In the lead up to the 2016 domestic season, ecb.co.uk is running a series of features with all 18 first-class counties. New arrival Andy Carter is backing Derbyshire to improve across all formats this year. Andy Carter believes Derbyshire have a squad capable of challenging on all fronts ahead of the new county season. While the departure of left-arm quick Mark Footitt stole most of the headlines, elite cricket performance…
Youth and experience key to Surrey blend
Rory Burns’ runs at the top of the order could be important for Surrey’s survival © Getty Images Director of cricket: Alec Stewart. Head coach: Michael Di Venuto Captain: Gareth Batty Last season Specsavers Championship: 1st Div 2; NatWest Blast: 7th, South Group; Royal London Cup: Final In: Mark Footitt (Derbyshire), Mathew Pillans (ancestral visa), Conor McKerr (UK passport), Ravi Rampaul (Kolpak) Out: Kevin Pietersen (released), Vikram Solanki, Tim Linley,…
NatWest CricketForce: the story on social
Volunteers from communities across England and Wales turned out in their thousands to roll up their sleeves at their local club as part of NatWest CricketForce last weekend. This year’s instalment of the annual programme, which is designed to ensure clubs and grounds are ready for the upcoming season, saw 2,166 clubs take part. With approximately 50,000 volunteers taking part, including 175 at showcase club Dymock CC in Gloucestershire, 60…
PCB to replace selection committee
Shahid Afridi has resigned as T20 captain, while Wasim Akram will assist the PCB in finding a new coach © Getty Images The PCB has announced that Haroon Rasheed‘s selection committee is to be disbanded with immediate effect. Rasheed came in for criticism in the post-World T20 report submitted by Waqar Younis – who has since stood down as head coach – and a PCB Special Committee has now determined…
Panesar added to Northamptonshire squad
Monty Panesar could return to the county scene following his problems at Essex © Getty Images Monty Panesar, the left-arm spinner, has been made part of Northamptonshire’s squad for the 2016 season having secured his own funding although the club have stressed he still faces a challenge to earn selection once he recovers from shoulder surgery. Alex Wakely, the Northants captain, said that some “honest conversations” have been had with…
Hales' choice offers chance for chasing pack
Alex Hales has taken a risk in opting to miss the first two matches of the season © Getty Images Alastair Cook and James Anderson will be among the high-profile England players to start the season in Specsavers County Championship action. The start of the County Championship season is often diluted by international commitments or a desire to rest players but, this year, every member of England’s Test side in…
Waqar Younis steps down as Pakistan coach
Waqar Younis resigned only a day after Shahid Afridi stepped down as the T20 captain © ICC Waqar Younis has resigned as Pakistan’s coach three months before his contract was going to end, and only one day after Shahid Afridi stepped down as the T20 captain. The two resignations came after Pakistan’s disappointing performances in the Asia Cup in Bangladesh and the World T20 in India. Pakistan won only three…
West Indies' Darren Sammy Hopes World T20 Triumph Will Spur Test Success
In the post-match interview, West Indies captain Darren Sammy said his team felt “disrespected by our board”. © AFP Highlights Kolkata: West Indies captain Darren Sammy hopes their Test team will get inspiration from Sunday’s World Twenty20 triumph and climb up the rankings in the longest format of the game. The all-rounder led the Caribbean side to their second World T20 title in the last three editions as they beat…
England Captain Eoin Morgan Rues Below-Par Score in World T20 Final Loss To West Indies
England’s Ben Stokes (centre) is consoled by teammates after losing the World T20 final to the West Indies at the Eden Gardens. © AFP Highlights Kolkata: England captain Eoin Morgan blamed his team’s defeat in Sunday’s World T20 final defeat to the West Indies on the batsmen, saying they were 40 runs short of what could have been a winning total at the Eden Gardens. (Brilliant Marlon Samuels and Carlos…
'West Indies Cricket Team Players Will Share World T20 Prize Money'
West Indian players celebrate during the World T20 final against England at the Eden Gardens on Sunday. © AFP Highlights Kingston: West Indies cricket team players will share the entire USD 1.6 million in prize money for winning the men’s ICC World T20 title as well as a portion of sponsorship revenue, the head of the region’s cricket board told Reuters on Sunday. (Disrespect From Our Board Was Out of…