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 [...]
Chris Tremlett: Alastair Cook was a fantastic opener and a brilliant professional – his retirement leaves a big hole to fill for England September 5, 2018 Friday’s final Test against India at The Oval marks the end of the career of England’s greatest ever run-scorer and Alastair Cook is fully deserving of all the accolades that come his way. Cook came into the side in 2006, scored a hundred on debut in Nagpur and hasn’t looked back since. He’s been the [...]
Alastair Cook’s retirement leaves England without their record-breaking workaholic opener September 3, 2018 Obdurate. Disciplined. Determined. Hardly words often used to bestow praise on an athlete, but then Alastair Cook is not your average sportsman. Over the last 18 months it’s been easy to forget the Cook of old, to overlook the 12,254 Test runs, the 26,086 balls faced, the 56 half-centuries and 32 hundreds. But today's announcement [...]
England v India: Moeen Ali’s match-winning performance provides familiar problem for hosts September 2, 2018 At the start of the summer Moeen Ali was out of the England Test side and relieved to be so. After a run of four years and 50 caps without being dropped, the all-rounder was jettisoned, told to take a break and regain his confidence at Worcestershire. He did so in some style, with an [...]
Chris Tremlett: Jonny Bairstow relinquishing the gloves could solve some of England’s problems August 29, 2018 Jonny Bairstow might have been determined to keep hold of the wicket-keeping gloves, but I think England have made the right decision ahead of the fourth Test against India at the Ageas Bowl tomorrow. Captain Joe Root explained handing over responsibility behind the stumps to Jos Buttler was the “safest thing to do” and I [...]