I'm Not Sure This Lord Would Sugar Coat His Verdict...

One hesitates to be too picky about the ECB’s launch of The Hundred because it was very kind of Her Majesty’s Cricket Press to be invited.

ECB Defend Their Hundred Research

THE ECB have insisted the data research that underpins their vision for The Hundred is “robust” despite the small sample size of many of the surveys taken to understand the potential audience for the new competition.

It's Double Trouble As Wood And Jofra Unite

MARK WOOD has warned Pakistan to expect a trial by pace when he teams up with Jofra Archer for the first time in today’s fourth ODI at Trent Bridge.

Malinga's Late Burst Sees Indians Home

“It was a funny IPL final – we were just passing the trophy to each other.”

Cricket May Be 'Coming Home' But We Hit Rock Bottom Last Time It Was Here...

Peter Hayter applauds the growing confidence within the England camp but also offers some cautionary memories from 20 years ago

Germany Calling ... And Rayner Ready To Answer

THIS has been a year of new beginnings for Middlesex spinner Ollie Rayner. He has experienced the joys of fatherhood for the first time while a recent opportunity to train with the German national team could lead to a surprise international debut.

Kiwis Can Swing It To Drop Their Nearly Men Tag

SOUTH Africa may have a reputation as the World Cup’s nearly men but with six semi-final defeats and a runnersup finish in 2015, New Zealand should perhaps be the true owners of that unwanted crown.

Proteas Have To Combat Dreaded C-word

Tristan Lavalette explains the monkey on the back of South Africa as they seek a first – and long overdue – World Cup success this summer

Root Ready To Take Off Shackles To Claim World Cup Glory

Chris Stocks sits down with England Test captain Joe Root and gets his thoughts on how the one-day side are handling their tag as World Cup favourites

Stokes And Archer Take Dominant England To Next Level

THOSE questions about whether Jofra Archer’s presence in the England squad would undermine team spirit seem like a lifetime ago after the fast bowler ensured the hosts and favourites got their World Cup off to the perfect start against South Africa.

It's All Up For Grabs, Says Excited Law

STUART Law believes that there are a number of sides in the forthcoming World Cup capable of causing upsets which will only serve to heighten the excitement of the cricket jamboree about to grace these shores.

Would One-day Converts Embrace The Ashes, Too?

Derek Pringle looks at the status of Test cricket amid the World Cup excitement as the game aims to cater for a new audience

Marsh Marvels At Kent's Feat!

Raf Nicholson catches up with off-spinner Laura Marsh after helping Kent round off the final Women’s County Championship in style

Superhero Stokes Inspires England

All-rounder dazzles in World Cup opener

The Bans Are Over, Now For The Backlash! Smith And Warner Return But Questions Still Loom

STEVE SMITH and David Warner are free to play for Australia again after their year-long bans for ball-tampering expired yesterday, but both should be braced for a fierce public backlash when they make their inevitable international returns in England this summer.

McGrath: This Will Be Year Porter Gets His England Call-up

ESSEX coach Anthony McGrath admits he is preparing for life without Jamie Porter during the second half of the summer as he expects his best seamer to be playing Test cricket for England.

We Surprised Ourselves Last Season, Says Walker

Paul Edwards discovers that whereas promotion for Kent was an unexpected bonus, they believe their young team will benefit from, and survive, life in the top division

Young Guns Pope And Smith Shine Amid A Damp Dubai

OH, the irony! You take the MCC County Champion match to the tropical climes of sun-drenched Dubai – and the game gets rained off!

Captain Bancroft? That's A Step Too Far

This may sound like double standards. Last week, in the spirit of grown-up reconciliation and because the historical bond between our countries goes back a lot longer and should mean a lot more than the latest Ashes row, I argued that the three Australia cricketers banned for their part in Sandpapergate should be welcomed here this summer with an outstretched palm rather than two fingers, and I stand by what I said.

England Calls May Wreck Surrey's Bid To Retain Title

Past patterns are what everyone from soothsayers to economists look for to predict the future and so it is with this column’s gander at this season’s County Championship, which gets underway today.

Crane: I'll Still Do A Job For England

Richard Edwards catches up with Hampshire leg-spinner Mason Crane about his hopes for an Test recall this summer against the Old Enemy.

Surrey's Depth Will Be Key To Retaining Title

SURREY have long been known as the ‘Manchester United of cricket’, such is their financial power and history of success. Yet last season they were more like Manchester City as they cantered to their first County Championship title in 17 years by a whopping 48 points.

We Won't Be Fazed By Flattering Comparisons

Jeremy Blackmore catches up with Middlesex opening pair Max Holden and Nick Gubbins, who say they will stay grounded despite being likened to Cook and Strauss.

Moores Devises Masterplan For Notts Revival

WHEN Nottinghamshire were promoted to the top-flight as division two runners-up in 2017, much was expected of Peter Moores’ men.

Hundred Opens Up New Avenues

THE Hundred has been greeted with as much scepticism as enthusiasm since the tournament was first mooted back in April 2017.

Andre Acts As The Punjab Punisher

Thank you, new guy! That was the sentiment from Andre Russell after making the most of his reprieve with a demolition job on the Kings XI Punjab bowling unit to send Kolkata Knight Riders top of the nascent IPL table.

England Left In A Conundrum Over Smith But Root Can Take Positives

HOW do you solve a problem like Steve Smith? It’s a conundrum England were unable to answer as the Australian produced a virtuoso display of batting to almost single-handedly give his country first blood in this Ashes series.

Lord's Now A Must-win After Smith Show Raises Questions

England know victory at Lord’s this week is paramount if they are to get themselves back into this Ashes series following Australia’s extraordinary come from-behind win in the opening Test at Edgbaston.

Now Is The Time For England To Unleash Their Lethal Weapon

Chris Stocks has followed the impressive comeback trail of Jofra Archer this week and argues that he simply must play in the second Ashes Test at Lord’s

It's Seven Up For Colin As Foxes Become A Nuisance

Fans heading to Grace Road on Wednesday evening wouldn’t have expected to see a world record and certainly couldn’t have dreamed it would come from the arm of Colin Ackermann.