India Test offers Stokes and McCullum’s England new challenge June 30, 2022 Come the earlier than usual time of 10:30, the terraces of Edgbaston’s Eric Hollies stand will be bouncing in Birmingham as England’s Test team get set to play India. They haven’t played since last summer but tomorrow is the beginning of the deciding match of a five-Test series. India lead 2-1 after four Tests – [...]
‘I’m left wondering what price The Hundred franchises could one day fetch’ June 30, 2022 “What does Ed Warner know about tennis?” What indeed? My critique last week of the Lawn Tennis Association’s performance drew this feisty query in the Sport inc. comment section from Tom (no surname provided). It also garnered a response column in City A.M. from the LTA’s CEO, Scott Lloyd. Both Tom (no surname provided) and [...]
England can be the great entertainers of Test cricket after whitewash June 28, 2022 And just like that all is well in English Test cricket again, right? In yesterday’s seven-wicket demolition of New Zealand at Headingley, England completed a 3-0 whitewash over the Black Caps to win their first Test series since the beginning of last year. If after England’s humiliating Test series defeat against the West Indies earlier [...]
A look at England’s former captain as Eoin Morgan retires from international cricket June 27, 2022 “We Allah with us as well. I spoke to Adil [Rashid] and he said ‘Allah was definitely with us’ and I said ‘we had the rub of the green’.” The words of Irish-born limited overs cricket captain Eoin Morgan after his incredibly diverse England side won the 2019 Cricket World Cup at Lord’s after that [...]
Azeem Rafiq: ‘I back Yorkshire hosting today’s Test match’ June 22, 2022 Azeem Rafiq, the former Yorkshire cricketer who lifted the lid on discrimination in the domestic game, insists that it is right for Headingley to host today’s Test match between England and New Zealand despite the charges hanging over the host county. The England and Wales Cricket Board suspended Yorkshire as a host of lucrative international [...]
England ODI era under Mott off to perfect start with Dutch double June 20, 2022 In their six-wicket victory over the Netherlands in Amstelveen yesterday, England didn’t need to demonstrate their ability to set world record targets like the 498-4 they did in the opening One Day International on Friday. Instead they showed their ability to chase down a modest total, in a reduced number of overs due to the [...]
England’s Trent Bridge euphoria must not mask concerns about Ben Stokes’ batting approach June 15, 2022 It may seem churlish to have any complaints in the warm glow of England’s second-Test win over New Zealand this week, but the result shouldn’t totally erase concerns that Ben Stokes is becoming a caricature of coach Brendon McCullum. The skipper has done extraordinary things across formats over the years, not least leading England to [...]
Yorkshire charged with bringing cricket into disrepute after racism investigation June 15, 2022 Yorkshire County Cricket Club and several unnamed individuals have been charged following an investigation into allegations of racism and their handling of the claims. The charges have been brought by the England and Wales Cricket board and relate to bringing the game into disrepute and breaching anti-discrimination rules. Governing body the ECB said it would [...]
England win was not just a victory but an ode to Test cricket June 15, 2022 If that was the definition of what Test cricket can be, why would you want to watch anything else? At a sun-drenched Trent Bridge yesterday, on the fifth day of the second Test against New Zealand, every result was on the table for England. A win for England would have cemented their first series win [...]
Sublime Jimmy Anderson takes 650th victim 19 years after his first June 14, 2022 “When he makes it swing, the Barmy Army sing, for Jimmy Anderson.” The chant made famous by England’s most devoted Test fans in the 2017 Ashes. But James Anderson has been running in the new ball for his national side now for over 19 years. The 39-year-old has long been a favourite of players, coaches [...]