Somerset’s Fred Rumsey sowed the seeds of the Professional Cricketers’ Association in 1966, when £600 a year was the going rate for an England quick with five Tests to his name“Now is the best time ever to be a professional cricketer in this country.” That is the view of Daryl Mitchell, chairman of the Professional Cricketers’ Association.The PCA has been involved in the negotiations about the future of the English game and Mitchell says: “The PCA has worked tirelessly to ensure players are remunerated for their centre-stage role, meaning an extra £8 million per year to the players who feature in the Hundred [there will be 96 domestic male cricketers].” Related: ECB opts for quick fix and cleanest of slates...
Somerset and Surrey look best equipped to battle for the title while Division Two features an intriguing race to make the top three promotion places Related: The Spin | Enjoy the cricket season ahead … it will be the last of its kind | Tanya Aldred Twitter: follow us at @guardian_sport Related: Alex Hales: ‘It takes 10 seconds to get an image, 10 years to undo it’ Related: Joe Root v Stuart Broad kicks off cricket bonanza in summer to savour | Vic Marks Continue reading...
The older Overton twin is a tall, accurate fast bowler likely to play in the first Ashes Test but there must be no repeat of an ugly incident against Sussex in 2015Amid the hurly-burly and hot air that inevitably accompanies the weeks before the Brisbane Test England have encountered some genuine problems. Ben Stokes is still in the northern hemisphere and likely to remain there; Steven Finn became the late replacement who departed early with a knee problem; Jake Ball twisted an ankle in Adelaide; young fast bowlers like Tom Curran and George Garton have been summoned from afar. But there may be a beneficiary from all these setbacks and that is Somerset’s Craig Overton.Overton was selected in the original...
Essex and Worcestershire will remember the 2017 season for ever while Middlesex and Yorkshire cannot forget it soon enoughWith a word for Worcestershire, another of the little guys whose overachievement has been fostered at home, this has to be Essex. Well supported from east London to East Anglia, brilliantly coached and captained, and with the best spinner, seamer and eight blokes who scored a ton. Little wonder they won. Related: Hampshire’s James Vince ensures Middlesex complete slide to relegation Related: County Championship: fans from all 18 counties look back on the season Continue reading...
Matthew Maynard’s men at Taunton had plenty to be proud of despite watching Middlesex deny the county what would have been a first Championship titleAt least the bar sales were good at Taunton. There was a determination to enjoy the sunshine and the cider (well, there must have been a few drinking cider). All three bars at the ground were full and there was cause to turn to drink. The televisions were on for the masochists. Related: Middlesex pip Yorkshire and Somerset to title after thrilling finale at Lord’s Related: Ryan Sidebottom chuntering away signals good health for county cricket | Barney Ronay Continue reading...