The Kookaborra ball should be sent to space after Surrey scored a record 820 runs but only drew with Durham
This article is from The 99.94 Cricket Blog
Continue reading...Steve Smith returns for second West Indies Test after quick recovery from finger injury
Josh Inglis loses his spot to make way for returning No 4 batter
Pat Cummins says Smith won’t be back in the slips ‘too often’
Steve Smith will complete a rapid return to Test cricket, just 20 days after suffering a nasty compound dislocation of his finger.
The batter will bat at No 4 in Australia’s second Test against the West Indies in Grenada, starting at Friday midnight AEST.
Continue reading...Yorkshire thrash Essex, Surrey and Notts held to draws: county cricket day four – as it happened
Alex Lees scored 156 for Durham as the runs piled up at the Oval, while Lancashire finally won a Championship match in 2025
Plugged into the Lancs live-stream. Jimmy in long sleeves polishes and polishes the precious Kookaburra. Madsen carefully plays Balderson back. A maiden. Derbyshire 175 for three.
A wicket at Taunton (Dickson lbw Patterson-White, Somerset 18-2); rain at Canterbury – where Justin Broad, unbeaten on 122, was yesterday watched by his dad Neil who won a silver medal alongside Tim Henman in the men’s doubles at the 1996 Olympics. And play due to restart soon at York.
Continue reading...‘No denying it’: Michael Hussey’s verdict on Sam Konstas struggles … and what Aussies must do with Cameron Green
Former Australian batter Michael Hussey has called for fans to be patient with the Test side’s new-look top order following last week’s unconvincing performance during the Frank Worrell Trophy series opener against the West Indies.
Talisman Stokes at Edgbaston evokes Flintoff’s 2005 impact – but he is due a score
England team hang on their captain’s every word but he is on his longest run of Tests without a century
A day out from the second Test against India at Edgbaston and Andrew Flintoff was dog-sticking to England’s batters in the nets, his very presence bringing memories of 20 years ago flooding back. It was here where Flintoff wrote his name into Ashes folklore, igniting the afterburners for England’s statement first innings, rescuing the second with a six-laden counterattack, and then sending down a famous over on the third evening that vaporised Justin Langer and Ricky Ponting.
As well as driving England to that famous two-run victory, 141 runs and seven wickets across the four days made it Flintoff’s statistical peak as a fast-bowling all-rounder – the only time he went north of 100 runs and five wickets in the same Test. People often underestimate the physical and mental demands that the dual role places on those hardy enough to even attempt it; expecting both facets of their game to deliver consistently is unrealistic save for a handful of freakish greats.
Continue reading...Wayne Larkins obituary
Northamptonshire and England cricketer hailed as a fearless batsman who was nicknamed ‘Ned’
It was some time in the 1980s. The details have gone hazy: it could have been any county cricket ground and any captain being asked by the press why they had lost so badly to Northamptonshire: “What went wrong?” The answer was equally terse: “We got Nedded.”
A “Nedding” meant being on the receiving end of a blistering innings from Wayne “Ned” Larkins, who has died in hospital, while awaiting a heart bypass, aged 71. When he was hot, he could be the most thrilling batsman in the country. But demons of insecurity lurked beneath his cheery countenance and his 13 Test matches were a feeble reward for an exceptional talent.
Continue reading...India keep England guessing over Jasprit Bumrah before second Test
Premier bowler Bumrah could be rested at Edgbaston
Captain Gill says decision will be made on Tuesday night
India chose to let speculation swirl around the potential involvement of Jasprit Bumrah in Wednesday’s second Test, insisting that a decision over whether to play their premier bowler would not be taken until late on Tuesday night.
Their fear is that should Edgbaston produce a pitch which favours batting, a prospect made more likely by the dry conditions in which the ground staff have been working, and the rain that is tentatively forecast for the weekend were to fall, a draw would become the most likely result. Playing the 31-year-old might end up doing little more than draining his reserves of energy ahead of a third Test that starts at Lord’s next Thursday. Shubman Gill, the India captain, would say only that Bumrah is “definitely available”.
Continue reading...Leicestershire stunned by Middlesex: county cricket day three – as it happened
Leicestershire lost in three days after Middlesex had flayed 534, while Yorkshire and Essex face tense finale
The principal incentive to come to Hove on another broiling day is to watch the Italian-Irish offspinning Aussie Corey Rocchiccioli (subs please check) bowl. He delivered 35 overs yesterday and took three for 94 on a batsman-friendly surface. Warwickshire have sensibly kept him on this morning, with the pace of Hannon-Dalby at the other end.
Rocchiccioli is tall and has a pleasingly prancing approach to the wicket, but new batsman Dan Ibrahim - Sussex opener Daniel Hughes was out to Rocchiccioli off the penultimate ball last night for 151 - off-drove the Aussie’s first ball for four and James Coles refused to let him settle, hitting a couple of fours to cow corner as Sussex pressed on past 300.
Continue reading...Forgotten Pom’s monster score in timely Test reminder as blunder sparks 128-year history
Former England opening batter Dom Sibley has put his name forward for a potential Test recall with an epic triple century as Surrey posted the highest score in the club’s 128-year history.
England call on Archer’s Test exile as mystery swirls around rival superstar
India will make a “last-minute” decision on whether to risk the outstanding Jasprit Bumrah in successive Tests as they look to level their five-match series with England this week.
‘He was taken aback’: Lyon lifts lid on Aussie Test handover as emotional letter revealed
Nathan Lyon is adamant he’s not retiring “anytime soon” despite handing over the significant duty of leading the team song after victories to Test keeper Alex Carey.
‘Completely against it’: Smith hits back at Aussie legend — and opens up over ‘disgusting’ blow
Australian vice-captain Steve Smith has jumped to defence of Michael Di Venuto after the national batting coach copped criticism from former Test wicketkeeper Ian Healy.
Pat Cummins’ prized baggy green reportedly missing in fresh mystery
Australian captain Pat Cummins reportedly lost his baggy green less than 24 hours before last week’s Frank Worrell Trophy series opener in Bridgetown.
‘Players are the harshest critics’: Aussie coach reacts to Konstas concern after tough Test recall
Australian coach Andrew McDonald has said that the team hierarchy will afford teenage opening batter Sam Konstas “patience and time” after a difficult opening Test against the West Indies in Barbados.
‘Got to walk for that’: Sportsmanship stir as SA teen smashes record-breaking Test debut 150
Teenager Lhuan-dre Pretorius hit a dazzling 153 on debut and transformed South Africa’s fortunes on the first day of the first Test against Zimbabwe at Queens Sports Club on Saturday.