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16/08
Derbyshire chief hails "good future" for outground cricket after Repton return
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Repton: Derbyshire 315, Worcestershire 316-6 - Worcestershire won by four wickets
Caleb Jewell hit the first List A century at Repton School with three balls that went for six, four and four off Brett D'Oliveria.
D'Oliveria himself repeated the same feat in the Worcestershire chase, but it very much feels like they won't be last to do so here, if the 1,700 sell-out crowd here – including neutrals from as far afield as Somerset and Lancashire - have anything to say about.
And what's not to like for the kind of people for whom outground cricket is very much a lifestyle? Grass banking, trees, historic architecture, a spire, and – as the cherry on a very rich cake – an actual thatched pavilion.
That Derbyshire had not returned to such groundhopping opulence since their sole previous home game here in 1988 is something of a surprise.
On the evidence of today, though, good things come to those who wait.
Although this fixture was moved from Derby after the schedule was announced, nothing here felt haphazard from a fan's point of view; no surprise, given that talks about this return had been ongoing for four years.
And Derbyshire chief executive Ryan Duckett believes that outground cricket across the counties has a "good future", if the 18 clubs can find a way to make such events work commercially.
"One of the positives of the One Day Cup, despite losing players to The Hundred, is the players that have emerged and gone on to play in the County Championship and the Blast," said Duckett.
"But another positive has been the crowds, even at headquarters, and there's been a resurgence of outground cricket.
"In the past, not all outground days worked, but you have to look at different models to make it work commercially, whether that's with a school or a cricket club.
"I think outground cricket has a good future, but every county has got to get their model right to make sure it's a sustainable project."
Repton director of cricket Martin Speight is in agreement, having played for Sussex and grounds including Eastbourne, Hastings, Arundel and Horsham during his career.
"It's a great spectacle and there's a buzz about the school," he said. "I don't see anyone losing out of it.
"If you want to inspire kids and promote the game, well, show me somewhere better than this to do it."
It's hard to argue with him, and one would suspect a return visit will soon be pencilled in for 2026. Maybe, in future, there could even be one featuring a red ball and white clothing.
Now that really would be the cherry on the top.
Rehan Ahmed interview: The player who could be England’s long-term Ben Stokes replacement
Spinner has hit five centuries in County Championship to become a left-field all-round option for this winter’s Ashes tour
Will Macherson
It is approaching three years since Rehan Ahmed’s stunning Test debut but it is not until Wednesday that he will turn 21. And this coming-of-age milestone arrives in the middle of a coming-of-age season full of milestones.
Ahmed has been one of the stories of the season despite not adding to his tally of caps in a thrilling Test summer.
In a resurgent Leicestershire side seemingly certain for promotion, he has hit five County Championship centuries, equal most in the land. Four of them have come in his last four matches and all of them have come in the top three after he opportunistically asked for a promotion.
Ahmed also has 23 wickets at 19 apiece, including 16 at 17 with the Kookaburra ball which has been county cricket’s kryptonite this dry summer.
It is now Hundred season, and he has started that well, too. In two Trent Rockets wins, he has 56 runs from 42 balls at No 3 and taken two wickets from his 25 deliveries.
‘I’m a bowler who bowls and a batter who bats’
In the winter of 2022-23, as an 18-year-old, Ahmed became England’s youngest male cricketer in all three formats. He took a five-wicket haul on Test debut and was the first of the Bazball era’s great punts on youth.
But his talent was so obvious and prodigious in both key facets of the game that it was easy to wonder which he should concentrate more on. For England, he has been a bowler. For Leicestershire, he has largely been a batsman. This year, for all his batting success, Ahmed has not changed his view of his own cricket.
“I still feel like I’m a bowler who bowls and a batter who bats,” he tells Telegraph Sport. “I want to be very good at both. Whether that takes me years or happens quickly, I will always be striving to be the best all-rounder I can.”
He accepts, though, that something has changed in his batting. In the opening game of the championship season, Leicestershire’s regular opener Rishi Patel injured his hand, and Ahmed offered to stand in. In his first full game in the role, he scored a hundred, just the second of his career, and was moved to No 3 when Patel returned. Four more hundreds have followed.
“I asked for the opportunity to open,” he says. “I feel I train hard enough on my batting to bat in the top order. When I was batting lower down, I felt like I was always chasing the game. But at three, in your head you have more time to shape the game. I’m not saying I play to all that time, but it makes me more relaxed knowing it’s there.
“And also, when you bat at No 3, there are often only about three fielders in front of the bat. It can be easier to get a good start. It’s also nice having that responsibility, to take the game on yourself.
“I feel that if I occupy the crease long enough, I will always find ways to score. I just had to find a way to stay out there long enough. I am surprised that I’ve kept my head switched on long enough to get five hundreds, but I’m delighted.
“I always felt I never did myself justice with the bat. I love batting. I have always told everyone I love batting. I would say that, and then look at my numbers and ask myself ‘mate, do you actually love batting?’
“I train so much on my batting, and expect myself not to get out in certain ways. So when I have got out like that, and go against the work I’ve done, it’s not nice. I tried to make sure I am content with how I have got out because I know my options. You are going to get out. It’s just how many runs you’ve got before you’ve got out.
“The template has not changed. But I have soaked up pressure much better, I think. I have got a 50 off 30 balls, and hit four fours in an over because I felt that was the best way to put a bowler under pressure. But it’s the times I’ve soaked up pressure better that it’s paid off most.”
It has been easy to wonder if Ahmed is on some sort of Steve Smith arc: the leg-spinning all-rounder whose unique and irrepressible batting took over. He is not having it, though.
“I love bowling, too!” he says. “Whenever I’ve played for England, it’s been as a bowler. I still do think that’s my first skill and I am trying to learn as much as I possibly can. Leg-spin is an art that you can never perfect. It’s about working as hard as possible.
“I want to bowl as much as I possibly can. I enjoy it. I love being part of the game as much as I can. So I just want to get runs and a load of wickets consistently in the same games.”
‘I hope my brother breaks my records’
Leicestershire have never been promoted, and have been out of the championship’s top flight since 2003. Ahmed puts this season’s success to their bevy of all-rounders: himself, Ian Holland (who he calls the Leicester Jacques Kallis), Ben Green and Tom Scriven, who has battled No 11 at times despite a first-class average of almost 30.
At the Rockets, Ahmed is batting No 3 behind Joe Root, has Graeme Swann coaching spin and Andy Flower in charge. Having worked together in the ILT20, Flower and Ahmed appear to be forming an unlikely bromance.
“We have a great relationship,” he laughs. “From the outside, he can look a bit daunting. When I first met him it felt almost like a headteacher. I felt like I was going to get told off every time! But I love the fact that he is serious, it shows how much he cares. He’s a good laugh as well, an open guy and a great coach.”
Perhaps circled in Ahmed’s calendar is Tuesday, August 19, when Rockets face Manchester Originals, who have picked up his 17-year-old brother, Farhan, who is already a first-team regular with Nottinghamshire. They met twice in the Blast this year. Could Farhan break Rehan’s records as England’s youngest player?
“He can try!” the big brother laughs. “Honestly, I hope he does. He’s a very talented boy and works very hard too. I don’t see why he couldn’t.
“I can’t wait [to play against him again]. It’s something we dreamt of when we were kids, playing against your brothers on the big stage. I’m very happy for him, he’s got a lot of skill and is doing very well.”
‘I’d love to be a part of the Ashes’
When Shoaib Bashir succumbed to injury last month, the Leicestershire coach Alfonso Thomas said he was “amazed” Ahmed was not called up. The player himself saw it differently, saying Liam Dawson “deserved the chance”.
But his form this year has put him in pole position for a place on this winter’s Ashes tour, chiefly as Bashir’s understudy but perhaps as a left-field all-round option. For all the talk of Smith, England need to think about life after Ben Stokes. It might just be that Ahmed, batting in the top seven and bowling game-changing leg spin alongside four frontline seamers, is the perfect option.
“I’ve never been to Australia,” he says. “Never played there. It looks a great place to play, and the Ashes is an incredible occasion. I’d love to be a part of it. I know the management, if they pick me, they back me 100 per cent. If they don’t, it’s because they don’t think I’m the right man for the job there. I have full faith in their judgement.”
Whether Ahmed gets the Ashes call or not, he will be soaking up the series. In 2023, he spent a lot of time fielding in place of the injured Ollie Pope at Lord’s, and describes it as “some experience”. Even as he comes of age, his childlike love of the game remains; he admits he “loves watching Rooty bat in the nets” and he found England’s series against India “proper” viewing.
“I know it’s simple, but having fun in the game is important,” he says. “If you asked any man on the street if they wanted to play in the Ashes, they’d jump at the chance. If I don’t go, it’ll be a great watch.”
14/08
Do you remember the discrepancy in the playing elevens declared at the toss for Nottinghamshire and the eleven that the players were told at Southampton recently, where Farhan, performing 12th man duties had to be informed by the umpire that he (Farhan) was in the playing eleven and not Dillon?
Well something similar has happened at Worcestershire:
From the Essex report:
... It was not all rosy for Worcestershire, though. Rob Jones had declared himself unfit to play earlier in the morning but was named in the XI at the toss in what was later described as an ‘administrative error’ (expletive deleted). He came out at the fall of the ninth wicket, faced two balls, scored five not out and was not seen again...
12/08
Lancs Cricket County Members Group letter to Rob Andrew of ECB
Dear Rob,
You were kind enough to consult the County Cricket Members Group earlier in the summer. Our main piece of feedback on the proposed domestic schedule changes was as follows:
"To make time for the counties (especially the member controlled ones) to consult their members meaningfully"
After the PGC met on 8 July and sent counties their choices for feedback, Lancashire CCC held a members forum on 13 July. There, the CEO, Daniel Gidney, told members that the ECB had given the club just three options - all with 12 fixtures - for the County Championship. The ECB also required county Chairs to vote on these options by 17 July. The club was bound by a previous promise to put any change to the domestic schedule to a binding member vote. Accordingly, the club required members to vote on the three options by 16 July.
At the time, other counties were sharing a broader choice including a 14 match option restoring Division 1 to 8 teams, so some Lancashire members were suspicious that they had not been told the full picture. Lancashire members were though largely in the dark and trusted the club's information and around 1100 (out of c 6000 members) voted on the three choices.
It recently became clear that the Chief Executive misled members because an e-mail dated 28 July from the chair of the ECB's Professional Game Committee became public.
I ask that the ECB takes action to uphold the integrity of the consultation process. My understanding is that the voting on the options is very tight and one county's vote either way could decide the matter.
Lancashire CCC members have called a SGM to hold the Chief Executive accountable for his actions. It also requests that Interim Chair Dame Sarah Storey abstain from any ECB vote until Lancashire members are given the choice of the 12 match option or keeping a 14 match option.
We ask that you give Lancashire CCC time to correct the incorrect and incomplete information given to members so that its vote reflects the real views of the membership.
Lancashire members have offered to meet Dame Sarah to resolve the issues and await her reply.
Thank you for the time taken to listen to county members' feedback and for considering this matter.
Yours sincerely,
Alan Higham (National Coordinator County Cricket Members Group)
05/08
Lancashire County Cricket Members group on Twitter X
04/08
this afternoon:
Lancashire Cricket can confirm that Andy Anson OBE will be stepping down from his position as Chair of the Club, with Dame Sarah Storey set to assume the role of Interim Chair.
At a Board Meeting on Monday 7 July, Anson announced his decision to resign from the role, following the India Test Match at Emirates Old Trafford. This follows on from his appointment to a new full-time role working with leading private equity company BD Capital, and his decision to step down as CEO of the British Olympic Association, earlier in the month.
Anson has served as Lancashire’s Chair since November 2020 providing strategic leadership and support to the Club during a period of growth and transformation, initially under difficult circumstances following the passing of previous Chairman David Hodgkiss OBE during the Covid pandemic.
Under his stewardship, Lancashire Cricket has made significant strides, particularly with the Hilton Garden Inn extension project, which was completed in 2023, as well as Farington which will open next year, whilst also ensuring significant investment into the Club’s women’s team. Anson has overseen the sales process to acquire Manchester Originals, alongside the RP-Sanjiv Goenka Group, whilst also championing recent initiatives to honour the Club's heritage, such as the stand renaming after Sir Clive Lloyd and Farokh Engineer, which took place during the Fourth Rothesay Test Match between England and India at Emirates Old Trafford.
Andy Anson said: "It has been a privilege to serve as Chair of Lancashire Cricket, the Club I’ve supported since childhood. I’m incredibly proud of what we have achieved together and confident that the Club is well positioned for continued success in the future.
“Having the honour of naming a stand after Sir Clive Lloyd and Farokh Engineer recently, was a moment that will stay with me forever. I am also delighted that - following the investment in Manchester Originals by the RPSG Group - the Club will be on a sound financial footing for generations to come. The significant progress of the women’s squad at the Club is also something I am immensely proud of.
“I would like to thank the Board, the Executive Team, our players, staff and Members for their support and dedication throughout my tenure."
The Club can confirm that Dame Sarah Storey - Britain’s most successful Paralympian - will assume the role of Interim Chair, following Board approval, after stepping down as President. The Interim Chair position will be treated as a casual vacancy until the next Annual General Meeting. The appointment aligns with Club Rule 15.4.4, which states: “If a casual vacancy occurs in the office of Club Chair, the Board shall meet to appoint a person to fill such vacancy.”
ECB Chairman Richard Thompson, ECB Chairman added: “Andy has contributed a great deal during his tenure as Chair at Lancashire, providing stable leadership through the difficult COVID years and enabling the Club to keep moving forwards at pace. His work at the British Olympic Association has also helped to guide cricket into the Olympics in 2028.”
Dame Sarah Storey, commented: “Andy’s impact during his time as Chair has been remarkable and I have been fortunate to witness this first hand during my time as President. Everyone is incredibly grateful for the service he’s shown to the Club and we approach the next phase in a great place thanks to his leadership.”
Director of Cricket Performance Mark Chilton also commented: “Andy has been a tremendous support for both the men’s and women’s cricket departments during his tenure. On behalf of the players and coaching staff, I would like to thank Andy for his work and wish him all the very best for the future.”
Submitted earlier today:
Dear Mr Morris,
I attach the required documentation for the requisitioning by more than 100 members of a Special General Meeting of LCCC. Please acknowledge receipt of this email.
By my reading of the Rules:
- The Board must convene the SGM by issuing a notice to all Members and the Auditors.
- This must occur *within 14 days of the Receipt Date* (i.e., by August 18, 2025).
- The notice must specify the date, time, place of the meeting, and the resolutions/business (no other business can be transacted).
- The SGM date set in the notice must be *not later than 28 days after the Receipt Date* (i.e., by September 1, 2025).
- The notice must be despatched *at least 14 clear days before the SGM date* (clear days exclude the day the notice is treated as given and the SGM date; e.g., for an SGM on September 1, notice must be despatched by August 16 to allow 14 clear days from August 17–31).
Please also confirm that my reading of the LCCC rules as above, is correct.
GEORGE DOBELL: The ECB have set no limit on how the payments of £400,000 to each of the 18 counties have to be spent, but want to avoid seeing "white elephants" created with unnecessary ground expansions
The first-class counties are set to receive the first payment from The Hundred sales today (Thursday, July 31).
Each of the first-class counties will receive an "unfettered" payment of around £400,000. There are no restrictions on how this money can be used.
While two of the eight deals around new ownership of Hundred sides are yet to be signed, the ECB are confident they will be within weeks and are keen for the counties to see and feel the benefits of the sell-off.
In all, the non-host counties can expect to receive just over £24m from the sales, with the hosts receiving around £18m.
Much of this money will have restrictions imposed upon how it can be spent, with the ECB hoping it is used to clear debt, improve facilities and create revenue streams.
The host counties, which sold an extra share of ownership to investors - Yorkshire, Lancashire and Glamorgan - can also expect to receive that money today. In the case of Yorkshire, it could, in theory, allow them to pay off the debts owed to the Colin Graves family trusts.
Meanwhile, the ECB have intervened to ensure a new 'arms race' doesn't result in counties bankrupting themselves in a bid to join the host teams. There have been concerns that some of the non-host counties - notably Somerset, Kent and Sussex - could be seduced into spending vast sums to increase the capacity of their stadiums in an attempt to become a hosting team should the competition expand.
But Richard Gould, the ECB chief executive, has now confirmed there will be only modest (if any) requirements about ground capacity, and they are not going to be asking for large-scale investments.
"These are the sort of things we want to avoid," Gould said. "When giving guidance to what a future expansion looks like in terms of facilities, we're not going to be setting huge capacities. We don't want lots of empty plastic seats around the place.
"If we do set a capacity limit, it will be 7-8,000, and I don't think we've even firmed that up. But we're not looking to see investment going into creating white elephants."
He added: "With the money that's coming in over the next several years, it's a chance for county cricket to recapitalise in a way it's never had an opportunity to. We're looking forward at a grassroots level and county to see how we move forward - men's cricket, women's cricket, fan facilities, player facilities.
"Often when something is sold, the money is taken and probably put into a yacht parked off the Bahamas. Here, every single penny is going back into the game."
No expansion will occur before 2029, and it will only be considered then if certain criteria around growth targets have been achieved. There has, however, been some resistance from several of the current hosts over the prospect of any expansion.
In further news, it seems that three Hundred teams - those based at Lancashire, Yorkshire and Surrey - will see their names change as a result of the new ownership, and a change of format (to a regular T20 structure) is still "to be discussed" in the coming weeks. It remains possible that 2025 is the final year of the 100-ball structure.
"In this country, the format has provided us with some really interesting things, especially from a broadcast perspective," Vikram Banerjee, the managing director of The Hundred, said.
"So, I'm sure it will be discussed. At the moment, it's the hundred [ball] format and that will remain for now. But let's see where we get in a month.
"We don't have firm ideas [how the competition will look next year]. That's the kind of conversation we're starting to get into now. It would be slightly odd to bring in all these just people and just leave it as it is. But there are things the tournament has done brilliantly and we think are great."
It is understood that the current broadcast deal with Sky Sports - running until the end of the 2028 season - specifies that the competition will feature 100 balls per innings.
The ECB also clarified that the new Hundred board will feature 20 people. That will consist of four ECB representatives and two each from the right teams, one of them from the host county and the other from an investor.
Each of the ECB board members will have two votes, meaning there are 24 votes in total. Some issues will be carried by a simple majority and others by a majority of two-thirds. The ECB retains "red lines" over issues such as the length of the window for the tournament. Ticket prices for children will also remain at £5 for the next five years.
The ECB remain keen to avoid playing international cricket during the Hundred window but admit that it may prove impossible to avoid at times as events such as the Olympic Games - cricket is scheduled to be played at Los Angeles 2028 - intervene. But it remains, Gould said, "a last resort" scenario.
Kent Cricket has received an 8-point penalty in the Rothesay County Championship after the club passed the threshold of receiving four fixed penalties in one season, in accordance with the ECB's Professional Conduct Regulations.
A fixed penalty was received in Kent Cricket’s Rothesay County Championship match against Glamorgan CCC on 24 July 2025 (as set out below):
Individual Fixed Penalty
The umpires reported Daniel Bell-Drummond’s conduct during Kent Cricket’s Rothesay County Championship match against Glamorgan CCC on 24 July 2025.
The matter was considered by the Match Referee, Alec Swann, who determined that this was an offence under Level 1(c) of the Professional Conduct Regulations.
1c - Showing dissent at an umpire’s decision by word or action.
Automatic Points Penalty
Regulation 4.28 of the Professional Conduct Regulations sets out that it will be a separate offence for a Team to: “during any season Registered Cricketers registered with or on loan to the same Professional County Club whilst playing for that Team in the County Championship, receive 4 or more fixed penalties”
By virtue of receiving this fixed penalty, Kent Cricket has now met the threshold of four penalties in one season, having previously received three fixed penalties in the Rothesay County Championship for:
- Matt Parkinson’s conduct during Kent Cricket’s Rothesay County Championship match against Glamorgan CCC on 09 May 2025.
- Kashif Ali’s conduct during Kent Cricket’s Rothesay County Championship match against Gloucestershire CCC on 19 May 2025.
- Tawanda Muyeye’s conduct during Kent Cricket’s Rothesay County Championship match against Derbyshire CCC on 26 May 2025.
Kent Cricket have confirmed that they are not appealing the penalty.
Revived MCC Young Cricketers' programme sees first graduate snapped up by county
Allrounder Daaryoush Ahmed has joined Gloucestershire on a rookie contract for the upcoming One-Day CupNick Friend
Daaryoush Ahmed has become the first player to be signed out of the relaunched MCC Young Cricketers programme.
The allrounder has joined Gloucestershire on a rookie contract for the upcoming One-Day Cup.
Ahmed, 24, who has also worked with the South Asian Cricket Academy and trained with Gloucestershire through the winter, has impressed under the eye of Graeme Swann [Nottinghamshire GC], who was appointed as head coach of the initiative following its revival after a five-year hiatus. The MCC is understood to be paying Ahmed's contract.
Rob Lynch, MCC's director of cricket and operations, described the scheme's return as "a huge success" and revealed that "there has been significant interest in many of the players who took part".
Twenty-two players, who have either been released or are yet to be signed, were offered the chance to compete for one spot on a One-Day Cup squad later this summer.
During the month that the squad were together, they were coached and assessed by ECB scouts at Lord's and Wormsley before being reduced to 14 players for matches against Lancashire, South Asian Cricket Association, Middlesex, Yorkshire, Gloucestershire, and Jersey.
"It is clear that having this pathway in place provides another vital opportunity for young players to fulfil their potential, and I am looking forward to seeing how it can support both male and female players in the years to come," added Lynch.
Born in Bristol, Ahmed took Yorkshire's second team for a century in June; he has featured in Gloucestershire's second string since 2022.
"I'm thrilled to have signed my first professional contract with Gloucestershire, a club that has been instrumental in shaping my cricketing journey this far," he said.
"This moment is a proud milestone for me, and I'm really grateful that the hard work and sacrifices over the past few years have led to this opportunity. A huge thank you to SACA, and more recently, the MCC Young Cricketers programme for their invaluable support and guidance. Both have provided me with an incredible platform to grow and succeed."
Nick Friend
Daaryoush Ahmed has become the first player to be signed out of the relaunched MCC Young Cricketers programme.
The allrounder has joined Gloucestershire on a rookie contract for the upcoming One-Day Cup.
Ahmed, 24, who has also worked with the South Asian Cricket Academy and trained with Gloucestershire through the winter, has impressed under the eye of Graeme Swann [Nottinghamshire GC], who was appointed as head coach of the initiative following its revival after a five-year hiatus. The MCC is understood to be paying Ahmed's contract.
Rob Lynch, MCC's director of cricket and operations, described the scheme's return as "a huge success" and revealed that "there has been significant interest in many of the players who took part".
Twenty-two players, who have either been released or are yet to be signed, were offered the chance to compete for one spot on a One-Day Cup squad later this summer.
During the month that the squad were together, they were coached and assessed by ECB scouts at Lord's and Wormsley before being reduced to 14 players for matches against Lancashire, South Asian Cricket Association, Middlesex, Yorkshire, Gloucestershire, and Jersey.
"It is clear that having this pathway in place provides another vital opportunity for young players to fulfil their potential, and I am looking forward to seeing how it can support both male and female players in the years to come," added Lynch.
Born in Bristol, Ahmed took Yorkshire's second team for a century in June; he has featured in Gloucestershire's second string since 2022.
"I'm thrilled to have signed my first professional contract with Gloucestershire, a club that has been instrumental in shaping my cricketing journey this far," he said.
"This moment is a proud milestone for me, and I'm really grateful that the hard work and sacrifices over the past few years have led to this opportunity. A huge thank you to SACA, and more recently, the MCC Young Cricketers programme for their invaluable support and guidance. Both have provided me with an incredible platform to grow and succeed."
Lord Botham ‘appalled’ by Somerset pitch on which 35 wickets fell in five sessions
County bowlers have struggled to take wickets with the Kookaburra ball but that was certainly not a problem when Durham visited Taunton
Lord Botham has launched an extraordinary tirade against his first county Somerset over an “appalling” pitch they served up for the championship match against Durham, which was over in just five sessions.
England legend Botham, 69, represented Somerset between 1974 and 1986 but left in acrimonious circumstances after they fired his great friend Viv Richards. Botham moved first to Worcestershire, then Durham, where he was chairman until earlier this year.
Despite being replaced in the chair by Phil Collins, Botham is now the club’s honorary president and has gone in to bat for Durham over a County Championship match they lost on Wednesday by five wickets before tea on the second of four days.
It is understood that the pitch has been graded “below average” by the match referee Simon Hinks, with an investigation to follow from the cricket regulator which could lead to a deduction in the 19 points Somerset picked up in the match.
Botham said conditions like these were putting the England hierarchy off selecting players based on county form, and criticised Somerset for their desire to stick at 14 championship matches per season when some clubs – including Durham – are pushing for a reduction to 12 in search of greater quality.
Botham said on X: “Before a ball is bowled… As an ex-Somerset player I find this appalling... at a time when county cricket is under pressure for relevance as a breeding ground for international [cricket].
“Players and Somerset members have apparently voted for the status quo, the club produces this pitch. These are not first-class cricket conditions in mid-summer... I am not surprised that Rob [Key] and Ben [Stokes] unfortunately have to disregard county performances in assessing players for Test quality appearances.
“Durham raised serious concerns the day before the game started... change is needed... both Somerset and Durham have high quality batsmen... Somerset do not need to do this... reduces the game to a farce.”
The Somerset head coach Jason Kerr described the pitch as “incredible”, pointing to the fact that 400 runs were scored on the opening day. The Durham chief executive Tim Bostock disputed this.
“We made our displeasure clear before a ball had been bowled, both to Somerset and the ECB [England and Wales Cricket Board],” Bostock told Telegraph Sport. “I’ve no doubt the pitch will attract the attention of the ECB.
“Somerset are one of the counties who want to keep the championship at 14 matches, but if they continue to prepare pitches like this then there’s little point in that. The wicket was used, and not fit for first-class cricket. Yes, 400 runs were scored on the opening day, but that is only because of batsmen attacking at very aggressive strike-rates before the pitch inevitably got the better of them, confirmed by the fact that 22 wickets fell for those runs.
“In the cold light of day I am sure Somerset will be disappointed with that pitch, irrespective of the result.”
Graham Onions, the Durham bowling coach, said “there was excessive turn”, adding: “The bottom line is that it is day one and a half and the game is over, which is not good for county cricket.”
Tim Wigmore.
London Daily Telegraph.
Wednesday, 9 July 2025.
PTG 4893-23338.
PTG Editor.
Wednesday, 9 2025.
PTG 4893-23334
Lancashire opener Phil Salt has had the bat he used in the T20 Blast match against Northamptonshire on Friday cleared by the Cricket Regulator's anti-corruption unit, says a BBC report. Salt was alleged to have breached England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) Directives, but the club said it was the same bat he had used for the past two years for England, Lancashire and in the Indian Premier League (PTG 4890-23326, 6 July 2025). Tests carried out after the match were "deemed inconclusive despite the bat fitting through the gauge on several occasions", says the BBC (PTG 4891-23329, 7 July 2025), but it was eventually found to be compliant with regulations and no further action will be taken.
Lancashire said in a statement: "The club and player felt this should have been the end of the matter, but the officials felt it necessary for the bat to be taken away for further testing. At Lancashire, we believe this whole process could have been avoided with improved processes on and off the field, whether that be through better equipment and/or additional training. Following the incident there have been inappropriate comments made by match commentators, inaccurate articles written in the media and some unsavoury social media posts towards the player that could have been avoided”.
In response, the Cricket Regulator said it notes "that the match officials performed their roles fully in compliance with the regulations”. In addition the Regulator said they "acknowledge the cooperation provided by Lancashire and the player in this matter”. An ECB spokesperson is quoted by the BBC as saying: "We are working with all parties involved to ensure they are clear on the correct process for bat gauge testing”. However, precisely what that attributed comment means given that, in the Regulator’s words, the match officials actions were "fully in compliance with the regulations”, is not clear.
Traveller’s arrival sees Somerset ground closed ‘until further notice'.
PTG Editor.
Wednesday, 9 July 2025.
PTG 4893-23337.
08/07
Lancashire Cricket can confirm that the bat used by Phil Salt during Friday evening’s match against Northants Steelbacks has been cleared by the Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU), via the Cricket Regulator.
Salt was alleged to have breached ECB Directives 3.2 and 3.3, after his bat failed an on-field bat-gauge test during the Vitality Blast fixture. It is a bat that he has used for the last two years for England, Lancashire and in the IPL with no issue.
During the first over of Lancashire Lightning’s run chase, an umpire conducted an on-field bat gauge test, as part of an assurance process undertaken to check the sizes of a bat being used. To pass the test, the bat must fit through a gauge of the specified size.
Salt’s bat did not pass through the gauge on the field and was therefore deemed to have failed the test, and in further tests carried out after the match, it was deemed inconclusive despite the bat fitting through the gauge on several occasions. The Club and player felt this should have been the end of the matter, but the officials felt it necessary for the bat to be taken away for further testing.
At Lancashire, we believe this whole process could have been avoided with improved processes on and off the field, whether that be through better equipment and/or additional training. Following the incident there have been inappropriate comments made by match commentators, inaccurate articles written in the media and some unsavoury social media posts towards the player, that could have been avoided.
Following this evidential testing process undertaken by the Cricket Regulator, the bat was found to be compliant with the Regulations - and the Club and player have been informed that no further action will be taken.
Cricket Regulator says:On 4th July, during the match between Northamptonshire and Lancashire, Phil Salt’s bat was subject to an on-field test, the bat did not pass this initial test.
Following standard practice the bat was then subject to a post-match test, the results of which were inconclusive.
On 7th July, the Cricket Regulator investigated the matter and found the bat to be compliant with the regulations. Accordingly no further action will be taken against the player or Lancashire in this matter.
The Cricket Regulator notes that the match officials performed their roles fully in compliance with the regulations, the Regulator also acknowledges the cooperation provided by Lancashire and the player in this matter.
So what does that mean?
Umpires Rob Bailey and Simon Widdup were doing their job correctly in their public gauging of the bat's legality, the CR says.
In private, away from public eyes and the TV cameras, the bat passes testing.
So were the umpires using the gauge incorrectly or was the on-field gauge of the wrong dimensions?
The Cricket Regulator, again, failing to be clear and comprehensive about what has occurred in its statement.
KOOKABURRA MADNESS
You might have already read the ECB's and Rob Key's hopes following the Strauss Review with its recommendations to play rounds of championship cricket with the Kookaburra ball and the counties' move, this year to play those rounds in the driest months (allowing for the H*ndred hiatus obviously), if not read a reminder here...
... but one, probably foreseeable and not totally desireable, consequence has been the counties importing a maelstrom of overseas spinners on short term contracts for these Kookaburra rounds.
You can't blame the counties, looking to get one up on their rivals, but surely this defeats some of the objectives of the exercise in the first place.
This maelstrom of spin includes:
Todd Murphy (Glo), Yuzendra Chahal (Nor), Sai Kishore (Sur) and Corey Rocchiccioli (War) - there may be more.
In the two rounds of Kookaburra so far, the Notts trio of spinners have bowled:
Liam Patterson-White 134 overs
Calvin Harrison (for Northants on loan) 98.5 overs
Farhan Ahmed 74 overs
07/07
You may have notice another elite sporting eventing happening at the moment: Wimbledon.
Players throwing themselves around, running, jumping and stretching for three hours or much more. There's no hiding in the field for a rest as it's full on for the whole time. They have gaps between matches / rounds for the best players usually measured in hours and rarely more than one day between. That's the nature of a tournament. Yes there's injuries, but you are more prone in injury if you push body to your physical limits doing any activity for a long or short period of time. That's elite sport.
The SGM will still be held though but it's a good start to rooting out the issues at LCCC
ReplyDeleteSounds a great match at Repton. Really want smaller grounds to stage county cricket, but the less the number of matches, the harder that is to achieve.
ReplyDelete