Victory for England, fireworks from Chris Gayle and a Sri Lankan meltdown: our pundits set out their forecasts for a month and a half of ODIsVic Marks Australia. England may have the batsmen but Australia, if they’re fit and firing, have the bowlers in Starc and Cummins, plus a highly motivated Warner and Smith. Two other reasons: they have won five out of 11 World Cups. I’m usually wrong. Related: Boos, hairbands and Cricket World Cup predictions – The Spin podcast Related: West Indies' Jason Holder: ‘Hopefully we can bring the people of the region closer’ Related: The Spin | A brief history of the Cricket World Cup Related: Gareth Batty’s guide to the Cricket World Cup grounds Related: The...
Allegations surrounding the lost Test at Christchurch in 1984 saw the expedition dubbed the ‘sex and drugs and rock’n’roll tour’ – and they tell me I was on itCricket seldom makes the front pages with a good news story. That may have happened in 1953, 1981 and 2005 but the bad news finds its way there more frequently, as we have witnessed this week.Being in Christchurch reminds me of another time when cricket found its way to the front pages, at least those of the Mail On Sunday and the Daily Express. In 1984 England toured New Zealand; in fact that is the only series in which New Zealand have defeated England on home soil, although if Joe Root’s side...
Morgan’s bowling changes and attacking fields have England in a positive frame of mind in the Champions Trophy and almost everything has gone according to plan - so farIt would be daft to get too excited at England grabbing their semi-final slot days before anyone else. This does not guarantee a romp to the final and then the trophy. But the current climate makes a change to the agonising postmortems that accompanied England’s early flight home from the 2015 World Cup.The margin of New Zealand’s defeat in Cardiff – 87 runs – was misleading. After 30 overs of their run chase the Kiwis were 156 for two in pursuit of 311; Kane Williamson, after some early scares, was cruising with...
Australia’s quicks were frustrated by Kane Williamson’s century in a rain-hit Champions Trophy game at a ground where their bowlers have struggled latelyBeer sales were just a little brisker than typical on the 7.43 out of Euston on Friday morning, but then it wasn’t carrying your usual commuter crowd. There were a few hundred expat cricket fans on board, making the early run up to Birmingham for the Trans-Tasman derby between Australia and New Zealand at Edgbaston. As the train left Coventry the announcer reassured them all that, if they were quick, they had time for one more round before they reached New Street. Which set the day up perfectly. Because in between all the longueurs while the showers blew...
India are likely to face their stiffest opposition from South Africa, England and New Zealand in defence of the title they won at Edgbaston four years agoCoach Darren Lehmann Related: Everything up for grabs for England in the quickfire Champions Trophy | Vic Marks Related: England deserve Champions Trophy favourites status under Eoin Morgan | Vic Marks Continue reading...