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...
Selectors have plenty to ponder for Australia with batting issues, such as whether Joe Root will come in at No3, and a fast- bowling pack lacking varietyThe handbrake on Ashes speculation has been released with the conclusion of the Test series against West Indies. This may not be a good thing but it is inevitable. Even Trevor Bayliss, usually so wary about looking too far ahead, seems eager to enter the fray with observations about who he would prefer to bat at three and the likely provenance of the tour party. After the Lord’s Test he said the squad was likely to comprise only players chosen in the past 18 months, which is bad news for any blind-side runners around...
With his five-wicket burst, Moeen became the second England cricketer after Ian Botham to take 25 wickets and score more than 250 runs in a Test seriesIt had to be Moeen Ali, the man of Joe Root’s first summer as Test captain, who would pick the lock that sent England hurtling towards a 177-run win at Old Trafford and what was their first series win over South Africa at home in 19 years. After his 10 wickets and 96 runs at Lord’s came his hat-trick at The Oval, before the audacious counterattack with the bat here on the third evening was followed by figures of five for 69 in England’s fourth-innings surge.The shining smile that resides above the luxuriant beard...
Bowling a tad too short, not bad luck, at England has hobbled the paceman just as dropped catches have damaged South Africa’s chances during the Test seriesAs South Africa emerged after tea on the third day their captain, Faf du Plessis, called a huddle on the outfield and urged his players to deliver one final push to protect an under-acclaimed record of losing only one away series in the past nine years.England at this stage were slightly wobbling. Their 138 for six offered a lead of 274 and, though the pitch was already showing signs of capriciousness – not least from the footmarks at the James Anderson End – four quickfire strikes would have given the Proteas something resembling a...
His England status could become less certain after the tour of India but the all-rounder’s charity work helps him keep sporting issues in perspectiveMoeen Ali could, in theory, go into the fourth Test starting on Thursday feeling a bit of heat given the manner of his two dismissals during the eight-wicket defeat in Mohali.There is also the fact that Adil Rashid, his fellow spin-bowler, is enjoying a breakthrough series with the ball that, come the English summer, could mean Moeen’s place in the side becomes more scrutinised. Related: Keaton Jennings puts the accent on runs as England’s Mumbai Test looms Continue reading...