Chris Tremlett: Surrey’s squad depth makes them favourites to retain their County Championship title April 3, 2019 There are so many factors and variables which go into a County Championship season, but looking at the squads I think Surrey must be considered favourites to defend their title. The first round of Division One fixtures begin on Friday, although Surrey kick off their campaign at home to Essex next week, and conditions, injuries [...]
Chris Tremlett: Ashwin’s Mankad was borderline cheating and should be banned from cricket for good March 27, 2019 Ravichandran Ashwin’s conduct in the Indian Premier League has caused debate right across the cricketing world this week. With his side, Kings XI Punjab, up against it on Monday the Indian spinner decided to run out Rajasthan Royals’ batsman Jos Buttler while he was backing up at the non-strikers’ end. The dismissal, known as a [...]
Cricket’s growing trend? How the success of Twenty20 leagues could lead to a rise in white-ball only contracts March 27, 2019 It’s been over a year since Adil Rashid sparked debate across the cricket world – not with a spinning delivery, but by signing a piece of paper. The England leg-spinner drew criticism after turning his back on first-class cricket by agreeing a white-ball only contract with his county Yorkshire in February 2018. Read more: Meet [...]
Karl McDermott interview: Lord’s head groundsman on the Cricket World Cup, Ireland’s Test match against England and more March 26, 2019 When the Cricket World Cup final rolls around at the height of this summer the two teams and their fans won’t be the only nervous people inside Lord’s. Cricket, more than any other sport, is shaped by the surface it’s played on, and the man tasked with delivering the perfect one for its biggest occasion [...]
Shane Warne: Don’t compare Australia’s Steve Smith and David Warner to Pablo Escobar March 24, 2019 For Steve Smith and David Warner the wait is nearly over. After a year of soul-searching, knuckling down in the nets, avoiding paparazzi and plying their trade in far-flung Twenty20 leagues, the batsmen are about to be let back into the fold. From Friday, Australia’s former captain and vice-captain will be eligible to play for [...]
Chris Tremlett: The Indian Premier League is a brilliant opportunity for England’s best to find form ahead of the World Cup March 20, 2019 The Indian Premier League starts on Saturday and with 11 Englishmen competing there should be plenty of interest in this country. My experience of the IPL is limited. I entered the auction process in 2011, but back then English players weren’t particularly popular, with Kevin Pietersen, Stuart Broad and Paul Collingwood among the lucky few [...]
How Shane Warne is helping to establish Rajasthan Royals as England’s favourite Indian Premier League team March 19, 2019 The original and biggest Twenty20 cricket league resumes on Saturday, and while millions around the world will be tuning into the Indian Premier League, its franchises are hungry for more eyes and ears. Launched in 2008, the IPL has developed at an unprecedented rate to become a hugely successful, mammoth global entertainment product that has [...]
Chris Tremlett: Chris Jordan could make England comeback in time for the World Cup March 6, 2019 England’s comfortable win over West Indies in the first Twenty20 on Tuesday night may have felt slightly subdued after the one-day series, but for the players involved it was another opportunity to impress. While West Indies’ side looked similar to their 50-over incarnation, England’s reflected their desire to give fringe players a chance to shine. [...]
Chris Tremlett: Duanne Olivier’s Yorkshire move shows complexity of the Kolpak issue February 27, 2019 Duanne Olivier’s move to Yorkshire has sparked a familiar debate in cricket this week and I can see both sides of it. The fast bowler has signed a three-year contract with the county via the Kolpak ruling, meaning he has essentially given up his international career with South Africa, aged just 26. Kolpaks in county [...]
Chris Tremlett: Competition for places among England’s bowlers puts them in excellent position for the World Cup February 20, 2019 With 99 days to go until the World Cup England are looking very settled as a side. Eoin Morgan’s team are in the Caribbean for a five-match one-day series which will hopefully build more confidence ahead of the opening game against South Africa at The Oval on 30 May. The batting order is pretty much set [...]