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The GuardianEngland’s Rob Key backs Kookaburra ball for full-time use in county cricket
The early season trial of the Kookaburra ball in the County Championship has been hailed as a success by Rob Key
AFPBabar back as captain as Pakistan face N. Zealand in World Cup build-up
Babar Azam makes his return as Pakistan captain in a five-match Twenty20 series starting Thursday against an understrength New Zealand with the World Cup weeks away.Pakistan suffered major upheaval following their first-round exit from the one-day World Cup last year.
AFPImpact subs add lower order firepower as IPL smashes scoring records
Better use of the Indian Premier League's impact substitute rule has been the big factor behind this season's run spree in the high-octane Twenty20 competition which has seen multiple scoring records smashed, say experts."Impact player rule is benefiting (the) entertainment part of cricket, which is high-scoring games," Pathan told reporters.
Somerset County GazetteSurrey threaten late heroics before settling for a draw with Somerset
The hosts began the day as favourites, but as the game drew to a dramatic climax, it was Somerset who were in the ascendancy.
PA Media: SportFormer England and Kent spinner Derek Underwood dies aged 78
Underwood has taken more Test wickets than any other England spinner, sitting 42 ahead of nearest rival Graeme Swann.
AFPCummins leads Australia quintet of Wisden award winners
Australia captain Pat Cummins was named the Leading Cricketer in the World by Wisden on Monday to coincide with the publication of the 161st edition of the sport's "bible"."After captaining Australia to success in the World Test Championship, Pat Cummins retained the Ashes –- thanks in no small part to his late-order runs in the first Test at Edgbaston –- then led Australia to victory in the World Cup final in India," said Wisden editor Lawrence Booth.
The Guardian‘Deserved respect not ridicule’: Wisden speaks out over cricket’s ICEC report
Wisden has given a hefty endorsement of last year’s report by the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket, with the 161st edition of the sport’s fabled annual insisting the panel’s findings and recommendations “deserved respect, not ridicule”. Commissioned by the England & Wales Cricket Board in 2021, and published during last summer’s dual Ashes series, the ICEC report found that 50% of its 4,000 respondents had experienced discrimination in the previous five years – a figure which rises significantly among people from ethnically diverse backgrounds. Despite the ECB saying the findings of the panel chaired by Cindy Butts had “raised serious issues of public concern”, including disparity in representation on the field and in leadership roles, there has been criticism in some quarters.
PA Media: SportWisden Cricketers’ Almanack critical of distribution of ICC finances
Lawrence Booth uses his editor’s notes to rail against last year’s decision to increase India’s share of central ICC funds.
- The Telegraph
Two Bazballers in Wisden’s cricketers of the year as Nat Sciver-Brunt scoops landmark award
Harry Brook and Mark Wood, two stars of England’s thrilling 2-2 Ashes draw with Australia last summer, have been named among Wisden Almanack’s Five Cricketers of the Year for 2024, with Nat Sciver-Brunt becoming the first England women’s player to be named as Wisden’s Leading Cricketer in the World.
PA Media: SportEngland’s Nat Sciver-Brunt named Wisden’s leading women’s cricketer in the world
Sciver-Brunt finally places an English name on the women’s gong, which has been won five times by Australians in the 10 years since its inception.
PA Media: SportUncle and nephew team up as Joe and Jaydn Denly earn Kent draw with Essex
The pair put on 51 runs over 16 overs.
The GuardianDerek Underwood obituary
Leading bowler for England whose consistently accurate left-arm spin made the most of any assistance from the pitch
The ArgusSussex held up by the weather again but Farbrace says outlook looks bright
Frequent heavy showers killed off any prospect of a positive result from Sussex’s visit to Leicestershire in the Vitality County Championship, meaning no play was possible at all on the final scheduled day of their Division Two clash.
PA Media: SportThe numbers which prove Derek Underwood had plenty of players in a spin
The former Kent player is one of Test and first-class cricket’s all-time leading wicket-takers.
Evening StandardEngland spinner Rehan Ahmed flies home from India tour for personal reasons
Teenager departs after start of Fourth Test
The TelegraphDerek Underwood, great England and Kent bowler, dies aged 78
Derek Underwood, a unique bowler for Kent and England, has died at the age of 78.
Evening StandardDerek Underwood: Former England and Kent spinner dies, aged 78
Kent legend considered one of the finest bowlers on the planet during his pomp
PA Media: Sport‘Deadly’ Derek Underwood – the spinner who caused havoc with unique skill set
Underwood remains the country’s most prolific, successful and revered spin bowler of his or any other period.
The TelegraphJonathan Agnew: Calling it the ‘Men’s Ashes’ is sad – it began in 1882
Jonathan Agnew, the BBC’s departing chief cricket correspondent, has complained over cricket’s adoption of the gender-neutral ‘batter’ and references to the Ashes as the ‘men’s Ashes’.
PA Media: SportOn This Day in 2022 – World Cup winner Anya Shrubsole retires from England duty
Shrubsole took 227 wickets in 173 matches in all formats.
PA Media: SportWarwickshire’s second-highest total in their history puts Durham under pressure
The home side, led by Alex Davies’ maiden double-century, amassed a giant 698 for three declared to leave Durham needing 549 to avoid the follow-on.
AFPHetmyer powers Rajasthan win in low-scoring IPL thriller
Shimron Hetmyer's explosive 27 runs off 10 balls helped Rajasthan Royals edge out Punjab Kings with a three-wicket IPL win on Saturday.Hetmyer's spell at the crease, laced with three sixes, brought Rajasthan past Punjab's 147-8 with only one ball to spare, cementing the side's place at the top of the table with only one loss from the season so far.
The IndependentRuns flow as Kookaburra ball makes impact on County Championship
Warwickshire score almost 700 runs in their first innings against Durham while Essex declared on 530-7
The TelegraphBen Stokes wants fast bowlers and spinners – County Championship is showing why
Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum want young spinners and fast bowlers, not medium-pacers, and what the England management want they are getting in the first two rounds of County Championship matches. Cuckoos have not arrived yet young English spinners are taking wickets.
AFPNepal batsman Airee smashes six sixes in an over
Nepal batsman Dipendra Singh Airee became just the third man to hit six sixes in one over in an international T20 match when he achieved the feat against Qatar in Al Amerat on Saturday.It was the second time that Airee, 24, has hit six successive sixes.
