Chris Tremlett: England should take Jason Roy gamble to turn around their World Cup against India June 26, 2019 Last week I defended the World Cup format in anticipation of the dead rubbers many believed would soon be on the horizon. A week on and there’s no such debate, with England’s defeats by Sri Lanka and Australia and Pakistan’s win over New Zealand today ensuring there’s plenty left to play for. England are feeling [...]
Eoin Morgan admits England are ‘struggling with the basics’ at the Cricket World Cup after damaging Australia defeat June 25, 2019 They say it’s the hope that kills you. When Mitchell Starc ran in and delivered a rapid, inch-perfect inswinging Yorker to hit the base of the off-stump, send the zing bails flying and send Ben Stokes trudging off to the pavilion that’s when most Englishmen inside Lord’s felt theirs’ slip away. Stokes was at the [...]
England v Australia: World Cup ante upped for hosts after defeat by Sri Lanka June 24, 2019 A week ago people were worried about dead rubbers. The International Cricket Council have Sri Lanka to thank for changing the conversation, because with England meeting Australia at Lord’s tomorrow that concern is nowhere near the top of the agenda. England’s defeat on Friday has put the cat amongst the pigeons, upping the ante and [...]
England v Sri Lanka: Headingley clash a must-win for side struggling with internal rifts at the World Cup June 20, 2019 The World Cup hasn’t quite gone to plan for Sri Lanka. A 34-run win over Afghanistan aside, the last three weeks have been an unhappy period for 1996 tournament winners, who meet England at Headingley tomorrow desperately needing a victory to revive faint hopes of a semi-final place. They began the competition with a 10-wicket [...]
Chris Tremlett: Eoin Morgan’s Afghanistan blitz showed England captain’s leadership skills as well as power June 19, 2019 Eoin Morgan has always been someone who cashes in when he gets on a roll, but even for him the World Cup performance against Afghanistan yesterday was special. As captain of the one-day side Morgan has tried to make England as dominant as possible and his innings of 148 from 77 balls, with an ODI [...]
Eoin Morgan makes a mockery of a bad back to smash astonishing century in World Cup win over Afghanistan June 18, 2019 Eoin Morgan was supposed to have a bad back. When England’s captain followed Jason Roy off the pitch, walking gingerly alongside the physio during Friday’s match against West Indies in Southampton, it looked like the favourites could be about to receive a hammer blow to their Cricket World Cup chances. When the news was relayed [...]
England v Afghanistan: Used Old Trafford pitch and Rashid Khan’s magic the key for visitors June 17, 2019 On the face of it England’s World Cup game against Afghanistan tomorrow comes at an opportune moment. With opener Jason Roy sidelined by a torn hamstring for a few games at least and captain Eoin Morgan recovering from a back spasm, it appears the perfect time to play the side bottom of the group table and without [...]
Sir Garfield Sobers interview: West Indies legend on short-pitch bowling, Chris Gayle and the current team’s World Cup chances June 13, 2019 The sport may have evolved since he retired 45 years ago and he may have only played a single one-day international, but Sir Garfield Sobers still knows a thing or two about cricket. The West Indies legend, who played 93 Test matches between 1954 and 1974, scoring 8,032 runs at an average of 57.78 and [...]
Chris Tremlett: England should combat the dangerous Chris Gayle with all-out pace at the Rose Bowl June 12, 2019 England play West Indies at the Rose Bowl on Friday and I’m sure they won’t be complacent about what Jason Holder’s side can do. West Indies’ fast bowling attack have shown how good they can be, demolishing Pakistan for just 105 in their opening game and reducing Australia to 79-5 in their second with aggressive [...]
Cricket World Cup: Scotland chief executive Malcom Cannon on qualifying heartbreak, the 10-team format and becoming a full member June 11, 2019 The World Cup may be in full swing across the country right now, but not everyone involved in cricket is revelling in the occasion. With the focus solely on the 10 teams competing, it is easy to get swept up by the occasion and forget the longstanding debate surrounding tournament’s format. Not if your name [...]