Play 01:07 A rousing return for Pakistan’s heroes Ten Pakistan cricketers returned home to a heroic welcome in four different cities as hundreds of fans thronged the airports, and gathered outside their residences, to celebrate the Champions Trophy triumph. Pakistan dismantled arch-rivals India by 180 runs – the largest margin of victory in an ICC final. While five of the squad – Mohammad Amir, Junaid Khan, Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik…
Jason Roy was dropped by England during the Champions Trophy but found his form for Surrey © Getty Images Kumar Sangakkara, the former Sri Lanka captain, believes that Jason Roy is ready to bounce back from his disappointing showing in the ICC Champions Trophy, and predicts that his attitude and all-round attributes will make him a valuable asset to England’s one-day team for many years to come. Sangakkara, who is…
Hampshire 351 for 8 (Bailey 127, Abbott 76*) vs LancashireScorecard George Bailey’s hundred rejuvenated Hampshire © Getty Images George Bailey has not played a Test match for over three years and there were times during this broiling Mancunian afternoon when it was rather tricky to see why this is so. One accepts at once that it is difficult to compare Lancashire v Hampshire on a steamy Monday at Emirates Old…
Middlesex 337 for 4 (Robson 152*, Stirling 111) vs YorkshireScorecard Play 01:06 County Championship Round-up: Stirling ton for the champions On Thursday, Ireland’s Test status is expected to be confirmed at The Oval. At London’s other great cricket fiefdom, Paul Stirling provided more welcome news for Ireland: his maiden County Championship century. With Sam Robson serene at the other end in an alliance of 187 which could be match-shaping, the…
Haroon Lorgat on transformation: ‘We asked the owners to be very mindful of what we’re trying to drive as a key pillar within CSA’ © Getty Images Cricket South Africa has confirmed there will be no transformation targets in the Global T20 league. However, the board added that all eight franchise owners have been made mindful of its commitment to change. CSA has a strict policy in the current domestic…
Nottinghamshire 345 for 4 (Patel 157*, Taylor 61) v LeicestershireScorecard Samit Patel can’t stop scoring runs © Getty Images Samit Patel continued to make the most of the richest vein of form of his career with another imperious innings on the first day of Nottinghamshire’s Specsavers County Championship match against Leicestershire at Trent Bridge. Patel reached the close on 157 not out, scoring his runs from 222 balls with 17…
In a 10-day season, Scotland beat Full Members Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe convincingly © Peter Della Penna On May 21, Scotland’s home season began in momentous fashion with a seven-wicket demolition of Sri Lanka. On June 15, they secured another famous win, beating Zimbabwe by 26 runs. Now, after just 10 scheduled days of cricket, it’s all been wrapped up. “We play 10 days of cricket and that’s our season…
Essex 263 for 5 (Bopara 84*, Browne 84) v WarwickshireScorecard Nick Browne was rarely fluent but did an important job for Essex © Getty Images How things change. On the same pitch where 743 runs were scored in one of the greatest run-fests in domestic cricket history, three days later Essex staunchly committed themselves to a day of unremitting toil on a soporific summer’s day. Spectators doubtless expected something less…
Play 01:53 ‘Players don’t have to look outside anymore’ South Africa’s Global T20 league is the best way to keep players from leaving the country in search of opportunity elsewhere, according to Test and T20 captain Faf du Plessis. A former Kolpak player himself, du Plessis returned to South Africa in 2010-11 after two years at Lancashire and has since become a regular across all formats and in T20 leagues…
Worcestershire 95 for 3 trail Kent 260 (Coles 47) by 165 runsScorecard Joe Leach’s early spell set an impressive tone for Worcestershire © Getty Images Worcestershire’s bowlers bounced back in impressive style from their weekend semi-final mauling in dismissing Kent for 260 on day one of the Specsavers County Championship promotion battle at New Road. But then Kent responded themselves with the ball despite a boundary-laced cameo from England all-rounder…