An exciting weekend’s sport sees the thrills of the Grand National at Aintree on Saturday followed by the start of the Specsavers County Championship on Sunday. Here, ecb.co.uk looks at the runners and riders for the latter. Red Rum managed a hat-trick of Grand Nationals. Can Yorkshire do the same again in the Championship? This high-class horse is the bookmaker’s short-priced favourite and there seem to be few flaws in…
Hoggard predicts bright future for England
Former England bowler Matthew Hoggard has challenged the current crop of players to build on a prosperous past few months and write their names into the history books. Following on from their Ashes success last summer, England sealed a momentous Test series victory in South Africa earlier this year and surprised many by reaching the final of the World Twenty20, where they suffered an agonising last-over defeat to the West…
Narine's action cleared ahead of IPL
Sunil Narine will be available to play for Kolkata Knight Riders © BCCI West Indies spinner Sunil Narine has had his bowling action cleared by the ICC, just two days before the start of the IPL. Narine has not bowled since November, having been reported while on international duty, but all his deliveries with a remodelled action have been found to be legal. Narine has been a key player for…
No word from ICC yet on Narine – Kallis
Jacques Kallis insists he will not tinker too much with a successful set-up as coach of Kolkata Knight Riders © Associated Press Jacques Kallis, the Kolkata Knight Riders coach, has said that the franchise has not yet received an official verdict from the ICC regarding the legality of offspinner Sunil Narine‘s remodeled bowling action. Kallis was hopeful of a positive verdict though: “He has done a lot of work, from…
Lewis named Sussex assistant coach
Jon Lewis played for Sussex before hanging up his boots to become bowling coach © PA Photos Jon Lewis, the former England seamer, has been appointed Sussex’s assistant head coach. Lewis, who joined Sussex as a player in 2014, took on the job of bowling coach last season and has been promoted as part of the new structure at Hove. The departure of cricket manager Mark Robinson to take charge…
Specsavers County Championship overseas players
Ben Housam What can the overseas players offer their teams in the Specsavers County Championship this season? Ahead of the first fixtures of the season this weekend, ecb.co.uk take a look at the impact the overseas players will have on the success of their teams. Are you up to date with your county’s ins and outs? https://t.co/COA6wJGYqw pic.twitter.com/TgYTg3e0XK — ECB (@ECB_cricket) April 6, 2016 Hamish Rutherford – Derbyshire Rutherford will…
Baptiste, West to serve as evaluators at USA regional combines
Eldine Baptiste (right) had coached Kenya from September 2009 before stepping down in 2011 © AFP West Indies national selector Eldine Baptiste and West Indies U-19 coach Graeme West are set to join Mike Young as the lead talent evaluators at US scouting combines, which is being held in eight cities around the USA over the next two months, beginning this weekend in Los Angeles. Baptiste and West’s appointment was…
Pietersen won't be back – Stewart
Play 03:12 ‘I don’t think we’ll see KP play in England again’ Kevin Pietersen is unlikely to play cricket in England again, according to Alec Stewart. Pietersen was released by Surrey at the end of last season and Stewart, the club’s director of cricket, said there was little chance of him appearing in England’s T20 competition, the NatWest Blast, in the foreseeable future as he pursues franchise deals around the…
Gooch to help Bears batsmen
Brian Halford Warwickshire’s batsmen are getting guidance from the very top drawer as they prepare for the new season after Graham Gooch accepted a role as batting consultant with the club. Gooch, who scored 8,900 Test runs for England and is now one of the most respected coaches in the world, has had a number of one-to-one sessions with the Bears and will return at times throughout the season. Warwickshire…
Rushworth commits future to Durham
Durham seamer Chris Rushworth has signed a new contract extension at the Emirates Riverside keeping him with the county until 2019. Rushworth enjoyed a memorable campaign last year, becoming the leading wicket-taker in the Specsavers County Championship Division One with 83 wickets, earning him the Professional Cricketers’ Association Player of the Year award. Ahead of Durham’s opening game against Somerset on Sunday, the 29-year-old is delighted to extend his stay with the…