Another ICC final has come and gone with Ben Stokes the man who, once again, we owe everything to. This time around, it was the box-office all-rounder’s 52 from 49 balls that guided us home after Pakistan threatened to pull off an incredible feat by defending a low score. Indeed, Babar Azam’s men were on course for a famous victory in Melbourne until Stokes walked out to bat and then proceeded to do what he does best: win cricket matches for England when all hope looks lost. Thanks to...
New Zealand have continually punched above their weight under the captaincy of Kane Williamson, which culminated in their monumental achievement to win the inaugural World Test Championship over India at the Rose Bowl. For a team that had struggled in finals before, notably losing the World Cup final to England in devastating circumstances, the Black Caps were on point to ease their way to an eight-wicket triumph over Virat Kohli’s men. It was a vital breakthrough on the world stage after...
As the stench of yet another forgettable Ashes trip Down Under continues to linger, serious questions are being asked of an infuriatingly inconsistent outfit. Chris Silverwood’s side have been stuck in reverse for months. So this is no longer a case of two steps forward and one step back. It’s more like three blindfolded lunges being made in an entirely wrong direction. The ECB, though, will point to the fact that various plates are being spun and that – much like London buses – four major...
The IPL is polarising. If you love first class cricket and, like Michael Holding, you think T20 is a threat to traditional forms of the game, then you probably dismiss the event as a gaudy circus. However, if you just love cricket in general, and you’re grateful for the income that T20 generates, then you probably don’t mind the razzmatazz of India’s premier domestic sporting competition. You might even find it refreshingly vibrant. There’s a danger of generalising here...
Josh Samuel returns with his crystal ball. How is England’s Test team shaping up after the defeat to India? In November 2021, England will head down under for the biggest cricketing event for two and a half years. I’m referring, of course, to the T20 World C … I mean The Ashes. Did I have you going there for a second? Don’t worry, this article hasn’t been penned by Tom Harrison. The Ashes is a much bigger deal for us supporters. So what are our chances? The Aussies retained the urn in...
If you look at the ECB website and search England fixtures then you’ll notice something strange. We know that England will be touring Sri Lanka and India this winter but there’s no mention of either trip. It’s the same story on the BBC fixtures list. The current white ball games in South Africa are advertised but the next official England men’s fixture is a home series against the Lankans in June. The reason, of course, is that we’re living in strange times. The...
