IPL 2016

Of all England’s difficult assignments this year, none is more taxing than their imminent tour to the desert. There will be times in the United Arab Emirates while playing Pakistan when they will fondly recall the Ashes as a cakewalk and look forward gleefully to facing the world No 1 might of South Africa. The squads announced for the next leg of this relentless year of Test series (almost all…

While the England selectors were meeting to pick their squad to face Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates, Zafar Ansari yesterday chose a timely moment to underline his case for a call-up, missing out by just one run on what would have been a second century of the season as Surrey advanced their attempt to pip Lancashire to the Second Division title. The 23-year-old all-rounder is a contender as both…

The England squads for the autumn tour against Pakistan will be named today. When the selectors met last night there was probably little time for congratulating themselves on jobs well done in regaining the Ashes and rebuilding the one-day team. There was too much weighing of options to be done for the challenges ahead in the desert states of the United Arab Emirates, where Pakistan are forced to ply their…

International one-day cricket in England appears to have grown up at last. It has taken 43 years to reach this point. In that time fleeting glimpses of maturity have never come close to allaying its status as a poor relation. But this seminal summer has seen it welcomed into the fold, finally one of us and ready to stand on its own two feet. After the victory which levelled the…

[embedded content] Jason Roy gave fans a taste of what it’s like to face some of England’s bowlers in the nets during a session in South Africa. With the use of a GoPro camera, fans get a heads-on view of how the opening batsman prepares for opposing bowlers at the crease, helping one another during their intense sessions. The Surrey man reveals the challenges, as well as the things he…