With just six weeks to go until the opening game of this year’s Vitality Blast at Edgbaston, the Bears have confirmed members of a new off-field team to support the in-bowl experience and live stream for those tuning in at home.

BBC Asian Network radio and television presenter Noreen Khan will be one of the hosts stepping onto the field, whilst supporters can also watch six* of Bears Vitality Blast games at Edgbaston from home in a new match day programme hosted BBC Test Match Special commentator and stand-up comedian Aatif Nawaz.

The men’s 100m will showcase some of the fastest athletes in the world with Andre de Grasse (CAN), Trayvon Bromell (USA), and Yohan Blake (JAM) amongst the star names set to star at the Müller Birmingham Diamond League, the second meeting of the 2022 Wanda Diamond League series, at the Alexander Stadium on Saturday 21 May.

Former Colombia captain Freddy Rincon has died after suffering severe head injuries in a car crash. The 55-year-old was driving a car that collided with a bus in Cali, Colombia.

Former Real Madrid midfielder Rincon scored 17 goals for Colombia and played at the 1990, 1994 and 1998 World Cups.

Birmingham Phoenix have appointed Dan Vettori to the role of Head Coach for the men’s team in The Hundred following the appointment of Andrew McDonald as the new Australia men’s team Head Coach.

Vettori, was previously Assistant Coach for Birmingham Phoenix and acted as Head Coach on an interim basis during the first year of The Hundred, having previously coached in roles with Barbados Royals in the Caribbean Premier League, Brisbane Heat in the Big Bash, Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL and Middlesex in the Vitality Blast.

The prestigious Emsley Carr Mile and Millicent Fawcett Mile races will take place at the Night of 10,000m PBs in Highgate on Saturday 14 May 2022.

The iconic Emsley Carr Mile race has run annually in the UK since 1953 when it was first won by Olympic silver medallist Gordon Pirie. Among the other legends of the sport to have won the race during its 69-year history are Haile Gebrselassie, Sebastian Coe, Steve Ovett, Hicham El Guerrouj and many more.

Birmingham’s Edgbaston Stadium has unveiled its new Plaza and stadium entrance, which features one of the largest outdoor community spaces in Birmingham. With 14,800 sq m, the Edgbaston Plaza offers more space than both Centenary Square and Victoria Square in Birmingham city centre and the new community space is the first stage to complete within the new Edgbaston Stadium Masterplan.