Wind gets the better of Kent

Kent have well documented problems with wind, and not just after Rob Key‘s gone to town on the baked beans and Scotch eggs. The county has announced that they won’t play any day-night matches in the 2010 season as high winds would cause issues with the temporary floodlights at the St. Lawrence Ground. Two matches [...]

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The Best of 2009

The county season’s over for another year, and so here are my picks for the best of 2009 Best Batsman: With more than 1800 runs at an average of more than 75, it has to be Marcus Trescothick again, although Michael Di Venuto’s contribution to Durham’s successful defence of their County Championship title deseves commendation. [...]

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Twenty20 Cup Finals Day Preview

The Twenty20 reaches its conclusion this weekend with the now traditional Finals Day. This year will be the last season of the current format, and will also see the first qualifiers decided for the Champions League after last year’s cancellation. As well as the exciting prospect of the mascot race being commentated on by Phil [...]

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England’s World Twenty20 Squad

England have announced their squad for the summer’s World Twenty20, having trimmed their initial 30 down to a more manageable 15: Paul Collingwood captains the side, somewhat suprisingly given his previous reluctance to do so, and the fact that he stood down as One-Day captain a mere nine months ago. Cynics may also suggest that [...]

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England’s squad selection

After all the speculation about whether Bell, Key, Shah or Vaughan would be England’s number 3 batsmen against the West Indies, the collective gasp from the nation’s cricket writers was almost audible even outside of London as none of the aforementioned candidates even made it into the squad for the First Test. Ravi Bopara is [...]

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England’s delaying tactics

England have delayed naming their Test squad for the series against the West Indies, because the selectors “need more time to assess players who are returning after injury”. This gives the likes of Ian Bell and Michael Vaughan an extra nine days to impress, an effect which may not be entirely coincidental. The poor showing [...]

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County Cricket 2009 Division 2 preview

Derbyshire have brought in Stuart Law (who was cut loose by Lancashire) to boost their one-day firepower, but he won’t feature much in the County Championship. Charl Langeveldt will also be absent for at least three matches following his acquisition by Kolkatta for the IPL, but captain Chris Rogers is probably the best short-sighted colour-blind [...]

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Who should captain England in the Twenty20?

Given the fact that England’s preliminary squad for the World Twenty20 doesn’t include current captain Andrew Strauss (who admittedly doesn’t have the best T20I pedigree), the selectors will be on the hunt for a new leader. Here are some of the contenders: Andrew Flintoff has been there before, got the t-shirt and sunk the pedalo. [...]

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Key to captain MCC

The start of the English County season is almost upon us, and the evidence arrived today with the naming of the MCC’s team to take on County Champions Durham in the traditional curtain-raiser. Most reports are highlighting the inclusion of former England captain Michael Vaughan in the side (alongside fellow England castaway Ian Bell), but [...]

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Samit Patel’s ‘unsatisfactory’ fitness

Cricket isn’t the sport it used to be. Time was, even the most portly of players could find a place in most international sides (and judging by Jesse Ryder and Dwayne Leverock, many still can), and even chain-smokers were thought to have sufficient physical conditioning to bowl for England . No longer – it seems [...]

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Two Kents?

Fans of Kent must be a bit miffed at the moment. Finalists (albiet beaten ones) in the two knockout competitions, promotion contenders in the Pro40 league, but relegated in the County Championship. Are there two Kents – a good Limited Overs side and a bunch of Four-Day losers? What of Rob Key’s supposed captaincy prowess? [...]

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A brief review of the Friends Provident Trophy final

Despite a general feeling that this would be a runfest, Kent’s openers were both gone before 20 runs had been scored. Van Jaarsveld and >McLaren made half-centuries to help the Spitfires set a not-too-humiliating 215 as the victory target for Essex, but the Eagles, with the likes of Bopara and Napier in the side, would [...]

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