England white-ball coach Brendon McCullum says he hopes to Kevin Pietersen will “challenge” him, as the former English great begins his role as a batting consultant.
Aussie top-seven dilemma to be solved in WC audition; horror sign minnows can’t be overlooked
While Australia has a massive year of Test cricket ahead, in just over a year the Aussies will also be tasked with defending the World Cup title they won in stunning fashion in India in 2023.
‘I don’t even know’: Smith drops shock Ashes hint … and reveals surprise new top priority
Steve Smith has revealed he is no guarantee to feature in the 2027 Ashes series in England, as he sets his sights on a surprise number one goal for the remainder of his glittering career.
Pietersen has England players ‘buzzing’ but McCullum delivers Carse warning
Former England batter starts role with white-ball teams
Fleming also ‘right person’ to take Test team forward
Brendon McCullum has revealed that he was the driving force behind the recruitment of Kevin Pietersen as a specialist mentor to England’s white-ball teams and said the new arrival had specific orders to “look across the environment and challenge me”.
Pietersen spent his first day in the role monitoring training at the Utilita Bowl after delivering an address that had the players “buzzing”, according to McCullum, England’s white-ball coach.
Continue reading...England 3-0 Pakistan: player ratings for a Test series dominated by bowlers
Ollie Robinson was dominant, with Harry Brook, Dan Lawrence and Mohammad Abbas also standing out
Joe Root: 164 runs at 41.0; two catches
Continue reading...County cricket: Somerset in front as thrilling title race builds to climax
Durham have sealed promotion to the top flight, leaving Kent and Northamptonshire to fight for the second spot
This article is from The 99.94 Cricket Blog
Continue reading...One constant menace and post-Bazball malaise: England’s winners and losers | Simon Burnton
Some have stepped to the fore during a period of uncertainty, while others appear to be struggling for form
Robinson started the first Test by taking three wickets in an over, started his final bowling innings by taking two in an over, and between showed extraordinary control and consistency. His skill has never been in doubt but his fitness and work ethic were, so much so that he made only one appearance in just under three years before the comeback this summer.
Continue reading...Aussie next-gen to be unveiled as Marsh shuts down form fears before crucial World Cup audition
While Mitch Marsh cannot wait for the hostilities to resume against South Africa later this month, an ODI series against Zimbabwe beginning tomorrow night is crucial for an Australian team seeking to find its identity.
Ultimate Guide: Everything you need to know ahead of Australia’s ODI tour of Zimbabwe and South Africa
Australia’s 2027 World Cup preparations begin in earnest as the ODI squad heads to Zimbabwe and South Africa for a run of six ODIs.
History-making twins join Stars as BBL powerhouse locks in overseas trio
There will be no shortage of pace and power at the Melbourne Stars this summer.
Stephen Fleming inherits intriguing squad after England’s unsettling summer | Ali Martin
New Test head coach’s arrival and Root’s calming influence as captain add to promising signs in the post-Stokes era
As Joe Root calmly ran the rule over the Test summer and reeled off the ways in which it had been “chaos”, “unusual” and “unsettling” for England, it felt telling that first among them was Ben Stokes calling time on his international career during a match and a series that were both still live at the time.
Cricketers announcing their retirement mid-game is nothing new. Heather Knight went on to do the same during the women’s Test at Lord’s two weeks later. Root is also too loyal to Stokes to question openly whether that scene-stealing exit before New Zealand’s win at Trent Bridge was entirely in keeping with his call for “selfless cricketers” four years earlier.
Continue reading...They thrashed the ‘worst team in 50 years’… now ‘chaos’ Poms believe the Aussies are next
That may have been the worst Pakistan side in 50 years, but after trouncing them 3-0, England believe they have taken a big step towards winning back the Ashes next year.
Root return gets even better as Poms survive massive first over wobble in Test whitewash
England overcame a major wobble to beat Pakistan by eight wickets in the third Test at Edgbaston on Saturday, sealing a 3-0 series sweep.
England beat Pakistan after early scare: third men’s cricket Test, day four – as it happened
After an early scare, Joe Root and Jordan Cox usher England to victory and a 3-0 clean sweep of Pakistan
Razaullah’s agent is giving it some welly on X – apparently his phone is ringing red. Razaullah was due to play for Cleethorpes in the Yorkshire Southern Premier League before:
“@TheRealPCBMedia come calling - sort his Passport out, and wing him over for @Edgbaston. He’s now made his mark. Franchises already showing interest. Our phones have blown up. Watch this space!”
Continue reading...Debutant tailender goes ballistic as ‘astonishing’ blitz ‘restores some pride’ for Pakistan
Debutant Razaullah launched a remarkable late salvo as Pakistan finally showed some fight at Edgbaston on Friday, setting England a target of 130 to seal a clean sweep in their three-Test series.