I have seen some of the messages my good friend has received and they are absolutely horrendous - people need calling outEoin Morgan took me aside at a training session before the ODI team’s first practice match a fortnight ago and asked me to be his vice-captain for this series against Ireland, which starts on Thursday. I have been absolutely buzzing about it ever since.People might think phrases like “it being an honour” are just trotted out at times like this but it genuinely is. It means a huge amount to me and especially from a captain like Morgs. Growing up playing cricket I never thought I’d one day be able to say I was vice-captain of my country and...
Having some time away after a demanding few years has felt liberating so I don’t want to rush my return but I’m eager to experience that buzz of playing for England againRepresenting England has always been a privilege and my decision to take a break from Test cricket at the end of the home summer was made to ensure that, hopefully, I can do it for a lot longer.Last week there were conversations about whether I felt ready to return for the South Africa tour and naturally part of me was keen to get back out there. My record against them is pretty good and as a team we have happy memories of winning there four years ago. Related: England’s...
Yorkshireman will have to work his passage with the bat on four-Test tour of South Africa with Jos Buttler remaining the first-choice wicketkeeperThe size of England’s tour party to South Africa betrays the uncertainties. A squad of 17 players is unusual given there are just two warm-up matches and then four Tests in a row. Some of them – Matt Parkinson and Zak Crawley being the likeliest candidates – will be in the nets and in their bibs, enhancing their drink-ferrying capabilities for most of the tour.One other, Mark Wood, will spend more time on the lonely rehabilitation road. It is quite a compliment to him that England are prepared to have him in the squad in the knowledge that...
Chance to lift gloom after loss in first Ashes Test is not helped by rustiness of any possible replacementsWe all make mistakes but most of us manage to do so without attracting too much attention. However, this luxury is not given to Test cricketers – even in the post free-to-air era. Moeen Ali is rediscovering this after his moon ball, his misguided leave and his wayward second-innings bowling at Edgbaston; so, too, is Jason Roy, who swung and missed so memorably when producing a poor imitation of Virender Sehwag at the crease. Playing international cricket is a great job; it is also a cruel one.It is an easier game in the press box. In my eagerness to feel some empathy...
Australia’s off-spinner made knocking off England in their second innings look a simple operation while his England counterpart will not be sorry to leave EdgbastonAgainst Australia in particular Moeen Ali has days like these. Days like the fourth of the Edgbaston Test when he started his bowling for the morning with a beamer looped at Steve Smith’s head. The former Australia captain usually bats like he is being attacked by wasps but this time even more so as he swatted his bat around at face height. He went on to take 57 runs from Moeen in the innings as the spinner went for 130.Days like the third day at Edgbaston when Moeen, on nought, left alone a ball from Nathan...