Mitchell Starc peaked at the right time at Lord’s to extinguish England’s hopes of reaching Australia’s totalWelcome back then, England. It’s been a while. Just not, as it happens, quite long enough.On a sullen, grey day at Lord’s England were both oddly meek and jarringly aggressive en route to a comprehensive 64-run defeat by Australia that leaves their World Cup campaign, at best, intriguingly poised. Related: Australia deliver hammer blow to England’s Cricket World Cup hopes Continue reading...
If England beat Sri Lanka it will help widen the gap between the top four and the restIt is not really the rain that is haunting the organisers of this World Cup; it is the results. England are about to play the 27th match at Leeds against Sri Lanka in a tournament that has 45 league matches before advancing to the semi-finals.Mathematically just about anything is still possible though Afghanistan would have to beat India on Sunday and win the rest of their games to have the slenderest chance of qualifying. Realistically it is hard to see how any team is going to displace the current top four – and the semi-finals are still over a fortnight away. Continue reading...
Smith is a cricketer, not a criminal; he broke the Laws, not the law. So now the man who has been described as the new Don Bradman is back, he should be leading the sideWhen, or perhaps if, summer returns to England, I fancy wearing one particular cap. Of deep green with a gold Southern Cross on the bill, the cap would also sport four gold letters. MSCA: Make Smith Captain Again.Bad idea, you say? No, Brexit is a bad idea. This government is a bad idea. A particularly bad idea is the Hundred, harrumph. But reinstating Steve Smith as Australia’s captain makes compelling sense. It’s about time cricket grew up. Related: Aaron Finch and Mitchell Starc power Australia to...
Afghanistan and Rashid Khan have played most of their games against lesser lights and they were duly made to pay in the World Cup against the No 1-ranked sideThere are many ways to feel alone on a cricket field. In the hell of a falling-apart dressing room, on the long walk out, or the long walk back. And then there is the personal torment of being Rashid Khan at Old Trafford on Tuesday.Rashid, whose smiling face is currently stopping and starting as it travels around Manchester on the side of various buses, is one of the best one-day bowlers in the world, and last year he became the youngest ever No 1 in the ICC rankings. His on-the-spot googlies and...
The environment Morgs has created and his standing as captain make you realise that decisions are made solely for the team’s benefitCricket can produce some amazing feelings on the field and I have been lucky enough to experience a few along the way. But this past week has been a reminder that, even midway through a home World Cup, nothing can beat the moment your child comes into the world.To say it has been a hectic time would be an understatement. On Tuesday evening I was due to drive to Southampton for England training before the West Indies game. But both my wife, Firuza, and I had a sense things might be about to happen on that front so I...