Angus Fraser interview: Middlesex managing director of cricket on Dawid Malan departure, soul-searching after poor form and The Hundred December 17, 2019 Domestic cricket may be far from the minds of many in this country as Christmas approaches, but work never stops for Angus Fraser. The County Championship finished for Middlesex on 26 September, but the off-season has been a busy one for the club’s managing director of cricket. “From my perspective summers are spent putting out [...]
My life after cricket: How I transitioned from fast bowling to property investment December 11, 2019 When I was 23 my cricket career was nearly over. I had a nasty operation on a ruptured hamstring, which put me out of action for six or seven months, and after it became infected the surgeon told me I might not be able to play again. Back then I had no idea what I [...]
England remain stuck at square one in pursuit of a workable formula to win Test matches away from home December 3, 2019 Joe Denly’s dropped catch did not cost England the chance of levelling their Test series on the final day against New Zealand – the docile wicket and incoming rain had already put paid to that scenario. Beyond rewarding Jofra Archer’s skilful knuckle ball and hard graft, and stopping Black Caps skipper Kane Williamson short of [...]
There are no alternatives – Joe Root should keep the captaincy as England build towards a new era November 27, 2019 England begin the second Test against New Zealand in Hamilton tomorrow and there is one man in particular who could do with a positive performance. Joe Root is enduring a difficult time at the moment, with his position as captain coming under fresh scrutiny after he managed just 13 runs in the defeat by an [...]
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 [...]