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 [...]
Dissecting the stats of the English contingent in the 2022 IPL May 31, 2022 It is the tournament that can feel like it will never end but, come the conclusion of Sunday’s Indian Premier League final, it was an Englishman who came out on top. Though CVC Capital Partners’ Gujarat Titans took the title at the first time of asking, Rajasthan Royals’ Jos Buttler took much of the limelight. [...]
CVC Capital Partners’ cricket franchise Gujarat Titans win Indian Premier League May 30, 2022 Gujarat Titans, the cricket franchise owned by private equity firm CVC Capital Partners, won the Indian Premier League at their first attempt on Sunday. Gujarat beat Rajasthan Royals, who feature big-hitting England batter Jos Buttler, by seven wickets in a final played in front of more than 100,000 fans in Ahmedabad. CVC won a bidding [...]
Ed Warner: ECB may buck financial trends but must turn playing claims into reality May 26, 2022 Fourteen million people participate in cricket in England and Wales. Yep, you read that right! How do we know that a quarter of the population play, attend or follow the sport? Because the ECB told us so last week in its annual report. Looks like the governing body has adopted a Westminster approach to big [...]
T20 Vitality Blast: Quick-fire tour of teams hoping to lift title May 24, 2022 The first ball of the 20th T20 Vitality Blast season will be bowled tomorrow evening as the 18 teams hope to sweep, slog and strike their way to Edgbaston finals day in July. Here’s what you need to know about each team. Derbyshire Falcons Derbyshire have reached the knockouts the least of any team – [...]
First England Test squad shows Stokes values balance in his selection May 18, 2022 So this is it, the first Test squad of the Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum era. Amid the goings on in and around the English set-up, we’ve been treated to a squad for – at least – the opening two Tests against New Zealand. Captain Stokes has recalled the dynamic bowling duo of James Anderson [...]
Chasm at ECB widens as list of priorities for new CEO grows May 17, 2022 With the resignation of England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) chief executive Tom Harrison yesterday, yet another chasm appeared in the national set-up. Though current managing director of women’s cricket Clare Connor will take over the responsibilities on an interim basis, the governing body in charge of England’s international and domestic game will eventually need [...]