Just not cricket: Why England risk injury to play football in the warm-up October 24, 2018 Jonny Bairstow’s ankle injury, which has made him a doubt for England’s opening Test match against Sri Lanka on 6 November, has sparked a familiar discussion in the cricket world. England’s players and staff are always dreading injuries, especially to someone of Bairstow’s importance. But the origin of his problem will have caused further consternation [...]
UAE T20x: Icon player Kumar Sangakkara and chief executive Salman Butt on Twenty20’s latest league October 16, 2018 You might think that Twenty20 cricket has reached its saturation point. Since its advent in 2003, the game’s shortest format has gone from strength to strength, culminating in a point now where it dominates agendas both domestically and internationally. Its success has seen tournaments spring up all over the globe in an attempt to catch [...]
Chris Tremlett: Testing conditions make Sri Lanka the hardest but most rewarding England tour October 10, 2018 Sri Lanka is the hardest place I have ever visited to play cricket. England’s players, who are one game into their tour after the washout in Dambulla today, will be faced with a many more challenges than just those on the pitch. India has similar difficulties, but the sheer heat and humidity of Sri Lanka is [...]
Sri Lanka v England preview: Tourists hold all the aces ahead of Dambulla opener October 9, 2018 How times have changed for England. Last time they were in Sri Lanka to play a one-day series things were far less rosy than they are currently. In 2014, a side led by Alastair Cook succumbed to a 5-2 series defeat, as Kumar Sangakkara plundered a whopping 454 runs with five scores of over 50 [...]
Chris Tremlett: Natural leader Andrew Strauss leaves ECB with a modern blueprint ahead of a crucial year October 3, 2018 Andrew Strauss stepping down as England’s director of cricket is a shame, but family comes first and he leaves knowing what he’s achieved. The move has been ongoing over the summer with Andy Flower covering for him while his wife Ruth undergoes treatment for cancer. That’s his priority at the moment, so it has probably [...]
Chris Tremlett: Balanced Surrey look set for big things after first County Championship title in 16 years September 18, 2018 Surrey sealing the County Championship with victory at Worcestershire last week was the culmination of a great year, but their success has been building for some time. There’s been a lot of pressure, because such a big county going 16 years without winning the Division One title is not good enough. At times they’ve been [...]
Chris Tremlett: Balanced Surrey look set for big things after first County Championship title in 16 years September 18, 2018 Surrey sealing the County Championship with victory at Worcestershire last week was the culmination of a great year, but their success has been building for some time. There’s been a lot of pressure, because such a big county going 16 years without winning the Division One title is not good enough. At times they’ve been [...]
Nathan Leamon interview: England’s analyst on how statistics are shaping modern cricket September 17, 2018 Cricket is a game of numbers. While all sport uses them to record the score and to quantify performance – goals scored, points kicked, finishing time – cricket is the most innately linked. From the first Test match between England and Australia in 1877 runs, wickets, overs, extras, maidens and more have been meticulously documented. [...]
Nathan Leamon interview: England’s analyst on how statistics are shaping modern cricket September 17, 2018 Cricket is a game of numbers. While all sport uses them to record the score and to quantify performance – goals scored, points kicked, finishing time – cricket is the most innately linked. From the first Test match between England and Australia in 1877 runs, wickets, overs, extras, maidens and more have been meticulously documented. [...]
Chris Tremlett: Under-appreciated James Anderson has the skill, fitness and motivation to break even more records September 11, 2018 James Anderson taking the final wicket move past Australian legend Glenn McGrath as the most successful fast bowler in Test cricket was the perfect way for England to wrap the series up 4-1 against India at The Oval. Anderson bowled Mohammed Shami to complete the win after KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant had threatened in [...]