County cricket will return to two divisions in 2022 October 14, 2021 County Cricket in England and Wales will return to a two division structure after using a conference system during the Covid-19 pandemic. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed the news following discussions with the 18 counties that currently play first-class cricket. Division One will consist of 10 teams, while Division Two will feature [...]
Ed Warner: What I would do if I were in charge of English cricket October 14, 2021 This week, Ed Warner writes an open letter to the ECB, which runs English cricket, as it begins its search for a new chair of the governing body. Dear ECB, I see you’ve parted company with your chair, Ian Watmore, after only a year in the job. I’d like to toss my hat in the [...]
Indian Premier League gives England cause for concern ahead of T20 World Cup October 13, 2021 The Indian Premier League is one of the best proving grounds in Twenty20 cricket; perhaps the perfect competition for some of England’s stars to find form before the T20 World Cup begins on Sunday. Since the IPL’s return, in the latter weeks of September, seven English players have featured in the competition’s group stage. But [...]
Ashes: England pick best available squad for tour to Australia October 10, 2021 After uncertainty surrounding whether the Ashes tour to Australia would go ahead, England head coach Chris Silverwood is confident that the squad he named yesterday can cause an upset on the Baggy Greens’ soil. Barring players who are unavailable through injury and choice, Silverwood has picked the best available squad for the tour, which will [...]
ECB chair to step down after just a year in the job October 7, 2021 Ian Watmore has stepped down as chair of the England and Wales Cricket Board after serving just a fifth of his five-year term. The ECB said the decision was mutual. Watmore said he was stepping down “in mindfulness of my own wellbeing and that of the game which I love.’ Watmore and the ECB have [...]
England cricket chiefs set to make decision on Ashes participation October 4, 2021 The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) plans to decide this week whether to send a team to Australia for the men’s Ashes this winter. The series is in doubt because of Australia’s strict Covid-19 protocols, although talks are continuing between both countries. A major sticking point has been whether players’ families can accompany them, [...]
Moeen Ali’s entitled to chase the franchise dream September 28, 2021 On Monday morning, England spinner Moeen Ali announced he would be stepping away from Test match cricket but would continue to play the game’s white-ball formats. Some traditionalists might condemn Moeen for turning his back on the oldest and longest form in favour of so-called disco cricket, but onlookers should pause for thought before judging [...]
Liam Livingstone’s summer has made him undroppable for the World Cup September 28, 2021 The road to the highest level of any sport is never straightforward and England cricketer Liam Livingstone has encountered his fair share of hurdles this year in search of a T20 World Cup place. Now, following a summer of batting fireworks, Livingstone has not only secured a spot in the squad for next month’s tournament [...]
Fifth Ashes Test can’t go ahead unless rules change, says Australian sports minister September 28, 2021 Australia’s sports minister Richard Colbeck has raised further doubts about the viability of this winter’s Ashes series, insisting the final Test in Perth cannot go ahead under current Covid-19 regulations. Western Australia’s state rules require arrivals to quarantine for 14 days, but England and the hosts may only have five days in between the fourth [...]
Legal Q&A: What uncertainty around the Ashes means for England, the players, contracts, sponsors and broadcasters September 21, 2021 Lawyer Jamie Horner examines the legal issues around this winter’s Ashes series between England and Australia, which remains in the balance due to Covid-19 restrictions Down Under. What are some of the key legal issues around this Ashes series? The key issue is the difference between Covid-19 restrictions in the UK and the more draconian [...]