New Zealand thrashing shows England’s age-old problems are holding back their desired old-school approach November 25, 2019 This match was supposed to mark the beginning of a new era for England. It proved to be more of the same. Before the first Test against New Zealand in Mount Maunganui, new head coach Chris Silverwood spoke a good game. An old-school mentality was trumpeted. Finding “the method of batting for a long time” [...]
Archer has the ability to be the difference on New Zealand’s flat pitches – if England use him cleverly November 19, 2019 England’s bowlers have been readying themselves for the first Test against New Zealand tomorrow knowing that they need to adopt a different approach to the one they use at home. It sounds like the Bay Oval pitch could be a flat one and England, who are used to a Dukes ball, swing-friendly conditions and Jimmy [...]
Determined, organised, patient: The makings of England Test debutant Dom Sibley November 19, 2019 An England Test debut has been a long time coming for Dom Sibley, and yet his timing could hardly have been more opportune. The string of unsuccessful England opening batsmen may stretch back a long way, to the retirements of Andrew Strauss and Sir Alastair Cook, but the change of tack from gung-ho head coach [...]
Dom Sibley and Zak Crawley are perfect fits for Chris Silverwood’s old school approach with England November 13, 2019 Chris Silverwood will be delighted with how England are shaping up for his first Test match in charge against New Zealand next Wednesday. They might have drawn their first warm-up match against a New Zealand XI in Whangarei this week, but there were some real signs of encouragement for England’s new head coach. Silverwood talked [...]
Ed Smith interview: England’s national selector on his academic background and establishing the Institute of Sports Humanities November 11, 2019 Ed Smith is a familiar figure in cricket. He is a former player, commentator and journalist turned England national selector who frequently appears on our screens, radios and in print to name squads, explain call-ups, rebuff criticism and accept praise. But that isn’t all he has spent his time doing. For three years, Smith worked [...]
England’s experienced players need to step up in New Zealand to allow youngsters time to develop November 6, 2019 I think England‘s inexperience has shown as they have lost the last two Twenty20 internationals in New Zealand to slip 2-1 behind in the five-match series. Six players went on the tour without a cap to their name and all of them played the most recent game on Tuesday, which England conspired to lose when [...]
Chris Tremlett: Darren Gough is a perfect fit as England bowling consultant October 30, 2019 Darren Gough has been brought in by England head coach Chris Silverwood as a bowling consultant for the upcoming test series against New Zealand and I think it’s an appointment which makes a lot of sense. Former England bowler Gough may have spent his time in the media in recent years, rather than coaching, but [...]
Chris Tremlett: We need to change our mindset to make The Hundred a success October 23, 2019 I watched about an hour of The Hundred draft on Sunday evening before I fell asleep. The concept was good, but I found it long-winded and boring. The interviews were generally inane and some of the players looked like they didn’t want to be there. When The Hundred was first announced I was in the [...]
The Hundred draft: How it will work, when it is happening and where to watch it October 16, 2019 English cricket is set to break new ground this weekend when a draft process takes place for The Hundred ahead of next summer’s much-anticipated start date. The look of the new eight-team, 100-ball competition, due to run from 7 July to 16 August 2020, has been gradually rolled out. Over recent months, the format, team [...]
Chris Tremlett: Chris Silverwood has all the attributes to be a success as England head coach October 9, 2019 Chris Silverwood has been appointed as England’s new head coach and I think the ECB hierarchy have made a good decision. I came across Silverwood in county cricket and, like others, all the feedback I’ve heard has been positive: he has a simple approach, is a strong communicator and man-manager. I’ve written previously that England [...]