Smith to open for England in ODI series opener against West Indies
LONDON : Jamie Smith will open the batting for England in Thursday's ODI against West Indies at Edgbaston, captain Harry Brook confirmed on Wednesday ahead of the three-match series.
Brendon Maccullum Sport News
England's Zak Crawley Glad To 'Repay Faith' With Zimbabwe Hundred
Zak Crawley said he was glad to "repay the faith" of team management after ending a run of low scores with one of three England hundreds on the opening day of their one-off Test against Zimbabwe. The dominant hosts piled up 498 for three at Trent Bridge on Thursday as they surpassed the previous highest first-day team total in a Test in England of 475-2 compiled by an Australia side featuring batting great Donald Bradman at The Oval back in 1934.
Brendon McCullum Shares One Aspect England Need To "Improve On" Ahead Of India Tests
England head coach Brendon McCullum feels his players have lacked humility in their recent public utterances and he would like to see them win back respect from fans ahead of the tough home series against India and the Ashes later this year. McCullum, while speaking to the media ahead of a lone Test against Zimbabwe starting Thursday in Nottingham, said the players need to be more attuned to the public mood. "It's not just about what you do on the cricket field. It's how you carry yourself. It's how you interact with the public. It's the messaging that you give," McCullum told the British media.
McCullum wants England to show a bit more humility
LONDON : England head coach Brendon McCullum said his players must try to show a bit more humility and remember that they are still being judged by how they act away from the cricket field.
Huge Concern For England Cricket, Qualification For 2027 World Cup Could Be In Doubt. Here's Why
England have slipped to eighth place in the ICC Men's ODI rankings following the annual update last week, raising concerns about their direct qualification for the 2027 ODI World Cup, as per Wisden. The rankings update with each match and series played, but annual update reduces the impact of matches older than a year and completely removes results from over three years ago. As a result, England, despite climbing to No. 2 in the Test rankings, dropped to eighth in ODIs. Between May 4, 2024 and May 4, 2025, they managed just three wins in 14 ODIs, giving them a win/loss ratio of 0.272 -- better only than Nepal and Bangladesh in that period.
England Cricket Team Eyes Tim Southee As Pace Consultant For Home Summer
England are reportedly considering former New Zealand pacer Tim Southee as their fast-bowling consultant ahead of a home summer season that includes a marquee five-Test series against India. The 36-year-old is one of the contenders to replace veteran pacer James Anderson, who took up the role after retiring from Test cricket last year but is unavailable this summer due to playing commitments with county side Lancashire. Southee had called time on his red-ball career in December, finishing with 391 Test wickets, second only to Sir Richard Hadlee on 431.
IPL’s new bat testing rule draws mixed reactions from players
LONDON: The Indian Premier League’s new rule requiring bat checks before batsmen take guard has sparked mixed reactions among players.
Virat Kohli Tops Batting Charts, Yuzvendra Chahal Leads With The Ball As IPL Turns 18
On April 18, the Indian Premier League (IPL) celebrates its 18th birthday, a tournament that revolutionised cricket and changed the sport's landscape forever. The league's inception was nothing short of dramatic, as Brendon McCullum of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) lit up the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium with an unforgettable 158* off just 73 deliveries, smashing ten fours and thirteen sixes against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). That one knock announced the arrival of a cricketing carnival. As the league undergoes its 18th season, Virat Kohli stands as the highest run-scorer in IPL history. Representing just one franchise--Royal Challengers Bangalore--Kohli has amassed an astounding 8,252 runs from 258 matches, including eight centuries and 58 fifties. Remarkably, he has never missed a season for RCB, making him the league's most loyal and prolific batter.