With England wrapping up a test series victory against Sri Lanka earlier this week, I sat down with Bethan Moorcraft and Glen Williams to discuss the first two tests and look ahead to the rest of the summer. We discuss whether England have really been that good with the ball or whether it is conditions…
Although it has made few headlines here in the UK, Bangladesh’s recent upturn in fortunes is uplifting news for the world of cricket. Their recent 3-0 ODI series triumph over Pakistan is the third occasion they have been on the right side of an ODI series whitewash in the past 18 months. But it is…
It was a truncated days play in Grenada yesterday, after some very un-Caribbean weather delayed the start of the second Test by nearly two hours. When the teams did finally get on the pitch, it was all a bit odd. There was swing, there were wickets, there were few runs, but England didn’t really bowl…
Busy day today, so just a short piece for what is now DAY 91 of my challenge. I recently wrote a piece on this blog that lauded the arrival of more overseas talent than ever before into county cricket. Over the last few days another pair of world-class players have committed themselves to playing for…
With the ODI World Cup over for another four years, it is now time for all and sundry to wade into debate about the players, matches and moments of the tournament. Every news outlet has been spouting their team of the tournament from Cricinfo to the BBC to the ICC themselves. These are pretty facile…
Australia regained the World Cup in front of a packed MCG on Sunday evening after relinquishing their title for just 4 years. Their historic triumph now means they have been victorious in four of the last five tournaments. They secured a comprehensive seven-wicket victory over their Trans-Tasman rivals and looked in control throughout the match.…
England have welcomed Otis Gibson back into their coaching set-up for the three match Test series against the West Indies that begins next month. Gibson will take on the role of bowling coach, after the incumbent David Saker was told he would not be required for the tour. Saker has been lambasted over the past…
Tomorrow sees the second semi-final of the Cricket World Cup, as undefeated India take on co-hosts Australia at the SCG. I would try and predict the result but that just seems futile when it comes to these sides. All the form in previous meetings would point towards a comfortable Australian victory, but it would be…
Many older generation fans will lament the modern day advancements in a variety of sporting arenas. Whether it is technology entering the game, the wages on offer, or in the case of the Premier League, the histrionics we are subjected to on a weekly basis. One of the bedrock’s of modern sport however, has slipped…
When Dave Richardson made his no infamous ‘only 8 competitive teams’ comment, I’m sure he didn’t think it would come back to haunt him as spectacularly as it did. Not only did Ireland cause a few upsets, and Bangladesh make it through to the knockout stages. But also the matches involving the supposed 8 competitive…
South Africa v Sri Lanka (Wednesday 18th March- SCG) The first of the quarterfinals pits perennial World Cup overachievers Sri Lanka against the might of South Africa. Sri Lanka head into the knockout stages with some reasonable results behind them, having beaten both England and Bangladesh, but their two defeats to co-hosts Australia and New…
With the England selectors due to name their Test squad for the West Indies this week, I thought I’d name my 17 players who can get the job done in the Caribbean. Alastair Cook (C) Sam Robson Jonathan Trott Gary Ballance Ian Bell Joe Root Ben Stokes Adam Lyth Moeen Ali Adil Rashid Joss Buttler…
As Ireland make their way home from the cricket World Cup after a pool stage exit, it speaks volumes for the high standards they now set themselves, that they will be somewhat disappointed in their performance over the last month. The opening match victory against the West Indies, while thrilling, did not have the same…
Thank god for that. I can finally fully enjoy this cricket World Cup. England are on the way home, and with them will hopefully depart all my feelings of angst when watching this tournament. The rest of the sides have played during the last month with a carefree attitude that has provided entertaining and gripping…
Under the floodlights in Adelaide today, England confirmed what we all knew already. They’re pretty god damn awful at ODI cricket. By all accounts they were as woeful today as they have been throughout the tournament, and throughout the last 2 years. Hopefully, this will be the wake up call that English cricket needs to…
Tomorrow’s match with Bangladesh really is the last chance saloon for England at this World Cup. Their campaign so far has been akin to a granddad turning up to a rave. Other sides have not just evolved in the last year, they have evolved in the last month. England haven’t moved on since their 2013…
India are the first side through to the World Cup quarter finals. Their unbeaten World Cup run now stretches to eight matches, their equal longest in their history. The only worry for a suddenly miraculously inform side ahead of the West Indies match was that they happened been tested enough. Thankfully, for both the Indian…
Scotland came into the 2015 Cricket World Cup still searching for their first victory on the grandest of stages. Four matches in, and they are still awaiting their first taste of success. In this sense, the tournament so far has been a failure for the Scots, but in reality, it has been more a case…
India A India seem to have stumbled upon some kind of magic formula. They were simply woeful in the recent tri-series, even managing to make England look like a half decent ODI side on their way to losing all their matches. But since the World Cup has started they have looked like an in-form, balanced,…
Australia B- It’s been pretty difficult to get a handle on the co-hosts in this tournament. They came out of the blocks all guns blazing and dispatched of a woeful England with ease, they then had what seemed like a lifetime to wait before their next match. A rain off against Bangladesh followed by a…
Jack Vittles 