Andrew Flintoff reveals anxiety after Top Gear accident: ‘I couldn’t get out of the room’

  • Former England captain was injured on set in 2022 crash
  • Rob Key helped encourage return to the England fold

Andrew Flintoff has spoken about his mental health following his life-changing car crash on the set of Top Gear in 2022.

In one of his first interviews since sustaining severe facial injuries in the accident, Flintoff told former the England captain and the Times’ cricket correspondent Mike Atherton of his initial reluctance to return to public life.

Continue reading...

Wisden calls World Test Championship a ‘shambles’ and makes case for reform

  • WTC format ‘as if designed on the back of a fag packet’
  • New 2025 edition includes tributes to Graham Thorpe

Wisden hits the shelves this week and, as well as unveiling its latest batch of award winners, it has trained its sights on the International Cricket Council. The World Test Championship, the book argues, is a “shambles masquerading as a showpiece”.

The publication of the sport’s annual bible is timely, with the future of the WTC discussed recently at ICC meetings in ­Zimbabwe. In typically opaque fashion, the sport’s governing body is yet to announce the outcome of the debate.

Continue reading...

County cricket: Sussex v Surrey, Durham v Yorkshire and more on day four – live

  • County Championship updates from around the grounds
  • Get in touch! Email Tanya here or join the discussion BTL

Worcestershire have already lost a wicket, and unfortunately for them it was Matthew Waite, a fourth wicket for Porter. The bowlers are in shirt sleeves, the keeper up the stumps, the three slips neatly arranged in height order.

Ali reports from Birmingham, where it is “pissing down”. It isn’t currently raining in Manchester, but is very soggy – think pile of newspapers accidentally left out in the rain by the newsagent. Rain too at Derby. Elsewhere, however…

Continue reading...

County cricket: Pope and Lawrence hit centuries for Surrey against Sussex – as it happened

Attacking hundreds from Ollie Pope and Dan Lawrence helped Surrey to 390 for three on the third day against Sussex, who made 435 in their first innings

A first missive: and a very happy Easter to you Tim Maitland:

“Salutations Tanya!

“I’m struggling to concentrate on the cricket at the moment. It doesn’t help that my beloved Western Bulldogs (Long story short: some disreputable caddies on the LPGA decided I needed an AFL team and I didn’t have the sense to ignore them) are playing St. Kilda right now.

“But it’s not just that.

“I’m finding it hard to get a sense of who is in form, especially with the bat. Maybe it’s because we were distracted by Tom Banton’s 371, which he’s followed with scores of 6, 0 and 5. How long a lead does a triple centurion get before his chain is yanked?

“If Surrey’s Dom Sibley adds significantly to his 40 overnight, does he hold the crown after a 66 at Essex and then 100 not out and 1055 against Hampshire? Incidentally he made 3 in his one game for Khulna Tigers in Chittagong, which is officially called Chattogram, which would be a great name for a social media platform wouldn’t it?

“Or is it Tom Haines? His 174 against Surrey in this round of matches is, weather permitting, potentially match winning and his second innings 141 set up the victory against Somerset last week.

“As for bowlers... have you got anything? [Ed – My immediate thought is Fergus O’Neill?]

“The Bulldogs, incidentally, have living legend Marcus Bontempelli aka The Bont back for the first time this season, but as I speak our 6 ft 10 in young superstar-to-be ruckman Sam Darcy has just hobbled off with an injured knee, which would be a disaster for the Doggies.”

Continue reading...

County cricket day two: Sussex v Surrey, Hampshire v Somerset, and more – live

Dom Bess has ushered Yorkshire over the 300 line with a boundary but he’s losing partners, Ben Raine has bowled Sears to collect his fourth wickets of the innings.

And Cameron Green, reluctantly, must leave the field at Canterbury – tries to stare down the umpire after he gives him out (unluckily) lbw, but the ump keeps his finger raised until he turns tail. Gloucs 385-9.

Continue reading...