In the gap between the Headingley and Old Trafford Tests, the minds of the Australia selectors will be occupied with the tough decision of what to do with the make-up of the side after Mitchell Marsh‘s stunning return to Test cricket, and the availability of Cameron Green following his minor hamstring injury. As a result of that injury to Green, Marsh took his place for the third Test at Headingley,…
Wood's pace leaves Australia a new challenge
Mark Wood has changed the mood around this Ashes and Australia know they need to find a way to exhaust him to nullify his impact. Wood claimed seven wickets at Headingley, including 5 for 34 in the first innings, and touched speeds of 96mph as Australia faced an entirely new challenge to one that confronted them in the first two Tests. At Edgbaston and Lord’s, Australia managed to put considerable…
Back as vice-captain, 'nothing has changed' for Rahane
Having turned 35 last month, Ajinkya Rahane says he still has a “lot of cricket left” in him, but is firmly focused on living in the moment instead of looking too far into the future as India begin their new WTC cycle with the two-match Test series against West Indies beginning July 12 in Roseau. Call it a quirk of fate, and Rahane has been named vice-captain of the Test…
Stead gets two-year extension as New Zealand head coach
Gary Stead is going to continue as the head coach of New Zealand men’s team until June 2025 after getting a two-year extension. First appointed in late 2018 for two years, Stead’s contract was renewed in 2020 until the end of the upcoming ODI World Cup in India, and his latest extension will run until the conclusion of the ongoing World Test Championship (WTC) cycle, in June 2025. After the…
Warwickshire take charge after Hannon-Dalby four-for, Yates fifty
Warwickshire 155 for 2 (Yates 53*) trail Kent 171 (Stewart 50, Hannon-Dalby 4-56) by 16 runs Warwickshire dominated the first day of their LV= Insurance County Championship with Kent at Canterbury, reaching 155 for two at stumps, a deficit of just 16. Rob Yates was unbeaten on 53, while Sam Hain was 29 not out. Earlier Oliver Hannon-Dalby took 4 for 56 as Kent were bowled out for 171, a…
Middlesex make quick work of Northants on slow day at Northwood
Middlesex 23 for 0 trail Northamptonshire 219 (Zaib 49) by 196 runs Middlesex’s pace attack shared the honours as they bowled out fellow strugglers Northamptonshire for 219 on the opening day at Merchant Taylors’ School. The hosts sent Bamber in as nightwatchman alongside regular opener Mark Stoneman and the pair batted through the five remaining overs with some comfort to close 23 for 0 in replay. For anyone who’d had…
James Rew leads Somerset rebuild after Kyle Abbott wrecks top order
Somerset 196 for 5 (Rew 77*, Aldridge 55*, Abbott 4-20) vs Hampshire Young guns James Rew and Kasey Aldridge batted Somerset out of a deep hole created by Hampshire seamer Kyle Abbott on a rain-interrupted opening day of the LV= County Championship match with Hampshire at Taunton. The experienced Abbott, who boasts a prolific record against the Cidermen, claimed 4 for 10 from seven overs and a run-out as the…
Sussex batting thrives against stragglers Derbyshire on Hove opening day
Sussex 376 for 7 (Clark 96, Haines 86, Carter 56, Hudson-Prentice 52*) vs Derbyshire Tom Clark top-scored with 96 and three of his team-mates also made half-centuries as Sussex took the first-day honours against second division strugglers Derbyshire at Hove. Having put Sussex in, Derbyshire squandered any advantage offered by a pitch with a covering of live grass during a careless first session at the 1st Central County Ground when…
Jordan Clark century puts Surrey back on track after top-order wobble
Surrey 339 for 8 (Clark 107, James 4-74) vs Nottinghamshire Jordan Clark struck his first century of the season as Surrey took advantage of Nottinghamshire’s severely depleted bowling resources to build a strong platform in their LV= Insurance County Championship clash at the Kia Oval. The all-rounder hit 107, sharing a seventh-wicket partnership of 97 with Sean Abbott to steer the home side, who had stuttered to 70 for four…
Frustration on opening day at Blackpool with 28 balls in six hours
Essex 12 for 1 vs Lancashire The first day of Lancashire’s match with second-placed Essex in the LV= Insurance County Championship match at Blackpool was badly affected by the weather with just 28 balls possible in which time Essex made 12 for one. Both teams came into the fixture with enforced changes, Essex opener Feroze Khushi having sustained a sore hand last week in the Vitality Blast while Lancashire rested…