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 [...]
Stokes gets tenure off to winning start but England can’t overlook cracks June 6, 2022 On the surface, it’s a familiar story: England relying on Joe Root to haul the Test side towards a result. But yesterday at Lord’s, barely two hours into play on the fourth day, England had achieved what they had managed just once in the previous 17 matches – winning a Test. The five-wicket victory over [...]
Chris Tremlett: Era of Stokes and McCullum won’t see miracles on day one May 31, 2022 When Ben Stokes leads his side out against New Zealand at Lord’s on Thursday with head coach Brendon McCullum watching down from the famous pavilion, it will mark a new era in English Test cricket. I was not surprised to see Stokes appointed captain – there weren’t too many other options around the squad at [...]