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Ryan Reynolds made a hilarious sex joke after ex-Wrexham goalkeeper Ben Foster claimed to be behind the huge spike in the city's birth rates.

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Article continues below

Article continues below

Foster claims responsibility for birth rate riseWrexham's January births up 24% Reynolds make funny sex joke remarkGetty/YouTubeWHAT HAPPENED?

Retired goalkeeper Foster, who helped Wrexham get promoted to League Two last year after a short stint in his second spell with the club, posted a video about how there had been 205 January births at Wrexham Maelor Hospital, up 40 from the same time last year. Club co-owner Reynolds leapt at the chance to comment on this, referencing the 'pull the goalie' phrase – which is when a couple stop taking birth control and have unprotected sex to make babies.

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Hollywood star Reynolds tweeted about Foster's video and wrote: "Normally this happens when you pull the goalie, not the other way around. Trust me."

Getty ImagesWHAT BEN FOSTER SAID

In a Fozcast video, Foster said: "It's come to the attention of the club [Wrexham] that in January the birth rate in Wrexham jumped nearly 25 per cent from this time last year – and I feel kind of responsible."

After promoting his new partnership with VistaPrint, he added: "So to all you Wrexham-loving parents, congratulations! Here is hoping to more babies next January. Welcome to the world, fellow Bens!"

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Getty/GOALTHE BIGGER PICTURE

In different ways, both Reynolds and Foster have played a huge role in progressing the club of late. The Welsh side ended their 15-year stay in the National League by coming first in the division last season and now they are fighting to get promoted to League One, with the Red Dragons just outside the automatic promotion spots. While Foster retired for a second time at the start of this campaign, he will go down as a club hero and Reynolds is, arguably, approaching legendary territory since taking over the club three years ago with fellow actor Rob McElhenney.

Zimbabwe’s cricketers are being rewarded for their historic tour of Pakistan by having the red carpet rolled out for them and experiencing the kind of treatment they rarely get

Firdose Moonda26-May-2015Zimbabwe’s cricketers are being rewarded for their historic tour of Pakistan by having the red carpet rolled out for them and experiencing the kind of treatment they rarely get. While they have gone public with their appreciation through their tweets, they’ve matched that in their off-record comments.”They have really pulled out all the stops for us. We are being treated extremely well,” one player told ESPNcricinfo.Unlike their South African, English, Australian or Indian contemporaries, Zimbabwe’s cricketers are on modest pay-cheques, which sometimes do not get paid on time or at all. When they play at home, especially in Harare, the team do not stay at a hotel but at their own homes. They do not travel in a team bus, but by their own means. Now, all that has changed.When Zimbabwe are escorted to the stadium for training and match days in Lahore, it is by an armed guard, something they expected before leaving. One of the players said the team had heard at least 3,500 security personnel had been deployed for their trip. Their movements have been restricted by the security arrangements but several Zimbabwe cricketers took to Twitter to open the channels of communication even before leaving. They retweeted messages from Pakistani fans promising their safety and have since continued sharing their experience on that platform.Craig Ervine is the most notable example. Before leaving for Pakistan, he posted this message on Twitter:

Appreciate the huge support from Pakistan. I know u will make us feel welcome, comfortable in ur country! #memories#experienceofaliftime

— Craig Ervine (@Craig_Ervine77) May 18, 2015

His message was well-received by Pakistan fans.

@Craig_Ervine77 gear up Ervine to get a fantastic welcome from Pakistan. We are waiting for you guys. Have a safe flight.

— Jila Watan (@Cric_Pak) May 18, 2015

On the eve of the first T20 last Friday, Ervine said:

Loving the passion for cricket in Pakistan!! #bringingcrickethome#onedaytogo

— Craig Ervine (@Craig_Ervine77) May 20, 2015

On the day of the game, which he did not eventually play, Ervine tweeted:

Huge anticipation & excitement of this historic evening in Lahore. Its great 2 be apart of it!!#cricketcomeshomeafter6longyrs#pakvzim#1stt20

— Craig Ervine (@Craig_Ervine77) May 22, 2015

Zimbabwe have been enjoying the hospitality and warm reception of fans off the field, too. The team is staying at the Pearl Continental Hotel, an establishment frequented by state presidents, and not at the National Cricket Academy as originally planned. The PCB changed the venue after deciding housing people in the stadium would create the impression the country was not ready for visitors.The change of location means that Zimbabwe’s touring party will see a little more than just the Gaddafi Stadium precinct but not much more. Their travel is limited to the hotel and the ground with shopping, sightseeing or even general roaming around strictly forbidden.

Yasir Arafat, the Pakistan allrounder, has been brought in by the Perth Scorchers as a replacement for West Indies’ Dwayne Smith

ESPNcricinfo staff24-Dec-2013Yasir Arafat, the Pakistan allrounder, has been brought in by the Perth Scorchers as a replacement for West Indies’ Dwayne Smith. Smith, who had not flown to Australia ahead of the Scorchers’ opening game on Sunday, is expected to miss the entire Big Bash League due to personal reasons.Arafat has not played for Pakistan in over a year – he last played in the World Twenty20 in September 2012 – but is something of a travelling Twenty20 specialist. He has played domestic leagues in England, New Zealand, Bangladesh and Scotland, apart from turning out for Khan Research Laboratories in Pakistan. He has played 165 T20s in all, scoring 1025 runs at a strike rate of 119 and 207 wickets with a best of 4 for 5.Should Smith become available to play during the course of the tournament, the Scorchers can apply to the BBL technical committee to have him reinstated in the squad. Their other overseas signing in an 18-man squad is South African pacer Alfonso Thomas.The Scorchers began their campaign with a three-wicket loss to the Brisbane Heat in an away game. Next up for them is a home game against the Melbourne Renegades on Boxing Day.

Somerset’s twins Craig and Jamie Overton both have hopes of a championship debut against Lancashire at Taunton on Thursday – but only one of them is likely to be celebrating.

ESPNcricinfo staff25-Apr-2012Somerset’s twins Craig and Jamie Overton both have hopes of a championship debut against Lancashire at Taunton on Thursday – but only one of them is likely to be celebrating.The Overton twins, who have recently returned from an England U19 one-day tour of Australia, are likely to be vying for only one place, which will bring mixed family emotions when Somerset’s final X1 is announced shortly before the start of play.Brian Rose, Somerset’s director of cricket, has given no clues as to whether it will be Craig or Jamie who is preferred. Both have been named in a 12-man squad and a final decision on the team will be made on the morning of the match.”We have had good reports about them from the England U19s’ recent trip and they are in contention,” Rose said. “We will make a decision on which of the twins plays shortly before the game when we have assessed conditions.”Jamie, a fast bowler, looks the probable starter with Craig, an allrounder, as 12th man.The twins play for North Devon CC which is best known as the Instow base of David Shepherd, a former Gloucestershire cricketer and international umpire, and arguably Devon’s most famous cricketing son.Both Overton twins helped North Devon win the Devon Cricket League last summer and they played in the Devon team who became minor counties champions. They made their senior North Devon league debut at 13.If they progress into the Somerset side, they will follow the twins Keith and Kevin Parsons, who represented the county together in the mid-1990s.North Devon flourished during the 2011 season, though they were hit by the death of former player and umpire Bill Shepherd. He was the elder brother of David, who died in 2009 as the club’s most renowned member.

A round-up of the first day’s play from the quarter-finals of the Ranji Trophy Elite League

ESPNcricinfo staff02-Jan-2012A vigilant, unbeaten 82 from Aakash Chopra, aided ably by Dishant Yagnik helped Rajasthan recover from a vulnerable position against Hyderabad and finish the first day at 220 for 5 in Uppal.Rajasthan’s decision to make first use of the pitch at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium ran into early trouble against Hyderabad’s spirited new-ball bowlers. Anwar Ahmed struck in the very first over of the match, removing Vineet Saxena for a first-ball duck. Pagadala Naidu too made a quick impact, getting Hrishikesh Kanitkar to nick behind to make it 8 for 2. The in-form Robin Bist suggested a recovery, but he too was dismissed soon, by left-arm spinner Lalith Mohan, as the defending champions slumped.Chopra battled through the tough times, before dragging his side out of the rut with three partnerships. The first two, with Rashmi Parida and Puneet Yadav for company, averted the danger of a collapse, but it was the third – an unbroken 91 with Yagnik for the sixth wicket – that pushed his side towards parity. Parida and Yadav both perished after making starts, with the former falling to left-arm spinner Mehdi Hassan who conceded only 13 runs in his 12-over spell. Mohan trapped Yadav in front for 33, to leave Rajasthan 129 for 5 before the Chopra-Yagnik show began. Chopra scored just six fours in his dogged innings that lasted 272 balls and counting. The senior partner played second fiddle to Yagnik, who was more adventurous in scoring his 60 off 130 balls, with seven hits to the boundary. The pair will be keen to extend their association into the second day, and push Rajasthan towards a safe first-innings total.Maharashtra ground their way towards a decent total, reaching a solid 202 for 4 on the first day against Tamil Nadu at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. Maharashtra’s progress was founded upon a 116-run opening stand between Harshad Khadiwale and Chirag Khurana, though the hosts will be pleased with the extent to which they managed to claw back into contention by stumps.The openers departed in quick succession after building Maharashtra an impressive platform. Khadiwale’s 61 came off 157 balls and featured eight fours, while Khurana missed out on a half-century, falling to Aushik Srinivas for 44. Thereafter, No. 3 batsman Sangram Atitkar guided Maharashtra with an unbeaten half-century. Tamil Nadu made two more breaches at the other end, with Srinivas ending the day with figures of 2 for 64, though he was guilty of bowling eight no-balls. Maharashtra’s go-slow approach meant L Balaji and Yo Mahesh boasted economy-rates close to 1.5 runs per over. The slow rate of scoring also means that quick strikes on the second morning will allow the hosts to claim control.Haryana, on the back of a haul of 8 for 40 from 21-year-old Harshal Patel, took control against Karnataka at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. Karnataka chose to bat first on a pitch that had a dark tinge and came up against an inspired Haryana attack. While Harshal kept the batsmen guessing at one end – he got some balls to move away, while others held their line – and invariably snared them, the other bowlers kept things tight. They were backed up by their captain, Amit Mishra, who set attacking fields all through. Harshal, who is in his debut season in first-class cricket, finished with what are the best figures in the Ranji Elite season so far.Robin Uthappa settled down and looked like the only Karnataka batsman to have any measure of the bowling in an attacking innings of 35, but it did little to help Karnataka. The hosts did not get any relief even when they took to the field, as Haryana’s openers, Nitin Saini and Rahul Dewan, batted out 38 overs and struck unbeaten half-centuries. They went to stumps only 31 behind, with all ten wickets intact.Harshal spoke to ESPNcricinfo at the end of the day’s play. Click here for more.At the Holkar Stadium in Indore, Madhya Pradesh’s fast bowlers fought back with relentless discipline, after their batsmen displayed poor application against an average Mumbai attack, on a wicket that demanded it. Click here for the full report of the day’s action.

James Hopes and Ryan Harris led a strong bowling display from Queensland as they increased their chances of making the Sheffield Shield final on the first day against South Australia

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Mar-2012
ScorecardAlister McDermott was one of Queensland’s wicket takers•Getty ImagesJames Hopes and Ryan Harris led a strong bowling display from Queensland as they increased their chances of making the Sheffield Shield final on the first day against South Australia. The Bulls knocked over the Redbacks for 162 and at stumps they were 2 for 58, needing another 105 runs to take first-innings points, with Alex Kemp on 24 and Joe Burns on 23.Queensland began the last round of matches second on the Shield table but good performances from Tasmania and Victoria in their games mean it is unlikely the Bulls will reach the decider unless they take some points against South Australia. They gave themselves a good chance of doing that after Hopes sent the Redbacks in.South Australia have not won a match in this campaign and again they were disappointing, with Tom Cooper’s 21 the highest score among the specialist batsmen. Hopes collected 3 for 28 and Ryan Harris took 3 for 29, while Steve Magoffin and Alister McDermott each picked up two wickets.The Redbacks could have found themselves in even more trouble after they crashed to 9 for 107, but a tenth-wicket partnership between Gary Putland (31 not out) and Peter George (22) at least gave the bowlers a slim chance of defending their total. George and Putland picked up a wicket each before stumps but a big job lies ahead of them if they are to deny Queensland the lead.

Middlesex have beaten off significant competition from strong rivals to complete the signing of James Harris from Glamorgan

George Dobell24-Sep-2012Middlesex have beaten off significant competition from strong rivals to complete the signing of James Harris on a three-year contract from Glamorgan.Harris, a 22-year-old seamer of considerable potential and a more than useful lower-order batsman, had been the target of several other Test-hosting clubs in Division One of the Championship. Nottinghamshire described him as their No. 1 target, while Yorkshire were also keen to persuade him to join them. Glamorgan also say they made Harris a “substantial contract offer to retain his services”.His arrival underlines Middlesex’s ambition. They finished third in the top division in 2012 and, with a largely young and close-knit squad, must be considered title contenders for the next few seasons.”I’m thrilled to be joining Middlesex and being part of such a young, talented squad,” Harris said. “I’m really looking forward to playing my part in bringing team success and trophies back to Lord’s. The major factor in my decision to choose Middlesex was the coaching set-up and in particular the chance to learn as much as I can from people such as Angus Fraser, Richard Scott and Richard Johnson”Injury limited Harris to only four Championship games in 2012, but he claimed six wickets in an innings when he represented England Lions against Australia A at Edgbaston in August and won a place in the England Performance Programme Squad that will travel to India in November.His loss is a grave disappointment to Glamorgan. Harris developed through the club’s youth system and became the youngest man to represent the club’s second XI in 2005, when he was aged just 14 years and 353 days, going on to make his first-class debut aged just 16 in 2007. He remains the youngest man to claim a seven-wicket haul in the Championship, at 17, and became the quickest player to reach 100 and 200 first-class wickets for Glamorgan.Harris feels, however, that his best chance of fulfilling his ambition required him to move. Glamorgan finished sixth in Division Two of the Championship in 2012 while history would suggest that players at the club struggle to win recognition from England selectors.Middlesex’s director of cricket, Angus Fraser, said: “Everyone at Middlesex is absolutely thrilled that James has chosen to join the club. There were many other counties trying to secure his services and the fact he has chosen Middlesex highlights the progress we are making as a club.”James will add skill and quality to our attack. His record to date is excellent and he will only get better. I am sure the pitches at Lord’s will suit his bowling more than those in Cardiff. He can bat too, which is extremely useful. We are all looking forward to working with James and we hope his presence will help Middlesex push even harder for domestic trophies over the coming years.”

The bowling attack England will face in the two-day tour match in Alice Springs this week has been weakened further, with the withdrawal of Alister McDermott and Kane Richardson

ESPNcricinfo staff26-Nov-2013The bowling attack England will face in the two-day tour match in Alice Springs this week has been weakened further, with the withdrawal of Alister McDermott and Kane Richardson. The two fast men will return to play for their states in this week’s round of Sheffield Shield matches and have been replace by Victoria’s Jayde Herrick and Western Australia’s Simon Mackin.McDermott and Richardson would have been the two strongest members of the pace attack. Richardson made his one-day international debut for Australia against Sri Lanka at the Adelaide Oval in January and McDermott has also been part of Australia squads, although he is yet to play a match for his country.Herrick, 28, has not played for Victoria this summer but has taken 77 first-class wickets at 31.55, and played for Victoria against the touring England side in a practice match on the 2010-11 Ashes tour. Mackin, 21, holds a Western Australia rookie contract but is yet to represent the Warriors in a first XI match.Michael Beer will captain the Cricket Australia Chairman’s XI for the two-day match at Traeger Park in Alice Springs, which runs from Friday to Saturday this week.CA Chairman’s XI Steve Cazzulino, Marcus Harris, Michael Hill, Alex Keath, Jake Doran, Ashton Turner, James Muirhead, Michael Beer (capt), Josh Lalor, Jayde Herrick, Simon Mackin, Luke Robins (NT).

Two top BCCI officials – board secretary Sajnay Jagdale and treasurer Ajay Shirke – have resigned their posts following the widespread criticism of the board’s handling of the corruption issues in the IPL

ESPNcricinfo staff31-May-2013The leadership crisis within the BCCI seems headed towards its endgame with two senior officials – secretary Sanjay Jagdale and treasurer Ajay Shirke – resigning from their posts following widespread criticism of the board’s handling of the corruption issues in the IPL. Jagdale and Shirke are second and third in the board’s hierarchy and their resignations, while opening up an administrative vacuum, is seen as a message to the president, N Srinivasan, who has insisted on staying in his post in the face of expert and public opinion.Jagdale also said he would not serve on the three-man commission appointed to conduct the inquiry into Gurunath Meiyappan, India Cements, and the owners of Rajasthan Royals. “I had already requested the president not to keep me there. I had never wanted to be there,” he said.”Justice T Jayaram Chouta, one of the two High Court judges on the panel, said the commission would now not be able to function because one of its members had resigned.”I have resigned from the post of the secretary of the BCCI,” Jagdale, who took office in September 2011 when N Srinivasan became BCCI president, told . “I am deeply hurt with the recent developments in Indian cricket. Let some new faces come and take the responsibility.” Jagdale had played 53 first-class matches for MadhyaPradesh, and was a national selector too.”No, there was no pressure, nobody influenced me. I felt deeply hurt, nothing else, there is no [other] reason behind it,” Jagdale told CNN-IBN, when asked if Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association president Jyotiraditya Scindia – who was the first of the BCCI’s senior politicians to speak out – had influenced his decision. “I was hurt as a former cricketer, as an administrator, as a cricket lover, I hurt like any of the millions of cricket lovers in India.”Jagdale did not offer opinion on whether Srinivasan should step down as president. “This was my decision, I leave it for Mr Srinivasan, he has been in the game for a longer period than me,” he said. “He is capable of taking his own decisions.”Shirke had said on Thursday night that he was not happy with the way the BCCI had handled the issues of spot-fixing allegations against three Royals players and betting charges against Gurunath, a top Chennai Super Kings official and Srinivasan’s son-in-law. “Yes that’s true [I have resigned],” Shirke, who also began his term when Srinivasan became president, said. “I have spelt out my reason and don’t want to comment any more. I have already spoken to the media at length, therefore I have resigned.”There is a possibility that there will be more resignations on Saturday morning from the five BCCI vice-presidents, including that of Arun Jaitley from the north zone and Sudhir Dabir from central zone. Insiders say that Chitrak Mitra from the east has let it be known that he will not quit while the other two vice-presidents, Shivlal Yadav from south zone and Niranjan Shah from the west, remain undecided.ESPNcricinfo understands that senior BCCI officials had been in constant discussion with Srinivasan, asking him to step aside from his office as board president until the three-man commission completed its inquiry into his son-in-law Gurunath, the Super Kings owners India Cements, and the owners of Rajasthan Royals. Srinivasan, however, had paid no heed to their advice.Late on Friday, Srinivasan agreed to call for a working committee meeting next week to discuss the corruption issues plaguing the IPL. The date of the meeting is yet to be confirmed, but ESPNcricinfo understands it will be held over the next weekend.

South Africa’s management has explained the players will wear black armbands in memory of people who were an important part of cricket in the country “especially post-unity”

Firdose Moonda03-Feb-2013South Africa’s management has explained the players will wear black armbands in memory of people who were an important part of cricket in the country “especially post-unity”, according to team manager Mohammed Moosajee.The team did not wear black armbands for former players Neil Adcock and Peter van der Merwe, who died last month, and no on-field tribute was paid because of sensitivities surrounding South Africa’s racially-divided past although there was a moments silence at CSA’s AGM.*”The player policy is that they will consider wearing black armbands if someone who is close to the
 team and management from a family perspective, or someone who has been involved in CSA, especially post-unity, dies,” Moosajee said. “If you open it up further than that, you’ve got to remember the sensitivities on both sides. With sensitivities on both sides, whom do you say yes to?”Before South Africa’s readmission in 1991, only white players represented the country because of the Apartheid policies in place. Adock played between 1953 and 1962, while van der Merwe’s career was between 1963 and 1967. Players of colour formed their own board and held domestic matches but none were eligible for the national team.As a result, Cricket South Africa has tried to restrict commemorations to those involved only after readmission. For that reason, the players’ shirt numbers begin from 1991. The decision to not award Test numbers to players before unity and the absence of armbands has aggrieved some former players.”It’s time to forgive and forget,” Barry Richards said. “We can’t keep up this pretence that there was no cricket before 1992. I was three years old when the National Party came in to power in 1948, but I’ve paid the penalty. They keep talking about disadvantaged people – no-one’s more disadvantaged than Graeme [Pollock] and I. We couldn’t have Test cricket and we’re not recognised now.”It was a sad part of our history, but let’s acknowledge that the guys who were good in that era were good, and when they die we respect them. It would be nice if the team did that. Neil Adcock in his prime would have got into a World XI and you have to acknowledge that. There is a certain respect that should be shown older guys. It just goes on and on and it’s time to bury it all. It smacks of pettiness.”Graeme Pollock agreed. “The lack of black armbands for Adcock and van der Merwe is in line with the thinking that anything that happened pre-1992 doesn’t get any credit or wasn’t part of the system,” Pollock said. “Everybody who has played for South Africa has made a contribution and those 
two gentlemen certainly made a contribution.”Adcock took 104 wickets at an average of 21.10 in his 26 Tests while van der Merwe captained South Africa to their second Test series win in England, in 1965.* 11.55GMT, February 4: This story was amended to add that a minutes silence was observed at the board’s AGM.