Ed Warner: How to solve the Hundred and help county cricket with private money September 15, 2022 The Hundred isn’t going away, whatever diehard cricket traditionalists might wish. It’s been cemented into the English calendar until at least 2028 by a television deal finalised just before the arrival of the England and Wales Cricket Board’s new chair. Richard Thompson, erstwhile arch-critic of the controversial competition, now finds his room for manoeuvre severely [...]
The summer of Bazball under Stokes has been a season of pure fun September 13, 2022 There was no hum around the Oval yesterday as England openers Zak Crawley and Alex Lees walked from the pavilion to the crease, probably because the overriding feeling was one of inevitability. Ben Stokes’s England needed only 33 runs on the final day of the deciding Test match against South Africa to earn another series [...]
Cricket’s own goal as England and Stokes on verge of sixth win of Summer September 12, 2022 Ben Stokes ended yesterday’s play at the Oval open-mouthed as cricket again shot itself in the foot. The England captain was beside himself as the umpires instructed openers Alex Lees and Zak Crawley, as well as the South African field, to leave the crease due to so-called bad light as the hosts moved within 33 [...]
Cricket, golf, horse racing and rugby union suspended following Queen’s passing September 9, 2022 Friday’s second day of play in the deciding Test between England and South Africa at the Oval has been postponed following the death of Queen Elizabeth II. It is among several sporting fixtures to be called off following the monarch’s passing, including in golf, horse racing and rugby union. Other sports could follow suit. The [...]
Stokes backs Brook in Test at Oval as Bairstow-shaped void opened September 8, 2022 Ben Stokes has turned to Harry Brook in place of injured Jonny Bairstow as the England Test captain looks to avoid his first series defeat since becoming the five-day decision maker under head coach Brendon McCullum. The 23-year-old Yorkshireman Brook will make his Test debut today at No5 as England look to win another series [...]
The Hundred: Teams gear up for Eliminator before finals day September 2, 2022 After its inaugural, but delayed, season of broken records and minor teething problems, The Hundred returned this year across August – to the continued anger of many traditionalists. But English cricket’s new format – yet to be adopted elsewhere – has seen impressive, and in some cases record, crowds for women’s games, and exciting cricket [...]
Ed Warner: Andrew Strauss, ECB and What It Takes To Win September 1, 2022 It doesn’t yet look like a camel, but Andrew Strauss’s committee to propel English cricket to the top of the world and keep it there has come up with a discussion document that doesn’t quite resemble a thoroughbred racehorse. Once it’s been through the wringer of consultation with the members of the 18 first class [...]
Private equity influx in rugby will not save entire club game August 31, 2022 It’s no new phenomenon to see sports clubs, which tend to be at the heart of the community they serve, face financial challenges and ultimately go under. But why is this happening in rugby when the sport has benefited from a flurry of private equity investment which is shaping the future of the oval-balled game? [...]
Medication dependency and mental health issues up 300 per cent, say clinic August 31, 2022 The number of elite athletes being referred for medication-related dependency and underlying mental health issues has increased by 300 per cent in 10 years, according to a leading clinic in the field. Mental health problems such as ADHD, eating disorders, depression, anxiety and burnout are becoming much more common in sportspeople, reports Paracelsus Recovery. “We [...]
Stokes and his Test side’s honesty refreshing at elite sporting level August 24, 2022 England captain Ben Stokes admits that honest and frank conversations with bowler Ollie Robinson contributed to the paceman earning a recall to the team for today’s second Test against South Africa. Robinson has not featured for the national team since the Ashes in January amid a series of setbacks – lower back injury, food poisoning [...]