England withdraw from World Cup warm-up tour games in Pakistan September 20, 2021 The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) have withdrawn their men’s and women’s sides from the October tour to Pakistan. The men were due to play two warm-up games prior to the T20 World Cup, which begins in late October. England women were due to link up with the men and play two T20 double [...]
Opinion: England cricket chiefs should fight to reschedule fifth Test with India and reject alternative offer of two Twenty20 internationals September 13, 2021 England and India should today have been concluding the fourth day of the fifth Test in a series which reminded everybody that there is space for five-day cricket among the razzle-dazzle of The Hundred. Instead, the Test was called off. Covid concerns from India, similar to those expressed by England in South Africa last year, [...]
England Men’s summer 2022 cricket schedule confirmed: New Zealand Test series, white-ball July and South Africa in all formats September 8, 2021 England cricket chiefs have confirmed the men’s team’s schedule for next summer, which will begin with a three-Test series against world champions New Zealand. They will then play one-day and Twenty20 series against India and South Africa in July before another three-Test series with the Proteas in August and September. “It has been a scintillating [...]
World 12s: Plans unveiled for rugby union’s £250m answer to the Indian Premier League, featuring eight franchises playing 12-a-side, 30-minute matches September 7, 2021 Some of rugby union’s biggest names have announced plans to launch a new 12-a-side tournament, World 12s, in England next year. The competition would feature eight franchise teams playing in 30-minute matches over three consecutive weekends in August and September. World 12s chairman Ian Ritchie, the former head of the Rugby Football Union and Premiership [...]
The Hundred has succeeded in attracting a new audience, say English cricket chiefs August 24, 2021 English cricket chiefs have hailed the success of The Hundred in reaching new audiences. Almost 60 per cent of the 16.1m people who watched the new domestic men’s and women’s competition on television had not tuned in to any other English cricket this year, the England and Wales Cricket Board said. More than half of [...]
UK beefs up international trade effort by naming cricket legend Ian Botham envoy to Ashes rivals Australia August 23, 2021 Former England cricket captain Ian Botham has been appointed as a UK trade envoy to Australia. Lord Botham is to be one of 10 new UK trade tsars tasked with drumming up business for Britain in overseas markets that also include New Zealand and Canada, The Sun reported. “It’s a great honour to carry out [...]
Azeem Rafiq: Former England Under-19 cricket captain slams Yorkshire for only admitting to ‘inappropriate behaviour’ after racism probe August 20, 2021 Former England Under-19 captain Azeem Rafiq has strongly criticised Yorkshire County Cricket Club’s response to the findings of an investigation into allegations of institutional racism. The independent probe upheld several of Rafiq’s claims, Yorkshire admitted yesterday after being called on by the player and England cricket chiefs to reveal the report’s findings. Yorkshire apologised to [...]
Opening match of The Hundred sets UK TV record for women’s cricket July 22, 2021 The opening match of The Hundred, English cricket’s new competition, attracted a record UK television audience for a women’s match. A peak audience of 1.95m watched as the Oval Invincibles beat the Manchester Originals in a closely-fought curtain-raiser to the tournament. The figures marked an encouraging start for a competition that has divided opinion since [...]
England captain Eoin Morgan hails strength in depth after dramatic T20 series win against Pakistan July 21, 2021 Captain Eoin Morgan has praised England’s strength in depth after his side’s T20 series win against Pakistan on Tuesday. England beat Pakistan by three wickets on an exhilarating night at Old Trafford to secure a 2-1 series win. Jason Roy proved the highlight with an excellent 64 in pursuit of Pakistan’s 154-6. Needing 61 from [...]
The Hundred: MD Sanjay Patel on profits, participation, gender equality and winning over sceptics with English cricket’s new competition July 17, 2021 Sanjay Patel, managing director of The Hundred, could be forgiven a few sleepless nights as Wednesday 21 July approaches. That is when the Oval Invincibles are due to host the Manchester Originals in a women’s match that raises the curtain on the controversial new competition designed to breathe new life into domestic cricket. Patel has [...]