Cricket

Jos Buttler's injury woes continue as he has been ruled out of England's T20I series against Australia and could potentially miss the subsequent ODI series. The setback in his recovery from a right calf injury has cast a shadow over England's transition towards a younger core under new coach Brendon McCullum.Buttler, England's limited-overs captain, sustained the injury in July while preparing for the Hundred. He had hoped to make his comeback in Lancashire's Vitality Blast quarter-final on Wednesday, but the aggravation of the injury has put his participation in the rest of the summer in jeopardy.Phil Salt, who has limited captaincy experience, will assume the captaincy duties for the T20I series and is also expected to keep wicket. Harry Brook, Ollie Pope's vice-captain during England's Test series against Sri Lanka, is set to lead the ODI leg of Australia's tour.Jamie Overton has been called up as a replacement in the T20I squad, while Jordan Cox has been added to the ODI squad as cover. England remain hopeful that Buttler can play some part in the ODI series, but his absence would be a significant blow as they look to rejuvenate the team after disappointing World Cup campaigns.This setback is particularly concerning for Buttler, who has now suffered three calf injuries in the past four years. As he approaches his 34th birthday, his future as captain and his longevity as an international cricketer may depend on giving up wicketkeeping duties to preserve his body.

Matthew Mott, the former head coach of the England Men's white-ball team, has joined the Sydney Sixers in the Big Bash League (BBL) as an assistant coach on a three-year deal. Mott's appointment comes after his departure from the England setup following their semi-final exit at the 2023 T20 World Cup.Mott, who previously coached Australia Women for eight years, will reunite with Greg Shipperd at the Sixers, replacing Cameron White, who was appointed head coach of the Melbourne Renegades earlier this year."I'm delighted to join back up with the Sydney Sixers," Mott said. "Having started my coaching journey in Sydney many years ago, it's a place that evokes both great memories and a comforting sense of familiarity, which I'm looking forward to."Mott's spell as England's white-ball coach began with a triumph at the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia, but ended after a disappointing performance at the 2023 ODI World Cup and a semi-final exit at the 2023 T20 World Cup.Prior to his time with England, Mott coached the New South Wales men's side from 2007. His return to the state's system will see him reunite with Rachael Haynes, who was a key member of the Australia Women's team he coached to numerous successes."We couldn't be more pleased to have Motty committed for the next three years with the club," said Haynes, Sixers' general manager. "When the opportunity arises to bring a coach of Motty's calibre into your ranks, it's a no-brainer.""His coaching resume speaks for itself. He has an incredible track-record of success around the world, and he's proven he knows what it takes to build, and sustain, a winning culture."In the recent BBL draft, the Sixers retained James Vince and surprised many by selecting Yorkshire legspinner Jafer Chohan as their last pick. They had previously secured West Indies left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein.

Brendon McCullum's transformative impact on England's Test team has earned him an expanded role as head coach across all formats. The former New Zealand captain has been credited with instilling a fearless, attacking brand of cricket, dubbed "Bazball," leading England to a remarkable turnaround in Test cricket.Since taking over a struggling Test side in May 2022, McCullum has guided England to 19 victories in 28 matches, a stark contrast to the team's previous struggles. His appointment as head coach across all formats signals England's commitment to his leadership and their belief in his ability to replicate the Test team's success in limited-overs cricket.McCullum's appointment comes at a critical juncture for England's white-ball teams, who have experienced recent setbacks, including surrendering both the 50-over and 20-over World Cup titles in the past year. The hope is that his positive influence and aggressive approach can revitalize these teams and propel them back to the top of the international game.Stand-in Test captain Ollie Pope praised McCullum's impact, highlighting his ability to inspire confidence and encourage players to perform at their best. "We've seen the impact he's had on us as a Test team and as individuals, which I think he can then transfer into the white-ball stuff as well," Pope said.England's decision to hand Josh Hull his Test debut in the final match against Sri Lanka further underlines their commitment to nurturing young talent and maintaining the winning momentum established under McCullum's guidance. A series victory would mark the first time since 2004 that England has achieved a clean sweep of home Test wins, a testament to the team's remarkable transformation and a positive sign for the future of English cricket under McCullum's leadership.

Brendon McCullum, the current England Test coach, has been appointed as the new men's white-ball head coach, marking a significant shift in the ECB's coaching structure. This strategic restructure will see McCullum oversee both the Test and white-ball teams, a move that has been met with widespread praise.McCullum's three-year contract extension will see him guide England's white-ball fortunes until the 2027 World Cup in South Africa, while also leading the Test squad through the 2027 Ashes campaign. This unified approach aims to create a cohesive coaching structure and foster a consistent playing style across all formats.The appointment comes after the sacking of Matthew Mott as white-ball head coach in July, following England's disappointing performances in the 50-over and 20-over World Cups. McCullum's success as Test coach, particularly his implementation of the "Bazball" mentality, has made him a highly sought-after coach.Despite initially expressing reluctance for the white-ball role, McCullum has now embraced the challenge, eager to extend his ethos of aggressive and fearless cricket to the limited-overs formats. He will work closely with white-ball captain Jos Buttler to build on the team's existing strengths and navigate the upcoming generational shift.McCullum's appointment as both Test and white-ball coach is a first for England since Chris Silverwood. While the demanding schedule has previously made it difficult to combine both roles, the ECB believes that the easing of fixtures from 2025 onwards will allow McCullum to effectively manage both responsibilities.The unified coaching structure is expected to benefit young players like Harry Brook and Gus Atkinson, who have the potential to excel in both formats. It will also provide a clearer pathway for emerging players to transition from white-ball to Test cricket.McCullum's vision for English cricket aligns with the ECB's goal of creating a thriving environment where players can reach their full potential. He aims to foster a culture of excellence and competitiveness across all formats, ensuring that England remains a force to be reckoned with on the international stage.

Wasim Jaffer Mocks Michael Vaughan's Test Cricket Division ProposalFormer Indian cricketer Wasim Jaffer has taken a playful jab at his English counterpart Michael Vaughan over the latter's suggestion to divide Test cricket into two tiers. Vaughan's proposal, made on Tuesday, aimed to address the declining popularity of the longest format and the disparity in financial resources among cricket boards.Jaffer's response came in the form of a screenshot of the World Test Championship (WTC) table from a month ago, when England languished at the bottom. He cheekily pointed out the timing of Vaughan's tweet, as England had recently climbed to fifth place in the WTC standings after securing an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-Test series against Sri Lanka."Interesting timing from Michael Vaughan to suggest two divisions in Test cricket," Jaffer tweeted. "England were bottom of the table a month ago, now they're 5th after beating Sri Lanka."Vaughan's proposal had sparked a debate on social media, with some supporting the idea of a two-tier system to ensure more competitive matches and others arguing that it would further widen the gap between the top and bottom teams.Jaffer's playful dig at Vaughan highlights the ongoing banter between the two former cricketers, who have often engaged in friendly exchanges on social media. Their lighthearted rivalry adds a touch of humor to the serious discussions surrounding the future of Test cricket.

England's women cricketers will miss the latter stages of the Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) due to a clash with their tour of South Africa. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has informed players that they are expected to join the national team in South Africa on specific dates, regardless of any overlap with WBBL games.This decision aims to avoid a repeat of the situation earlier this year, when the end of the Women's Premier League (WPL) overlapped with England's arrival in New Zealand for a bilateral series. Players were forced to choose between club and country.The ECB notified players and their agents of the requirements before the WBBL draft. England is scheduled to play three T20Is in South Africa starting November 24, followed by three ODIs from December 4 and a Test starting on December 15.Seven England players were signed in the WBBL draft, including Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Sophie Ecclestone, and Heather Knight. The ECB took a similar stance last year, with Bess Heath and Danielle Gibson missing the WBBL final to join England's squad in India.The WPL announced its 2024 fixtures in January, with the final falling two days before England's first T20I in New Zealand. New Zealand Cricket declined an ECB request to move the dates.Jonathan Finch, Director of England Women's Cricket, emphasized the need for better coordination between tournaments. He said the ECB is working on aligning the Women's Future Tours Program to avoid future clashes.Finch acknowledged the financial implications for players who may miss out on lucrative WPL contracts. However, he stressed that players signing central contracts with England are expected to prioritize international commitments.The ECB is also considering introducing multi-year central contracts to provide players with greater security. Finch believes this will reduce the need for case-by-case discussions about player availability.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan has raised concerns about Ollie Pope's suitability as the Test captain, despite his recent victory over Sri Lanka. Vaughan believes Pope lacks the confidence and experience necessary for the role, citing his poor batting form and excessive use of unsuccessful reviews.Pope's leadership has been under scrutiny after England's 190-run victory at Lord's, where he scored only 1 and 17. His fidgety manner at the crease and questionable field placements have also raised eyebrows. Vaughan argues that Pope is better suited as a vice-captain, providing tactical advice and support to Ben Stokes."Ollie Pope is the ideal vice-captain for England," Vaughan wrote in his column for The Telegraph. "He is a very good guy, trains well, and is a real team man. But he is better kept in that role than elevated to captain."Vaughan believes that Pope's insecurity stems from his lack of experience as a leader. He points out that not all vice-captains are capable of becoming captains, and that Pope may not have the necessary authority to command the respect of his teammates."I would be happy to be proven wrong on Pope," Vaughan added. "But I think he is someone who is a bit insecure. I can see why they gave him the vice-captaincy to give him a boost, but he really did not need the captaincy at this stage of his career."Vaughan also suggests that Harry Brook would be a better fit as England's next Test captain, due to his natural leadership qualities and aggressive approach. He also proposes that Joe Root could take up the mantle on an interim basis if necessary."Looking ahead, Harry Brook would be a better fit as captain for this side," Vaughan said. "But if there is another interim period when Stokes is injured and there are concerns about whether Brook is ready, what is wrong with giving the captaincy to Joe Root?"

Jos Buttler's recovery from a calf injury has suffered a setback, ruling him out of Lancashire's T20 Blast quarter-final and casting doubt on his availability for England's upcoming T20I series against Australia.The England captain has not played any cricket since the T20 World Cup semi-final defeat to India in June. He sustained a calf injury in July while preparing for the Hundred, which forced him to miss the tournament.Buttler had been targeting Wednesday's quarter-final at Hove for his comeback after weeks of rehabilitation. However, he has now been ruled out of contention, as confirmed by Lancashire coach Dale Benkenstein."We've had some bad news on his recovery," Benkenstein said. "He had an injury he was recovering from, and he's sort of tweaked it again. He's not only just out of our T20s, but I think he's even struggling to make the international ones. He was very keen to play for us."England are not overly concerned about Buttler's fitness ahead of their first T20I on September 11 and remain hopeful that he will be available to captain the side throughout Australia's eight-match white-ball tour.England's new-look squad are due to report to the Utilita Bowl on Sunday ahead of two training days, when their medical staff will get a clearer picture as to whether Buttler will be available.England's white-ball teams do not have an official vice-captain, with Sam Curran and Phil Salt the main contenders to deputise in the event that Buttler is unavailable. He is not expected to keep wicket during the T20I series, which increases the chance that he will be able to feature despite suffering a setback.Lancashire will have their other England players available on Wednesday night at Hove, with Salt, Liam Livingstone, and Saqib Mahmood all set to be involved. Jofra Archer is expected to feature for Sussex, whose T20 side is captained by Tymal Mills.Hove has not hosted a T20 quarter-final in front of a crowd since 2019, and tickets have been sold out for the past two weeks.

England's Gus Atkinson emerged as a true all-rounder in the recently concluded Test series against Sri Lanka, etching his name on all of Lord's honours boards. His exceptional performance played a pivotal role in England's 2-0 series victory.In the first Test at Lord's, Atkinson's century and five-wicket haul were instrumental in England's 190-run triumph. Batting alongside Joe Root, Atkinson scored a rapid 118 off 115 balls, including 14 fours and four sixes. His aggressive batting helped England post a formidable 427 runs in their first innings.With the ball, Atkinson proved equally devastating. He claimed 5/62 in Sri Lanka's first innings, including the wickets of Dimuth Karunaratne and Angelo Mathews. His ability to swing the ball both ways and generate pace troubled the Sri Lankan batsmen.In the second innings, Atkinson continued to impress with the bat. He scored 50 off 62 balls, helping England set a challenging target of 483 runs for Sri Lanka.Sri Lanka showed some fight in their chase, with half-centuries from Karunaratne, Dinesh Chandimal, and Dhananjaya de Silva. However, Atkinson's bowling brilliance proved too much for them. He claimed another five-wicket haul, finishing with figures of 5/62.Atkinson's all-round performance earned him the 'Player of the Match' award. He became the first England player since Ian Botham in 1986 to score a century and take five wickets in the same Test at Lord's.Speaking after the match, Atkinson expressed his delight at his achievements. "It was special for me to get on all of Lord's honours boards and bat with Joe Root in the first innings," he said. "It will take a while to sink in."Atkinson's performance has solidified his place in the England Test team. His ability to contribute with both bat and ball makes him a valuable asset to the side.