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Cricket Eng v NZ

What to expect from Brendon McCullum?

English cricket has had a bit of a crush on New Zealand in recent times. From the buccaneering if ultimately thwarted World Cup campaign in 2015 that inspired Eoin Morgan’s white-ball side to silverware four years later, to last summer’s World Test Championship triumph, admiration has been plentiful. In some ways the move to hire […]

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Cricket Eng v NZ

There are no guarantees in sport but Ben Stokes ticks all the boxes

Ben Stokes was the right choice to become England’s new Test captain. As Rob Key, the director of cricket, said on Thursday, he wasn’t the only choice… he was the best one. A few people have pointed out that two other great all-rounders didn’t work out as England captain. But don’t judge Stokes by how […]

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Cricket Eng v NZ

The appointment of Ben Stokes as the Test captain is a gamble

So Ben Stokes will captain England and we will all be required to politely forget that less than a year ago he was unavailable to his country with mental health issues. Thanks for all the messages, proud day for me and my family. I love playing cricket for England, see you at Lord’s pic.twitter.com/AvgN4DDLah — Ben […]

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Cricket Eng v NZ

Joe Root’s lack of tactical acumen too often cost England dear and change had to happen

Joe Root could never quite become the captain England wanted him to be. He said all the right things, and occasionally did them too — but not often enough, and increasingly not when it mattered. In the end, the burden of one Test win in 17 proved unbearable. He finishes with a record that can […]

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Cricket Eng v NZ

Ben Stokes has the respect, class and aura to lead England out of the doldrums

Joe Root should be very proud of how he conducted himself as England captain, not only because he has been successful but also for being a fantastic ambassador for the game. Root has won more Tests in charge than anyone else in England’s history and he has always done that with a smile and managed […]

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Cricket Eng v NZ

The departure of Joe Root leaves England with huge gaps at the top

There are seven weeks to go until the first Test against New Zealand at Lord’s and English cricket is without a permanent chair, a managing director of men’s cricket, a head coach, a selector, and now a captain. Things may start to move quickly on the managing director front in the coming days, but it […]

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Cricket Eng v NZ

Joe Root was a broken skipper in West Indies

There was a moment when it became clear Joe Root’s position as England captain was as good as untenable. It was not during a match, or even at the end of one. It was not at the conclusion of a losing series either, although there have been enough of those of late. It was last […]