Chase due to captain one of the sides. Kemar Roach and Shannon Gabriel have been rested from that fixture, while there is a return to international contention for Kieran Powell, the opening batsman from Nevis.

Roger Harper, CWI's lead selector, said: "The 'Best v Best' game is firstly part of our preparation for the Test series against Sri Lanka. It gives the players who performed well in the last West Indies Championship an opportunity to showcase their skills, playing against each other, which we expect to be very competitive and put forward a case for themselves. It is a chance to raise their stock and show what they can do."

West Indies Best v Best squads

Squad A: Kraigg Brathwite (captain), Shamarh Brooks, Rahkeem Cornwall, Joshua Da Silva, Derval Green, Keon Harding, Shimron Hetmyer, Kavem Hodge, Paul Palmer Jr, Veerasammy Permaul, Kieran Powell, Preston McSween, Jayden Seales
Squad B: Roston Chase (captain), Sunil Ambris, Nkrumah Bonner, Jermaine Blackwood, John Campbell, Jahmar Hamilton, Chemar Holder, Imran Khan, Marquino Mindley, Shayne Moseley, Raymon Reifer, Nial Smith, Jomel Warrican Kemar Roach, Shannon Gabriel rested; ODI and T20I players unavailable due to clash in dates
Match to be played at Coolidge Cricket Ground, Antigua, March 8-11

LINCOLN, Neb. -- Teddy Allen, the Nebraska scoring leader who set the Pinnacle Bank Arena scoring record less than a week ago, left the Huskers basketball team Monday.

Nebraska was Allen's third Division I program in a mercurial career. Coach Fred Hoiberg mentioned last week that Allen had been bothered by a wrist issue.

"After a lot of thought over the last few days, I have made the decision to focus on getting fully healthy in preparation for the next step in my basketball journey," Allen said. "I will continue to stay at Nebraska for the spring semester and work toward graduation. I am looking forward to what the future holds, as I explore my options."

Allen began his career at West Virginia and was there for one season, transferring to Wichita State in 2018. He sat out the next season per transfer rules and never played a game for the Shockers. He was kicked off the team in June 2019 after he was arrested in connection with a disturbance with his girlfriend.

Allen moved on to Western Nebraska Community College, where he was the national junior college scoring leader in 2019-20, and then joined Hoiberg's team in Lincoln.

Allen averaged 16.4 points per game to lead the Huskers, and he scored an arena-record 41 in a 86-83 loss to Penn State last Tuesday. He was limited to seven points in 20 minutes in a loss at Illinois two nights later, prompting Hoiberg to mention the wrist issue for the first time.

Allen was not in the starting lineup for the home game against Minnesota on Saturday and was held scoreless, playing 10 minutes in the 78-74 win.

Allen was a star high school player at Boys Town, the Omaha-area home for troubled youth, and his arrival at Nebraska was much celebrated by a fan base hopeful he could play a major role in Hoiberg's effort to build the program.

"I would like to thank Coach Hoiberg and his coaching staff for allowing me to come back to Nebraska and have the opportunity to play basketball in the best conference in the country," Allen said. "I appreciate the support I've received from everyone in the program. I am thankful for the love I have received from my teammates and the relationships we have built over the last year."

Allen played in 22 games for the Huskers and had 20 or more points eight times. He was suspended for the Feb. 8 game at Minnesota for violating team rules.

"I enjoyed the opportunity to coach Teddy over the past year," Hoiberg said. "We will support him as he finishes the spring semester and wish him nothing but the best going forward."

ALBANY, N.Y. -- University of Albany men's basketball coach Will Brown is out after two decades.

Brown said in a news release issued Monday that he and the school had agreed "to mutually part ways." The 2020-21 season was the final year of his contract extension.

"Anyone who knows me knows this decision was extraordinarily difficult," Brown said in the release. "But I leave the University at Albany with an enormous sense of pride in the positive impact that my staff, my family and, most important, the student-athletes I had the honor of coaching, have had on UAlbany basketball and the greater Albany community."

The university, which plays in the America East Conference, said it will begin a national search for a successor immediately.

Brown, who was hired in December 2001, took a team that had recently become a Division I member (1999) and built it into a solid mid-major. His teams posted a record of 315-295 and earned five NCAA tournament berths.

The Great Danes' 2020-21 season ended Sunday with a loss to Hartford in the America East tournament quarterfinals. They finished 7-9, their third straight losing season.

Brown, who is 49, has on his résumé two America East regular-season titles; five America East championships; the program's first NCAA tournament win, 71-64 over Mount St. Mary's in the 2014 First Four; and America East Coach of the Year honors (2015).

Over a seven-year span (2011-18), the Great Danes posted a 153-83 record under Brown, but the program has struggled since the departures of Joe Cremo and David Nichols, who transferred after the 2017-18 season to play their final season elsewhere. Cremo ended up at Villanova and Nichols at Florida State.

Florida State men's basketball coach Leonard Hamilton agreed to a five-year extension through the 2024-2025 season that will pay him $2.25 million annually plus bonuses, the school announced Monday.

Hamilton, 72, is the winningest coach in school history and has the Seminoles on the verge of winning back-to-back ACC regular-season titles. Florida State is currently 14-4 and in first place in the ACC, and is the highest-ranked team in the league at No. 11 in the latest AP poll.

In his 19th season at Florida State, Hamilton has won ACC Coach of the Year three times, two ACC titles and taken the Seminoles to seven NCAA tournament appearances.

Hamilton's contract expired last year, but given the coronavirus pandemic and financial constraints inside the Florida State athletic department, the two sides have been working to get a deal done.

Although his salary stays the same as his previous contract, Hamilton has a bonus structure in place that would allow him to make more than $2 million additionally if he hits all its benchmarks. Those include making $150,000 for winning the ACC regular season, $200,000 for making the NCAA tournament, an additional $50,000 for being a top-4 seed and more depending on how far the team advances.

"Coach Hamilton has done so much for this basketball program and this university that it is hard to express in words," Florida State athletic director David Coburn said in a statement. "What he does with his young men, both on and off the court, is truly remarkable. I know both the President (John Thrasher) and I regard him as a university treasure, and he is just now getting the national recognition he has deserved for so long. He embodies all the qualities that make a great leader, and we are proud and thrilled to have him as our coach as long as he wishes."

TEMPE, Ariz. -- Free-agent pass-rusher J.J. Watt has agreed to a two-year contract with the Arizona Cardinals, the team announced Monday.

Terms were not disclosed, but a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter that the deal is worth $31 million and includes $23 million guaranteed.

Before the Cardinals announced the agreement, Watt broke the news by sharing a photo on Twitter:

source: me. pic.twitter.com/1Y6okQBUy5

— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) March 1, 2021

Watt, 31, was released by the Houston Texans, who granted his request on Feb. 12, ending his 10-year run with the franchise.

Four days later, Watt's former Texans teammate and current Cardinals wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins posted a photo of himself and Watt photoshopped in a Cardinals uniform on Instagram with the caption: "Let's finish what we started..."

Hopkins reacted to Monday's news by tweeting: "Life is good in Arizona!"

Watt will reunite with Vance Joseph, the Cardinals' defensive coordinator, who was the Texans' defensive backs coach during Watt's first three seasons in Houston.

In Arizona, Watt will be paired with fellow pass-rusher Chandler Jones, who leads the NFL in sacks since he was drafted in the first round in 2012 with 97. Second during that span is Watt with 95.5.

In 2020, Watt ranked 15th out of 119 qualified pass-rushers in pass rush win rate, according to ESPN Stats & Information. He finished the season with five sacks, two forced fumbles and an interception he returned for a touchdown. He has been plagued with injuries recently, having played 16 games in a season only twice since 2015.

After the Texans drafted Watt with the No. 11 pick in 2011, he became the face of the franchise, winning three NFL Defensive Player of the Year awards from 2012 to '15. Watt is one of three players to win that award three times.

A five-time Pro Bowl selection and five-time first-team All-Pro, Watt was by far the most productive pass-rusher in Texans history with 101 career sacks.

ESPN's Sarah Barshop contributed to this report.

Britain's Cameron Norrie continued his decent start to the 2021 season with a dominant first-round win over Georgia's Nikoloz Basilashvili in Rotterdam.

Norrie, who came through qualifying, will play Switzerland's Stan Wawrinka or Russia's Karen Khachanov next.

Later on Monday, Andy Murray faces Dutch world number 193 Robin Haase.

Former world number one Murray, now ranked 123rd, returns to the court after losing last week in his first ATP Tour match for four months.

The 33-year-old Scot was beaten in straight sets by Belarus' Egor Gerasimov at the Open Sud de France in Montpellier.

LIMA, Ohio – The University of Northwestern Ohio has announced a new degree in Motorsports Marketing.

Known worldwide as a leader in training high-performance motorsports technicians, UNOH will now educate students to run the marketing side of this multi-billion-dollar industry.

“Launching the Motorsports Marketing degree at UNOH makes perfect sense for a University that prides itself on all things high-performance,” said Marketing Department Chair Dr. Susan Mann. “If students have a passion for motorsports, but don’t want to be a technician, this program will show them how to create an electric atmosphere at race venues, put together sponsorship packages for teams and drivers, and manage the image or create partnerships for talent in all levels of motorsports.”

UNOH offers the only four-year bachelor-degree program in the country focused on Motorsports Marketing. The program will take students out of the classroom and into the garages, front offices, tracks, suppliers and sponsor companies that drive the motorsports industry. With at least one required internship, students have the chance to work within the motorsport field of their choice from grassroots racing to the pinnacle of motorsports such as NASCAR, Monster Jam, IndyCar and more.

“The motorsports industry as a whole stands to benefit from the Motorsports Marketing program at UNOH as the University continues to create programs to advance the career paths of individuals who choose to focus on the business side of motorsports” said T.J. Puchyr, co-owner of Spire Sports + Entertainment.

Students will learn the ins and outs of Motorsports Marketing from professors and guest speakers who are leaders in the industry.  Topics covered include public relations, social media management, race day operations, sponsor acquisition, media buying and website administration.

“A Motorsports Marketing degree from the University of Northwestern Ohio provides students the foundation necessary for success in the motorsports industry and frankly, a foundation I wish I had access to when I was in college,” said Tom Legeman, who manages Partnership Marketing for StarCom Racing.

KNOXVILLE, Iowa – Tickets are now on sale for the 60th NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals presented by Casey’s on Aug. 11-14.

Single-day tickets range from $43 to $49 for Wednesday and Thursday qualifying nights. Friday’s FVP Preliminary Night tickets are available starting at $46. Saturday’s finale tickets range from $49 to $56. Prices are determined by seating row selected. Two-day, three-day and four-day packages are also available.

Camping at the North Campground is also available for purchase. Four-day ticket packages must be purchased prior to purchasing a camping site. Camping reservations must be made by phone at 641-842-5431 and cannot be booked online. There is no at-track camping available for this event.

– In addition, tickets for a number of other events at Knoxville Raceway are also now on sale, including the inaugural Corn Belt 150 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at the track on July 8-10.

Practice Night for the inaugural Corn Belt 150 will be held on Thursday, July 8. Tickets are $10 for anyone 13 years of age and over. Guests 12 and under are free. All tickets for practice night are General Admission only.

Three-day camping reservations can also be purchased starting Monday. Camping is available at the track’s North Campground, roughly a half-mile north of the track on Highway 14. Camping is $40 per night and includes water accessibility and electric. Camping reservations can only be made by phone at 641-842-5431 and cannot be booked online. There is no at-track camping available for this event.

My Place Hotels is offering a 15 percent discount on reservations booked for July 8-10. Use code “KNOXRACE” when booking online at myplacehotels.com or by calling the Altoona (515-348-7161) or Ankeny (515-381-0589) locations. Offer is only good for the Altoona and Ankeny locations.

– Three-day ticket packages for the Lucas Oil Late Model Knoxville Nationals are also now available. Ticket packages range from $50 to $110. Prices are determined by seating row selected.

Individual night tickets will go on sale Thursday, April 1.

Camping at the North Campground is also available for purchase. Camping reservations must be made by phone at 641-842-5431 and cannot be booked online.

– Three-day ticket packages for the My Place Hotels 360 Knoxville Nationals presented by Great Southern Bank are also now available. Ticket packages range from $50 to $95. Prices are determined by seating row selected.

Individual night tickets will go on sale Thursday, April 1.

Camping at the North Campground is also available for purchase. Camping reservations must be made by phone at 641-842-5431 and cannot be booked online. There is no at-track camping available for this event.

My Place Hotels is offering a 15% discount on reservations booked for Aug. 4-7 and Aug. 11-14. Use code “KNOXVILLE21” when booking online at myplacehotels.com or by calling the Altoona (515-348-7161) or Ankeny (515-381-0589) locations. The offer is only good for the Altoona and Ankeny locations.

– Two-day ticket packages for the Brownells Big Guns Bash with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series range from $30 to $80. Prices are determined by seating row selected.

Individual night tickets will go on sale Thursday, April 1.

– Tickets are also now available for the Fatheadz Eyewear Capitani Classic presented by Great Southern Bank on Sunday, Aug. 8. Tickets range from $15 to $30. Prices are determined by seating row selected.

Camping at the North Campground is also available for purchase. Camping reservations must be made by phone at 641-842-5431 and cannot be booked online. There is no at-track camping available for this event.

– The Corn Belt Clash – Knoxville’s only non-wing sprint car event – will be held on Saturday, July 10 as part of the inaugural Corn Belt Weekend. Tickets for the $20,000-to-win event range from $10-$35 for reserved seats. General admission tickets are free for children 12 and under and $30 for ages 13 and up.

Winged 410 sprint cars will also be competing on Saturday, July 10.

Camping reservations require a three-night minimum stay and is only available at the North Campground. Reservations can be made by calling 641-842-5431.

Fans can visit www.knoxvilleraceway.com or call the Knoxville Raceway ticket office at 641-842-5431 to purchase tickets.