Latest news with #MetroBankOne-DayCup
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
MCC launches ‘cricket's got talent'
'I love how old school this is, it's cut-throat,' says Graeme Swann, the great England off-spinner, with his trademark enthusiasm. 'In two days' time, a few of these lads will be cut. But that pressure helps you in professional cricket: make sure you're not one of the guys who misses out.' Swann is in Lord's Pavilion on what feels like the first rainy day in months. He is not long back from India, where he was on commentary duty, and is relishing his first role as head coach, with the reformed Marylebone Cricket Club Young Cricketers. Swann is overseeing a sort of cricketing talent show. On Tuesday, he was joined by 22 young cricketers who have either been released by a first-class county, or are yet to be discovered by them. On Thursday, after two days' training at Wormsley, the beautiful Getty ground in Buckinghamshire, eight players will be cut from the squad. The remaining 14 will spend the next three weeks under Swann, playing red and white-ball cricket against a mixture of outfits: county second teams, Jersey, and the South Asian Cricket Academy, the brilliant intervention scheme that has already helped more than a dozen talented players find professional contracts. When the fixtures conclude, one player will have a county contract for the duration of the MetroBank One-Day Cup in August funded by MCC. Another two will be selected for MCC's tour of Zimbabwe this winter. Gray-Nicolls is also offering one player a bat sponsorship. All the players are paid a day rate through the month, too. 'They're a bit nervous this morning,' Swann says, smiling. 'But I understand that. The stakes are high and it can be overawing here.' Swann is from the modern school of coaching, focusing on providing inspiration and tactical insight, rather than smothering players in technique. He has worked with Trent Rockets and the England Lions and Under-19s. The South Asian Cricket Academy has already proved that talent is slipping through county pathways, and he is determined to help find it. 'There's a lot of untapped talent out there,' he says. 'I was a late developer. Look at Gus Atkinson, who suddenly put on pace, or Joe Root, who could barely lift his bat at 18. I hope to bring it out of these boys. I couldn't believe that Jack Carney, who I knew from England Under-19s, was here, and didn't have a pro contract. He's a brilliant player and if he's the benchmark, then I'm very excited. 'Not everyone fits into the traditional system. At the end of the day a county pathway is a coach's judgment. If they don't see someone in somebody, they slip the net. This is a brilliant opportunity, a shop window.' It is a treat of a day for the players. They are given an induction, which includes a talk from MCC chairman Mark Nicholas in the Long Room, then from Rob Key, England's managing director, and the legendary New Zealander Kane Williamson, whose stint with Middlesex starts this week, in the home dressing room. After lunch they net with Swann, have a gym session (not with Swann), and are given virtual reality concussion testing and education. The players, who are mostly in their early twenties, are keen to impress; some have first-class experience, but most do not. Key recommended Swann to Rob Lynch, MCC's director of cricket, who was determined to revive a scheme that fizzled out for financial reasons during the pandemic, despite almost 100 years of history; Denis Compton, Lord Botham and Phil Tufnell are all former MCC YCs, as are Ross Taylor, Daren Sammy and Travis Head. There is an 'irony' for Lynch that worthy work he did in his previous role at the Professional Cricketers' Association has contributed to the need for this scheme. He battled for a minimum salary in domestic cricket (currently £28,000 a year), but that meant difficult decisions for cash-strapped counties over who to retain. 'It means some players aren't being afforded the opportunities they might have been a few years ago,' he says. Lynch also knew first-hand the value of such a scheme. In 2000, he came to England as a wide-eyed 17-year-old Kiwi (he was Brendon McCullum's rival as a keeper-bat for New Zealand Under-19s) to be a YC alongside the likes of Rikki Clarke and Alex Gidman, later stalwarts of the county game. 'If I could relive seven months of my life, it would be those seven months,' he says. 'It was hugely educational, just a great opportunity to learn about cricket, life and myself while a long way from home.' Lynch and his colleagues would train at Lord's, and work with the ground staff, while juggling playing commitments in a mix of matches, from county second teams to the Army or Navy. He remembers finding a trip to the Oval to face Alex Tudor 'quite scary'. The YCs lived at the Hyelm hostel in Hampstead. Each Friday, Lynch would be paid £204.50 for the week in cash. First stop was the hostel, where he would pay £75 for a week's accommodation, including breakfast and dinner. 'Most of the remaining £130 would be gone by Saturday morning,' he says, laughing. A quarter of a century on, we live in a different world. The main barrier to such a scheme would be the sheer cost of accommodation anywhere near Lord's, but MCC appears determined to offer an avenue into the game. 'I'm convinced this pilot can work,' Lynch says. 'The vision for next year would be to extend the concept across the season, effectively creating a rambling side playing around the country, then returning to club cricket at the weekend. That could run from April to July, so counties could then pick up players for the back end of the season, when squads become stretched. 'MCC is a cricket club. We need to invest in cricket initiatives. Who knows where we can take this? Could it also be linked to the new world we are entering by taking on a Hundred team? We are the only one of the eight without a development pathway through the host county. Could this become the breeding ground for 18-year-olds to get in the team? For now, we just want to help some talented lads work their way into the professional game.'
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Hampshire Women beat Warwickshire at Arundel
CHARLI Knott continued her fine form with a third half-century in four Metro Bank One-Day Cup innings, scoring a classy 82 as Hampshire defeated Warwickshire at Arundel. Georgia Adams added 68 to help chase down Warwickshire's 243, keeping Hampshire top of the table heading into the T20 Blast break. Warwickshire, batting first just a day after nine players featured in a T20 victory in Devon, struggled early on a slow pitch. They slumped to 38 for four and then 93 for six. Bex Tyson, stepping in as lead spinner with Linsey Smith on England duty, struck with her first ball to remove Meg Austin. Freya Davies removed Sterre Kalis and Davina Perrin in consecutive overs, while Mary Taylor bowled Katie George in her first over. Wicketkeeper Rhianna Southby caught Bethan Ellis and Nat Wraith off Adams and Knott, continuing the collapse. However, Abbey Freeborn rescued the innings with a patient 94, her second fifty of the season, manipulating the field and finding regular boundaries. She added 97 with Charis Pavely (55), who reached her half-century in 70 balls. Georgia Davis then supported Freeborn with an unbroken 53-run stand, scoring 40 in the last three overs. Though Freeborn fell short of a century, their efforts lifted Warwickshire to a competitive 243 for seven. On her One-Day Cup debut, Hannah Rainey opened with a maiden. Hampshire's reply began brightly with Ella McCaughan and Maia Bouchier sharing seven boundaries, but both fell to Davis - Bouchier flicking to square-leg and McCaughan lbw. Knott and Adams steadied the chase with confident strokes and sharp timing. Knott hit eight boundaries in her 46-ball half-century and looked set until she top-edged a sweep off Davis, giving the spinner her third wicket. Southby chopped a pull onto her stumps, and Adams was trapped lbw by Hannah Baker. When Abi Norgrove sliced to point, Hampshire wobbled at 205 for six - still 38 runs short. The game echoed the reverse fixture at Edgbaston, where the teams tied. With eight needed off 16 balls and Nancy Harman bowled, a repeat seemed likely. But Taylor held her nerve, securing a three-wicket win with four balls to spare.
The Independent
22-04-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Tammy Beaumont says England spots up for grabs in ‘extremely exciting' new era
Women's cricket begins a new era on Wednesday with the launch of the tier one county game and England's Tammy Beaumont believes international shirts will be won and lost as the competition heats up. After a lengthy gestation the inaugural fixtures in the women's Metro Bank One-Day Cup are at hand, with a fully professional top division of eight teams aligned to first-class counties. That replaces the old regional structure and has delivered not only a huge uplift in full-time contracts, up to more than 150 from a base of just 40 at the start of the decade, but a commitment to greater off-field resources and support. With Charlotte Edwards newly installed as England head coach after a period of post-Ashes blood-letting, there is also an entirely clean slate for players up and down the country to make their mark on. 'It's extremely exciting. I think anyone in this county set-up sticks their hand up they will be in with a shout. Performances are going to be at a premium,' Beaumont told the PA news agency. 'We know Charlotte is watching. She's watched every warm-up game, every live stream, she's texted me about how I've got on or asked, 'how did this person do?'. You won't find a more passionate person about England women's cricket and she's got a very clear vision of what she wants so these games are going to be so important. 'As recently as 2020, 2021 we didn't have masses of depth but with the contracts and tiers, competition for places has never been better. That's good for English cricket even though, at times, it's uncomfortable as a player because you've got to really earn your spot. 'International cricket is never easy so why would you want to play easier cricket to prepare for it? If I'm not trying to get better, to stay ahead, then it's time to move on.' Beaumont is a senior player with the Blaze, the Nottinghamshire-based side who have bucked the trend for traditional county names and who host Lancashire at Trent Bridge on Wednesday. Elsewhere, Essex travel to Durham, Surrey face Somerset at Beckenham and Edgbaston hosts Warwickshire against Hampshire. Beaumont, 34, is one of several survivors from the very first batch of professional women's contracts offered by the England and Wales Cricket Board to just 18 players in 2014. And while that was heralded as a big step forward, in real terms it was a baby one towards the progress that has accelerated sharply in recent years. 'I'm now able to get more from a bat deal than I did in my initial England contract. It's utterly mad,' she said. 'I was on the lowest tier and I worked two days a week for the Chance to Shine charity to top my salary up to £17,000. I was still begging my parents to help with rent! 'So I think it's amazing to see how far the game has come and that the likes of myself, Heather Knight, Kate Cross, Nat Sciver-Brunt and Amy Jones are still here playing and have seen it all. 'I don't think anyone can guess what it's going to look like in 10 years' time.'
Powys County Times
22-04-2025
- Sport
- Powys County Times
Tammy Beaumont says England spots up for grabs in ‘extremely exciting' new era
Women's cricket begins a new era on Wednesday with the launch of the tier one county game and England's Tammy Beaumont believes international shirts will be won and lost as the competition heats up. After a lengthy gestation the inaugural fixtures in the women's Metro Bank One-Day Cup are at hand, with a fully professional top division of eight teams aligned to first-class counties. That replaces the old regional structure and has delivered not only a huge uplift in full-time contracts, up to more than 150 from a base of just 40 at the start of the decade, but a commitment to greater off-field resources and support. 2️⃣4️⃣ hours to go 🔥 We kick off our 50-over campaign at 10.30 tomorrow morning with a visit from Lancashire here at Trent Bridge. 🎟️ — The Blaze 🔥 (@TheBlazeCricket) April 22, 2025 With Charlotte Edwards newly installed as England head coach after a period of post-Ashes blood-letting, there is also an entirely clean slate for players up and down the country to make their mark on. 'It's extremely exciting. I think anyone in this county set-up sticks their hand up they will be in with a shout. Performances are going to be at a premium,' Beaumont told the PA news agency. 'We know Charlotte is watching. She's watched every warm-up game, every live stream, she's texted me about how I've got on or asked, 'how did this person do?'. You won't find a more passionate person about England women's cricket and she's got a very clear vision of what she wants so these games are going to be so important. 'As recently as 2020, 2021 we didn't have masses of depth but with the contracts and tiers, competition for places has never been better. That's good for English cricket even though, at times, it's uncomfortable as a player because you've got to really earn your spot. 'International cricket is never easy so why would you want to play easier cricket to prepare for it? If I'm not trying to get better, to stay ahead, then it's time to move on.' Beaumont is a senior player with the Blaze, the Nottinghamshire-based side who have bucked the trend for traditional county names and who host Lancashire at Trent Bridge on Wednesday. Elsewhere, Essex travel to Durham, Surrey face Somerset at Beckenham and Edgbaston hosts Warwickshire against Hampshire. Beaumont, 34, is one of several survivors from the very first batch of professional women's contracts offered by the England and Wales Cricket Board to just 18 players in 2014. And while that was heralded as a big step forward, in real terms it was a baby one towards the progress that has accelerated sharply in recent years. 'I'm now able to get more from a bat deal than I did in my initial England contract. It's utterly mad,' she said. 'I was on the lowest tier and I worked two days a week for the Chance to Shine charity to top my salary up to £17,000. I was still begging my parents to help with rent! 'So I think it's amazing to see how far the game has come and that the likes of myself, Heather Knight, Kate Cross, Nat Sciver-Brunt and Amy Jones are still here playing and have seen it all. 'I don't think anyone can guess what it's going to look like in 10 years' time.'
The Guardian
02-04-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Charlotte Edwards to make England players ‘accountable for their fitness'
Charlotte Edwards has promised to make England's players 'more accountable for their fitness' as she seeks to improve the team's fortunes after her appointment as women's head coach. The 45-year-old insisted that despite England women's recent troubles against Australia they were capable of winning this year's 50-over World Cup in India, saying she was 'really confident we can turn things around very quickly'. Jon Lewis was sacked as coach last month after a miserable winter in which group-stage elimination at the T20 World Cup was followed by a 16-0 rout in the Ashes. Clare Connor, the England and Wales Cricket Board's managing director of England women, led a 'very thorough, comprehensive and honest' review of that series which 'told us that we did need a significant reset in terms of leadership and the environment'. The ECB chose to abandon its normal open recruitment process once it became clear that Edwards, who since retiring as a player had enjoyed success as a coach with Hampshire, Mumbai Indians and Sydney Sixers, would accept the job. Edwards, who won 309 caps across formats, 220 of them as captain, before her retirement as a player in 2016, officially starts work on Monday, when the players' fitness will be assessed as they gather at Loughborough. 'I'm going to judge for myself where the team are with their fitness,' Edwards said. 'I will make the players more accountable for their fitness, that's something I'm going to do. But I wouldn't have taken on this role if I didn't think that in six months' time we could win a World Cup in India, because I think we've got the playing group to do that. We've got a lot of hard work [to do] and a lot of honesty but I'm really confident that we can turn things around very quickly. 'I'm under no illusions, coming into this role, it's about winning. I think coaches are sometimes too scared to say we want to win. That's our job. My job is to win games of cricket and it's how we go and do that now. One of Edwards's first tasks will be appointing a new captain to replace Heather Knight, who stepped down last month after nine years, as the team starts to build towards the white-ball series against West Indies that begins next month. 'I'm pretty clear on where I want to take the team and who I want to be involved,' Edwards said. 'I think it's important that we get that person announced sooner rather than later.' The ECB is to start the process of recruiting a national selector, for the first time since the professionalisation of the women's game, later this month, with Connor saying that 'bringing in additional outside perspectives is important'. They plan to increase focus on county performances and all England players, injury permitting, will be available for the first seven rounds of the Metro Bank One-Day Cup which starts on 19 April. 'There's got to be greater communication between the counties and England and I felt that hadn't been there for the last little bit,' Edwards said. 'The players are going to play more, they're going to be involved with their counties. I'm going to be communicating with those county coaches more about the style of play we want to play, how we want to go about things. Sign up to The Spin Subscribe to our cricket newsletter for our writers' thoughts on the biggest stories and a review of the week's action after newsletter promotion 'I think for us to be successful, we have to work together. I want to make county cricket really competitive, [so] we're picking on performances. We've got a lot of young players who, for me, haven't played enough cricket.' Edwards described England's winter as 'a big wake-up call to everyone in the game', saying: 'It was just so frustrating because they didn't play anywhere near their potential, I know those players are better than that. 'The players need to be honest with themselves about how they've performed in recent times. I need to be honest with them about where I think they're at. I think that will go a long way, and I think we've just got to work really, really hard.'
