Month: March 2016

NatWest CricketForce 2016 (NWCF) is on the horizon with clubs across England and Wales preparing to boost their facilities ahead of the season start. As we count down to the weekend kick-off on Friday, we’re sticking with numbers to delve into the history of the event from its humble beginnings through to now.    One – the solitary club that took part in the inaugural NatWest CricketForce in 2002. Lingfield CC in…

Two nerve-jangling wins over Afghanistan and Sri Lanka followed the record-breaking victory over South Africa and Trevor Bayliss’ buoyant boys are in the ICC World Twenty20 semi-finals. England’s death bowler Ben Stokes said in the aftermath of the progression-clinching 10-run win over Sri Lanka that he would “much rather be doing that last-over thing than sitting there watching and hoping whoever bowls it gets us through.” And England fans firmly…

In the lead up to the 2016 domestic season, ecb.co.uk is running a series of features with all 18 first-class counties. Hampshire are expecting much from England players James Vince, Reece Topley and Liam Dawson, according to director of cricket Giles White. James Vince may have been otherwise engaged with England for the last few weeks, but he has still been playing an active part in the preparations for his…

England can approach their ICC World Twenty20 semi-final versus New Zealand with confidence, having had much the better of the 13 format meetings between the teams. The Black Caps have won just four of those but England have been victorious on eight occasions, with one no-result completing the set. The only comfort for New Zealand is that in World Twenty20s, it is two wins each. The first of the 13…

Charlotte Edwards is currently the joint-leading run-scorer in the tournament © International Cricket Council As an opportunity to showcase all that is best about women’s international cricket, the World T20 in India has been an uncomfortable anticlimax. The itineraries have been stretched, the pitches have been poor, and though the tussle to reach the knockout stages was a lively affair, with India and South Africa both falling short of their…

Georgia Elwiss is blogging exclusively for ecb.co.uk during the ICC Women’s World Twenty20 in India. In her third instalment she looks back on their matches in the group stages, experiencing the fascinating Indian culture during Easter, and what it means to face old rivals Australia in the semi-finals. It’s been a real whirlwind since our group matches in Dharamsala, but I’m very happy to say that I’m now reporting from…

Surrey will have to do without Stuart Meaker’s pace © PA Photos Stuart Meaker, the Surrey fast bowler, has suffered a freak groin injury that looks likely to keep him out of action for the first few weeks of the season. Meaker was hurt while batting in the nets on Easter Monday when he inside edged a delivery on to his groin. He subsequently underwent a minor operation. While it…

Jos Buttler was part of the World Cup team that flopped but has since been at the heart of the revival © AFP New Zealand 2015 was where it all began for England 2:0. New Zealand 2016 may yet be where their white-ball renaissance hits the buffers – for now. But as Eoin Morgan cast his eyes forward to England’s tantalising semi-final at the Feroz Shah Kotla in Delhi, it…

England Women’s Academy made it two wins from two in their tour of Sri Lanka after claiming a seven-wicket win over Australia A. Kate Cross ripped through Australia’s top-order, finishing with figures of 4-12, as England restricted the Shooting Stars to 148 all out after losing the toss. All five of England’s batsmen would then make sizeable contributions, Eve Jones and Georgia Adams top-scoring with 38 respectively, to help England…