Chris Tremlett: Sam Curran deserves his place in England’s Test side despite tough first day in Barbados January 23, 2019 England had a difficult decision to make before play even got under way in the first Test against the West Indies in Barbados today. They delayed their team selection until the latest possible moment so captain Joe Root could have a good look at the Kensington Oval pitch. Reading conditions and the wicket is a [...]
West Indies v England preview: Hosts beset by off-the-field problems ahead of Test opener January 21, 2019 As well as with the idyllic Caribbean landscape, England begin their Test series against the West Indies on Wednesday against a backdrop of stark contrasts. While Joe Root’s side are looking up from their position of No3 in the world rankings following a positive run of results and the hosts languish in eighth, it is off [...]
Stuart Law: Middlesex’s new hard-nosed head coach believes he can turn around club’s fortunes in 2019 January 20, 2019 It’s all change at Middlesex in 2019. After a disappointing season in which the team failed to secure promotion back to Division One and flopped in white-ball cricket, heads rolled. Richard Scott was sacked as head coach midway through the campaign, with coaches Richard Johnson and Dave Houghton then leaving for new roles at Surrey [...]
Chris Tremlett: England need to avoid complacency and put to bed their poor record in the West Indies January 16, 2019 England may not have a good record in the West Indies, but I feel they really should be winning the Test series in the Caribbean this time. Joe Root’s side begin the three-Test campaign in Barbados next Wednesday as favourites. They are full of confidence and equipped with a stronger side on paper. England have [...]
The Hundred shows Tom Harrison and the ECB putting all of its eggs into one basket – will the gamble pay off? January 15, 2019 For a competition that doesn’t yet exist The Hundred – if, as expected, that is what it will eventually be called – has caused an awful lot of consternation. Since being announced in April, information about the new 100-ball format has leaked gradually, like a broken tap, with each drop prompting more questions than the [...]
Chris Tremlett: New England director of cricket Ashley Giles can hit the ground running ahead of exciting year January 9, 2019 Ashley Giles’s appointment as England’s new director of cricket comes at an exciting time. Changes of management in sport often come at a time of crisis, but England are in a stable position and looking forward to a World Cup and Ashes series on home soil this summer. While the circumstances of Andrew Strauss’s departure [...]
Guy Lavender interview: MCC chief executive on a big year for Lord’s, The Hundred and why he’s optimistic for the future of cricket January 8, 2019 The new year brings with it excitement for most, but not many people will be looking forward to what 2019 has to offer more than England cricket fans. If last year was dominated by the football World Cup, then the next 12 months could be all about a different sport, with the Cricket World Cup [...]
Chris Tremlett: Honours are there for the taking for England in 2019 with the World Cup and Ashes approaching January 2, 2019 England begin 2019 in a great place: full of confidence and with honours there for the taking. The tour of the West Indies, which starts this month, is followed by the 50-over World Cup and the Ashes, which are both on home soil. It is a combination which presents a brilliant opportunity. Having beaten India [...]
Cricket highlights in 2018: Alastair Cook’s final century, James Anderson’s record-breaking wicket, Surrey’s impact and more December 19, 2018 It has been a year of highs for England’s Test side, with a legend bowing out, one carrying on and new stars emerging. Here are City A.M’s cricket highlights of 2018. Cook bows out on a high Alastair Cook had been a rock at the top of the England batting order for so long that [...]
Chris Tremlett: Jofra Archer can become world-class – his availability is a huge bonus for England ahead of important year December 5, 2018 Jofra Archer is one of the most talented young cricketers in the world, so the fact he will be eligible to play for England next year is very exciting. The England and Wales Cricket Board have sped up the process from seven years of residency to three, meaning Archer, who was born in Barbados but [...]