Durham’s punishment is harsh but fair, although the ECB need to look at Test match scheduling October 5, 2016 It's sad to see what has happened to Durham. They’ve been in the top flight since 2006 and have won the County Championship three times in the last nine years – I feel really sorry for them. There will be a lot of upset and angry players in that dressing room and I understand that, [...]
ECB proposal to give greater rewards and a central deal to one-day players is on the money September 28, 2016 The England and Wales Cricket Board’s proposed revamping of the central contract structure, which could see the introduction of standalone deals for one-day players for the first time, is a positive step forward. Currently, central contracts are handed to the mainstays of the Test set-up, while fringe players and those featuring in limited-overs cricket are [...]
Tough on counties but ECB right to rest England players for final Championship fixtures September 21, 2016 I fully appreciate how disappointing it must be for counties and their supporters that their international players are not playing in the final round of Championship fixtures but on balance I believe the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) are right. Of the eight Division One teams in action this week, six have something to [...]
Eoin Morgan was brave to pull out of Bangladesh and it will be business as usual when he returns September 14, 2016 It was a brave decision for limited-overs skipper Eoin Morgan to opt out of England’s tour to Bangladesh on security grounds, but while a big deal is being made of it now I believe it will be business as usual when he returns to the fold. Lancashire’s Jos Buttler, who will deputise as skipper in [...]
Teenage opener Haseeb Hameed is clearly talented but it would be a big call to thrust him into Test cricket September 7, 2016 Blodding Lancashire’s teenage opening batsman Haseeb Hameed during England’s tours to Bangladesh and India this winter could go either way. Head coach Trevor Bayliss has hinted at a call-up and the 19-year-old is clearly talented, having scored more than 1,000 first-class runs during his first full domestic season. The selectors will have watched him and [...]
Deciding whether to tour Bangladesh will not be an easy call for England’s players August 31, 2016 I have every sympathy for any England player who may hold reservations about travelling to Bangladesh for October’s Test and one-day series due to security concerns. After all, 20 hostages were killed in Dhaka, the venue for one of the scheduled Test matches – the other will be played in Chittagong – when five gunmen [...]
Test hopefuls need to use every avenue available to impress as England places are up for grabs August 17, 2016 The dust has now settled on England’s Test summer although there are plenty of questions which need answering before their next red-ball engagements against Bangladesh and then India this winter. Head coach Trevor Bayliss has thrown down the gauntlet to players in county cricket to seize their chance and put pressure on England’s misfiring batsmen, all but confirming [...]
No1 spot in the Test world rankings beckons for England. That’s all well and good, the real challenge is staying there August 10, 2016 It's all very well getting to No1 in the world Test rankings but the true measure of a side worthy of that tag is to stay there for a long time. That’s the challenge facing England should they hit the summit by the end of the summer. Such a feat will be achieved if Alastair [...]
Pakistan have the edge but should be very wary of gritty England and their new ball August 3, 2016 The pendulum is swinging Pakistan’s way. The tourists have the edge after day one of the third Investec Test at Edgbaston but the clash is well set. If England bowl well with the new ball tomorrow morning it will be very hard work for the tourists. There is no doubt, however, that Pakistan will be the [...]
