It isn’t very often that an England test squad comes as much of a surprise. Normally, someone would have predicted what would happen because of inside information or a gut feeling. However, when the 12-man strong squad for the first test against the West Indies was announced yesterday, there was undoubtedly a great deal of [...]

Gravy and cricket – perfect! With the inevitable inclusion of Durham seamer Graham Onions to the England squad for the first Test against West Indies starting next week, one thing that immediately came to mind for me …..will the prolific Antiguan Gravy (full name Labon Kenneth Blackburn Leeweltine Buckonon) be jumping on a plane and [...]

Cricket Australia today announced fast bowler Brett Lee will join the Australian squad in Abu Dhabi tomorrow. Great to see the “big man” moving forward and continuing with his steady progress towards his Ashes recovery. Lee has spent the past fortnight in South Africa continuing his recovery from ankle surgery. Australian Team Doctor Trefor James [...]

Andrew Flintoff has today returned home from the Indian Premier League to undergo surgery on a torn meniscus in his right knee. Flintoff had been appearing for Chennai Super KIngs in the IPL when he felt discomfort in his right knee. The Chennai medical staff immediately contacted ECB Chief Medical Officer Dr Nick Peirce Scans were taken of the [...]

Matthew Hoggard has taken 248 test wickets in his career. He is one of the best swing bowlers that England have had in recent years and you just know that he will run in and bowl all day long for his country. Despite this though, he is yet to get a look in for England [...]

British Lions Kit 2009 In what has to be the worst kept secret of the last 12 months, Ireland’s Paul O’Connell has been confirmed as British and Irish Lions captain for the three-Test summer tour to South Africa. The new kit can be found here. O’Connell is one of fourteen players from Ireland. The second [...]

Flintoff and Pietersen in action Saturday Following the “will they, won’t they” saga that has surrounded the second Indian Premier League (IPL), the competition the World (ok a slight exaggeration!) has waited to see kicks off tomorrow in South Africa. The cheerleaders are ready, the players are ready and the sponsors are ready – the [...]

In one of the most inevitable appointments in English cricket history, former Zimbabwe player Andy Flower was appointed as England’s team director yesterday. After acting as temporary head coach during the winter, he got the nod to take on the role full-time. I say that it was inevitable, simply because it would have been a [...]