Latest news with #BenMcKinney
The Sun
3 days ago
- Health
- The Sun
Former footballer turned cricketer suffered bizarre injury by pressing a button in a lift
CRICKET star Ben McKinney was forced to miss a week of action - after injuring himself waiting for a LIFT. Ben McKinney, 20, sat out a county championship match against Hampshire with back spasms earlier this month. 2 The 6ft7 opening batsman is a former footballer in Sunderland 's academy. But despite being a natural sportsman, his body let him down in the most bizarre fashion. McKinney told The Telegraph: "I had a heavy bag on my shoulder and bent down to press the button. "My back went into spasm and that was it." Durham star McKinney is the latest youngster seemingly destined for the England setup. He captained the England under-19 side and has enjoyed two tours with the Lions to South Africa and Australia. McKinney penned a two-year extension in the North East in January. And he credits England legend Andrew Flintoff with helping him improve his game over recent months. McKinney added: "Freddie spoke to me about self confidence and presence. "I used to actually be quite a small presence at the crease in terms of posture and body language. Jobe Bellingham takes swipe at Sky Sports pundits in live TV interview before awkward moment with panel at Wembley "The big thing I got from him was, actually, yeah, I'm at the crease now, and no one's gonna get me out and I'm gonna try and bully the bowler. "It's not a disrespectful thing to anyone. It's just that self confidence. It does help. I'm quite the opposite person off the field." McKinney was on the books at Sunderland as a teenager, before having to make a choice between football and cricket. He added: "I was, to be fair to myself, a decent footballer, but it's obviously really hard to break through. "I'm not saying it's not hard to crack cricket, but the chances and the amount of people that play football make it tough. "And, you know, there's people that loved it [football] more than me as well. Cricket was always the number one for me." McKinney is a boyhood Sunderland fan but was unable to make this month's Championship playoff final against Sheffield United. The Black Cats returned to the Premier League after a last-minute comeback win over the Blades at Wembley. He continued: "I was already out so was able to watch the play-off final [on the TV in the dressing room]. "One of the only occasions I've been glad to be out."
Telegraph
5 days ago
- Health
- Telegraph
Ben McKinney: The 6ft 7in former Sunderland footballer turned England cricketer
There are a lot of dangers opening the batting, not least a clonk on the head from a fast bowler, but Ben McKinney suffered one of the more bizarre injuries this season. McKinney, the Durham opener fancied by England and playing for the Lions against India this week, missed a championship match against Hampshire earlier this month after injuring himself pressing a button in a lift. 'I had a heavy bag on my shoulder and bent down to press the button. My back went into spasm and that was it,' he says. McKinney was on a roll at that point, and since missing the Hampshire match has recorded two ducks, although one of them, against Somerset last weekend, did come with an upside. 'I was already out so was able to watch the play-off final [on the TV in the dressing room]. One of the only occasions I've been glad to be out.' McKinney is a lifelong Sunderland fan, and was on their books until the age of 16, so his happiness at seeing their win over Sheffield United is understandable. Now it is time to think about cricket and England. Zak Crawley's century against Zimbabwe has cemented his place but 20 year-old McKinney, a 6ft 7in left-hander with a touch of Matthew Hayden about him, is likely the next candidate. 'I think about it every day,' he says of playing Test cricket. 'Right from when I was a kid. It's the dream, it's the end goal for me.' McKinney has gone from strength to strength in a short period of time. He stroked an action-packed 110 off 100 balls for the England Lions in a first-class match against Australia A in January and showed another side to his game against Warwickshire last month with a patient 186-ball century to anchor the Durham innings on a tricky pitch. Those two ducks have brought his average down to 31 this season, but opening the batting in county cricket, when seven championship matches are played on pitches in April and May, is a risky existence. McKinney is the latest graduate of the Durham talent pipeline: state-school educated and brought up in Durham club cricket playing for Seaham Harbour. The family lived 'about five minutes' from the Seaham ground, McKinney says. His father Neil was a decent club cricketer and fired his son's early ambitions. 'I think my dad still loves cricket more than me. I couldn't even tell you how many hours he put into me as a kid. I was down in the nets for four or five hours at least. Yeah, I can't thank him enough.' With his height, he has the build to be a Brydon Carse-type fast bowler, but McKinney has always been a batsman and feels he has really learnt to put his own stamp on his game over the past year, partly by accepting that at his height he is not going to look like a classically trained batsman such as Joe Root. 'First of all I really want to just be a well-rounded batsman. Sometimes you can feel a million dollars and climb around the front foot banging people through the covers, but I think the best part of batting is doing whatever the scenario needs. The innings against Warwickshire, for example, probably the slowest I've batted but against a very good seam attack on a slow wicket, sometimes you can't score with a strike rate of 100 or 80. 'When I was in the second team I always wanted to look like a proper batsman and by that, I mean, like a nice technique. For some reason I had in my head that I wanted to look perfect, and I just don't think you can with how tall I am. As soon as I put that out of my head, learnt my own game, and did things how I wanted to to do them, it really just simplified things. You can then set realistic goals for yourself because there's nothing worse than coming off the field and thinking that is not how Joe Root would have got out.' McKinney is a talented sportsman. He was in the Sunderland academy until the age of 16, playing as a central midfielder. While his team-mates are yet to make it at Sunderland, several of his regular opponents in age-group teams are now in the Premier League. He played against Manchester City's Rico Lewis, who is the same age, and Lewis Hall, who joined Newcastle last year for £28 million. 'I was, to be fair to myself, a decent footballer, but it's obviously really hard to break through. I'm not saying it's not hard to crack cricket, but the chances and the amount of people that play football make it tough. And, you know, there's people that loved it [football] more than me as well. Cricket was always the number one for me.' The Lions tour was a breakthrough for McKinney. Powerful on the front foot and off side, he really caught the eye of the England management, particularly Lions coach Andrew Flintoff, whose influence in the set-up is massive. With his attitude and positivity, McKinney fits the bill and we know this England set up is not averse to picking a player at his age. 'Freddie spoke to me about self confidence and presence. I used to actually be quite a small presence at the crease in terms of posture and body language. The big thing I got from him was, actually, yeah, I'm at the crease now, and no one's gonna get me out and I'm gonna try and bully the bowler. It's not a disrespectful thing to anyone. It's just that self confidence. It does help. I'm quite the opposite person off the field.'
The Herald Scotland
04-05-2025
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Jordan Cox retires hurt for Essex to put England Test spot in doubt
He fell to the ground clutching his left side after reaching 99 with a quick single and left the field in pain after reaching his hundred. He did not appear in the field and England will likely be assessing potential replacements, such as Durham's Ben McKinney, as they await news. 💬'I think with bat and ball, we've been short, too inconsistent really." Head coach Anthony McGrath says Yorkshire need to be better for longer after Warwickshire defeat.#YorkshireGrit — Yorkshire CCC (@YorkshireCCC) May 4, 2025 His untimely departure could also prove harmful for Essex, with every run counting at Taunton. Somerset ended day three on 216 for six – needing 105 more for victory. At Headingley, the returns of Joe Root and Harry Brook were not enough to spare an out-of-sorts Yorkshire a five-wicket defeat by Warwickshire. The Bears chased down a target of 185 with composure, Zen Malik chiming in with 49 not out on his first-class debut and Ed Barnard making a quick-fire 37. New Zealand bowler Ben Sears took two wickets but the White Rose never put themselves in position to take all 10. The result lifted Warwickshire to second, while Yorkshire remain on one win from four. Hampshire enjoyed a profitable batting day against Durham at the Utilita Bowl, with Ben Brown unbeaten on 143. Matthew Potts, one of England's Test seamers, grabbed three wickets but with 70s from Nick Gubbins and Felix Organ, it was an arduous stint in the field.
BBC News
02-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
England's next Bazballer? McKinney happy to deal with hype
Ben McKinney has already had a brush with series one of Netflix's fly-on-the-wall documentary Sunderland 'Til I Die, he is shown celebrating a rare goal in a season most Black Cats supporters would rather forget."I got a message from one of my schoolmates saying they had seen me," McKinney tells BBC Sport."It summed the season up that it was just me and my dad because no-one else wanted to come any more."Six years on, 20-year-old McKinney looks ready start his own journey, one he hopes will have a happier made his debut for Durham aged 18 in 2023 and scored his first first-class hundred a year later, the opening batter was already seen as someone with a big 110 runs from 110 balls for England Lions this winter against an Australia A side featuring six full internationals confirmed it."It was pretty surreal," McKinney says. "In the moment you are just doing it off instinct."It is good, coming up against good players, to know you are worthy of playing at the standard." England's hierarchy have shown they are not afraid of giving inexperienced youngsters a chance and they are known to like what they see in spinner Graeme Swann, part of the Lions set-up with McKinney in Australia, said the left-hander could "easily walk into Test cricket now", comparing him to New Zealand great Stephen FlemingHe is a former England Under-19 captain, stands at 6ft 7in and falls into the Bazball mould as an aggressive leaves those in the know thinking McKinney could follow where Jacob Bethell, Shoaib Bashir and Josh Hull have gone before in being given an early international bow."You say it's a bit of pressure but you would rather that than no-one speaking about you, wouldn't you?" McKinney says."Runs are your currency. I will just keep doing what I am doing and hopefully get opportunities."McKinney's height is now seen as an advantage, giving him the ability to attack lengths others would have to leave or defend, but it was not always this way.A talented footballer, he played for both Durham and Sunderland's academy as a teenager, having joined the Black Cats' ranks aged "six or seven"."I was a centre-mid but I was getting a bit too tall for it," he says. "I probably would have been a centre-back by now."I was always OK but didn't really enjoy it."McKinney committed to cricket at the age of 16 – given confidence by Durham's -production line which has overseen the development of Ben Stokes, Mark Wood, Paul Collingwood and Steve Harmison among others."I remember a phone call my dad had with [Durham's academy manager] John Windows," McKinney says."It went something like 'we have never let a lad fail from where he is now'."That was a massive confidence boost when you are 15 or 16 years old. That tipped me over the edge. My love was always cricket." That love was first formed at Seaham Harbour Cricket Club, where his father Neil was one of the area's leading club cricketers. McKinney Snr also spent hours throwing to his son in the nets."He was relentless and wouldn't let me leave," McKinney says."Sometimes that might be bad but it definitely set me up for the future. It is amazing to have someone who cares for your success and you improving."Despite the promise, there has been no contact between McKinney and the England set-up, other than what he has been able to glean from having England skipper Stokes alongside him in the Durham dressing room."How he practises is something I have never seen before," McKinney says. "He is so particular and there is always purpose."The opportunities given to McKinney are no coincidence, was picked to open when warm-up opposition were provided to West Indies and Sri Lanka last summer and returned scores of 22, 46 and also toured Australia with England Under-19s in 2023 - another relevant point with an Ashes series to come this winter - and hit 12 fours in a 45-ball 70 in England's victory in Brisbane, hinting at a keenness to follow the Bazball mantra from the start."It's actually the opposite," he says. "My dad is very old fashioned. I used to bat 50 overs for 80. "I used to love batting for time but somehow that flicked a switch, probably at a good time."There was a period I was probably going too hard but trying to find that balance of soaking up pressure and putting it back on has been the most important thing for my success this winter."Those words will be likely be a soothing symphony in the ears of England faith in England's approach is wobbling at the worst possible time with only a Test against Zimbabwe from 22 May to come before five against both India and Australia over the seven months that follow."I would love to play all formats but I go back to being 10 years old and watching Alastair Cook opening the batting," McKinney says."I loved the way he did it. It's not the road I have gone down now but the basics behind it, I will be happy keeping him as my role model."There are no vacancies in England's top seven but Zak Crawley's poor form, Jacob Bethell's Indian Premier League commitments and the chance for injuries means nothing can be ruled out at this will get six County Championship matches to push his case further before Zimbabwe arrive, starting with a trip to Nottinghamshire on Friday.
The Independent
02-04-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
From Archie Vaughan to Rocky Flintoff – 5 potential County Championship stars
The Rothesay County Championship gets under way on April 4, heralding the start of a big cricketing summer in England and Wales. Here, the PA news agency looks at five players primed to make their mark. Ben McKinney (Durham) England are currently resolute in their backing for opener Zak Crawley, but if a vacancy did appear at the top of the order there is a compelling candidate plying his trade at Chester-le-Street. Standing at an imposing 6ft 7in and just 20 years old, McKinney looks ready made for the world of 'Bazball'. He struck a dazzling maiden first-class century against Nottinghamshire last season and hit all the right notes with a second-innings ton for England Lions against Australia A in January. Watch this space. Rocky Flintoff (Lancashire) He does not even turn 17 until midway through the first game of the season, but the buzz around Andrew Flintoff's son is already raging. He has been studiously kept away from the media glare so far but his talent is speaking for itself. Flintoff junior became the youngest ever player to score a second team century for Lancashire last summer – taking the record from his dad – and then ticked off the same achievement for England Lions on their winter tour of Australia. His trajectory is heading upwards at a rapid rate and he should see plenty of action this year. Archie Vaughan (Somerset) Like Flintoff, teenager Vaughan is another second generation starlet with family links to the 2005 Ashes. He recently followed in the footsteps of famous father Michael by captaining England Under-19s in South Africa, ending the tour with a series-clinching six-wicket haul. His off-spin should develop well at Taunton, where he can partner on helpful pitches with Jack Leach, but he is just as eager to make his name as genuine batter. As an all-round package, the sky is the limit. Josh Tongue (Nottinghamshire) Has barely bowled a ball in anger since a highly impressive Ashes outing at Lord's in 2023, laid low pectoral and hamstring injuries. But the 27-year-old quick nudged his way to the top of England's thinking before the likes of Gus Atkinson and Brydon Carse ever got the call and will not have been forgotten. A long-awaited debut for Nottinghamshire awaits, having sat out his entire first season at Trent Bridge, and further honours will surely follow if he can stay strong and regain his previous form. James Minto (Durham) Left-arm pacers with genuine speed are catnip to selectors – as seen by Josh Hull's fast-track England debut at the Oval in September. Durham's pace production line has served one up in the form of 17-year-old Minto, who looks a wonderfully exciting prospect and is already the county's youngest first-class cricketer. He may be used carefully this season given the strength of his team's attack and a willingness not to overexpose him, but the tools to succeed are clearly there. Wickets came with ease on the pre-season tour of Zimbabwe and he is making a compelling claim for a place in the XI.
