Category Cricket

August 28, 2013,  Cricket  No comments

James Anderson, man-of the-series Ian Bell, Stuart Broad and Graeme Swann have also been left out in order to recover ahead of the tour of Australia, which will see England’s players head down under in October.

However, Kevin Pietersen, Joe Root and Jonathan Trott, who each featured in all five Ashes Tests will play on in the shorter format.

Eoin Morgan will captain England in the absence of Cook as they face a warm-up game against Morgan’s native Ireland before a five-game series against the Aussies.

Batsmen Gary Ballance and Michael Carberry will be looking to make their ODI debuts for England, as well bowling trio Chris Jordan, Jamie Overton and Boyd Rankin.

National selector Geoff Miller said: “Following a very intense period of cricket this summer we have decided to rest a number of ...

Read More

August 27, 2013,  Cricket  No comments

Broad proved to be an integral part of England’s 3-0 Ashes win over Australia, finishing just four dismissals behind leading wicket-taker Graeme Swann with a total of 22 for the series.

However, the Nottinghamshire man’s decision not to walk in the first Test after edging an Ashton Agar delivery to Michael Clarke provoked anger in the Australian camp.

Lehmann condemned Broad’s actions in an interview with Australian radio station Triple M, accusing the 27-year-old of “blatant cheating”, and urging the Australian public to ensure that he “cries and goes home” during the return series in Australia later in the year.

Broad has moved to cool the fall-out, insisting that the matter has now been put to bed following a discussion with Lehmann at the end of the drawn fifth Test at The Oval on Su...

Read More

August 27, 2013,  Cricket  No comments

Andy Flower’s men wrapped up a 3-0 victory in the five-Test series against their old rivals by drawing the final match at The Oval on Sunday, and the hosts now have the opportunity to assert their dominance in the shorter forms of the game.

The two sides will meet each other in two T20 clashes and five one-day internationals over the coming weeks, and first up is Thursday’s 20-over clash at the Rose Bowl.

Just three of England’s Ashes heroes have been named in the 14-man squad for the T20 matches – captain Stuart Broad, opening batsman Joe Root and pace bowler Steven Finn.

But one man who will be desperate to make an impression ahead of next year’s ICC World T20 tournament is Hampshire batsman Michael Carberry.

The 32-year-old left-hander, who won his sole Test cap in 2010, has ea...

Read More

August 26, 2013,  Cricket  No comments

England coach Andy Flower has dismissed suggestions that he is preparing to quit after the upcoming tour of Australia.

The former Zimbabwe international was appointed to the role in April 2009 following the departure of Peter Moores, and has since overseen victory in three separate Ashes series.

The latest of these successes was confirmed on Sunday, as the fifth Test of the 2013 edition of the contest ended in a draw at The Oval to ensure a 3-0 series win for England.

But Flower has remained coy on reports that he could now look to step down following the fourth Ashes series of his tenure, which will begin in Brisbane on November 21.

“I don’t look too far ahead with regards my own personal situation,” he said.

“We’ve got the challenge of an away Ashes coming up...

Read More

August 26, 2013,  Cricket  No comments

England’s 3-0 Ashes series triumph over Australia has seen them move up to second in the latest ICC Test Team Rankings.

Alastair Cook’s men completed an emphatic series victory over their arch-rivals on Sunday, despite the fifth and final Test at The Oval ending in a draw.

The hosts needed 227 to win from 44 overs after Australia’s bold declaration at tea, and required just 21 runs from 24 balls before bad light denied what would have been a classic finish.

While the perfect Ashes crescendo did not quite happen, England’s frustrations immediately turned to rapture as Cook’s team hoisted the urn in celebration of their series win.

That was also enough to gain them four ratings points and lift them to 116 points overall in the Test rankings, ahead of India.

India also have 116 ratings point...

Read More