Cricket

Jofra Archer, the enigmatic English fast bowler, has expressed his desire to represent his country at the upcoming T20 World Cup in the Caribbean. However, he has also cautioned that he may struggle to endure another "stop-start year" after battling persistent injuries over the past three years.Archer has been sidelined since May 2023 due to an elbow injury, but the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is planning his return to international cricket during the four-match T20I series against Pakistan in late May, just before the World Cup. He is expected to be included in England's provisional World Cup squad, which must be submitted to the ICC by May 1.England will kick off their World Cup campaign at Kensington Oval in Barbados with matches against Scotland and Australia on June 4 and 8, respectively. Archer was born and raised on the island and has trained with England squads there on recent tours, but he has never played an international match there."I really do want to be in the team," Archer said in an interview with The Athlete's Voice by 4CAST. "I really do want to be playing back at home… I'd love my family and my dogs at that first game back. I haven't played for England at all this year, so I think it would be really fitting if that could happen."Archer traveled to India last month with Sussex's pre-season tour, which he described as a "good gauge" and a "valuable check" on his progress. Rob Key, England's managing director, stated earlier this month that Archer had returned to the Caribbean to continue his rehabilitation, while also ruling him out of contention for Test cricket this summer."The last two years have been really stop-start, so I just think that everyone's going to just take it a bit easy," Archer said. "If I'm ready then fine, happy days. But if I'm not, they're still supporting me until whenever I am ready.""Worst-case scenario, even if I don't make it to the World Cup for whatever reason, there's still the T20 Blast, there's still the Hundred. There's still cricket that I haven't got a chance to play in the last couple of years. As much as I want to play in the World Cup, if it doesn't happen for whatever reason, at least I still know I could be somewhat active as well."Archer also discussed the impact of negative social media comments on his mental well-being during his time on the sidelines. "Everybody - honestly, everybody - has an opinion. It doesn't matter what you do or how good you are, everyone will have a go at you at some point," he said."Even now, any time England or my franchises post, all of the comments are - or if I post training clips, people are like: 'He'll probably be injured tomorrow.' It's just stupid comments like that… I really need people to take accountability for what they say, because if you're saying that stuff, you've got to answer for it."

Derek Underwood, the legendary English spin bowler, passed away at the age of 78. Known as "Deadly" for his lethal left-arm action, Underwood claimed 297 wickets in 86 Tests between 1966 and 1982.Underwood's career began at Kent, where he made his first-class debut at 17. Over three decades, he played over 900 matches for the county, taking 2,523 wickets at an astonishing average of 19.04. His accuracy and pace made him a formidable opponent, especially on rain-affected wickets.In the 1968 Ashes, Underwood's brilliance was on full display. In the final Test at The Oval, he claimed four wickets in 27 balls to defeat Australia and square the series. His most remarkable performance came in 1973 at Hastings, where he took 8 for 9 to rout Sussex on a rain-soaked pitch.Underwood's adaptability extended to India and Australia, where he adjusted his pace to maximize his impact. He was ranked as the world's No.1 bowler from 1969 to 1973. However, his career was marred by two controversial decisions.In 1977, he joined World Series Cricket, and in 1981-82, he participated in the rebel tour of South Africa. These actions led to a three-year ban from internationals, effectively ending his career.Despite these setbacks, Underwood's legacy remains intact. He won three County Championships, two One-Day Cups, and three Benson & Hedges Cups with Kent. He was awarded an MBE in 1981 and inducted into the ICC's Cricket Hall of Fame in 2009.In 2011, the Annexe Stand at Kent's home ground was renamed the 'Underwood & Knott Stand' in honor of his legendary partnership with wicketkeeper Allan Knott.

Shoaib Bashir, the young English off-spinner, has had a whirlwind few months since making his Test debut for England in India earlier this year. After taking 17 wickets in his first three Tests, Bashir is now set to make his debut for Somerset in the County Championship.Bashir's journey to the international stage has been a remarkable one. He was released by Surrey as a teenager, but after working hard to improve his skills, he was picked up by Somerset. He made his Test debut in the second Test against India in Visakhapatnam, and took 17 wickets in his first three matches."It's been such a surreal couple of months," Bashir said. "I got picked up from pretty much nowhere -- Somerset came to me out of the blue and so has England as well. I'm just so grateful for the opportunity."Bashir's entry into India was delayed due to visa issues, but he eventually joined the team in the middle of the first Test at Hyderabad. He made his debut in Visakhapatnam, and took 4 wickets in the match."It was quite special," Bashir said. "I remember walking out there and I was shaking -- I was like, 'I'm walking out with Ben Stokes, Joe Root here, this is the experience'."Bashir is now keen to ace the challenge of bowling in England after doing well in India. "I'm still young, I'm still learning the game," he said. "I'm quite excited for what's to come. I know bowling in County Championship conditions in this rain is part of the experience as well. I'm still trying to develop my skills."Bashir is fine with moving to another side on loan to get game time for his development as a young spin bowler. "It's not easy being a young kid and then getting told you're not quite good enough to make it," he said. "Getting up from that and knowing if you want something that bad you want to put in work for it, that's sort of what I did. I really made an effort to improve myself as a cricketer and tried to prove a point."

England's Nat Sciver-Brunt and Sophie Ecclestone orchestrated a dominant bowling performance to secure a comprehensive five-wicket victory over New Zealand in the final T20I of the series. The triumph sealed a 4-1 series win for England.Sciver-Brunt's early breakthroughs left New Zealand reeling at 23 for 3. She dismissed openers Suzie Bates and Maddy Green before trapping Amelia Kerr lbw. Ecclestone then took over, claiming the wickets of Katey Martin and Hannah Rowe to reduce the hosts to 69 for 5.However, 19-year-old Izzy Gaze played a defiant innings, scoring an unbeaten 51 to rescue New Zealand. She shared a crucial 56-run partnership with Brooke Halliday for the sixth wicket.In reply, England lost early wickets but Sciver-Brunt and Heather Knight steadied the ship with a 57-run stand. Sciver-Brunt fell for 31, but Knight remained unbeaten on 35 to guide England to victory.Ecclestone finished with figures of 3 for 30, while Sciver-Brunt claimed 2 for 24. Gaze's half-century was in vain as England secured a comfortable win.The two teams will now face off in a three-match ODI series, starting in Wellington on Monday.

Liam Dawson, the 34-year-old English spin-bowling all-rounder, has acknowledged that his Test cricket aspirations are over. Dawson, who last played a Test in 2017, was not selected for England's tour of India this winter, despite being the leading English spinner in last year's County Championship.Dawson had previously indicated that he would have to weigh up whether to accept an England call, having agreed a lucrative contract to play for Sunrisers Eastern Cape in the SA20, a tournament that clashed directly with the start of the Test tour. He ultimately chose to prioritize his T20 commitments, a decision he does not regret."For me, probably Test cricket now is completely off the radar," Dawson said. "But it is what it is, I'm 34 and I want to enjoy my cricket and try to win trophies towards the end of my career."Dawson has won 20 England caps across three formats going back to 2016, as well as an ODI World Cup winners' medal in 2019. He was a travelling reserve for both the 2021 and 2022 T20 World Cups, but said he does not expect to be in the mix for this year's tournament in the Caribbean and USA."I think with my age, 34, realistically that's probably gone to be honest," Dawson said. "I'm looking forward to playing for Hampshire this season, and the Hundred with London Spirit."Dawson's decision to prioritize T20 cricket reflects the challenge for young English spinners to come through the system. With the rain teeming down in England for much of the year, it can be difficult for spinners to get enough game time to develop their skills."Without doubt, it's very, very difficult," Dawson said. "If you're an out-and-out spinner it's not easy to play in these conditions, the time of the year we play. There's no ideal scenario, what gives, what doesn't? When do you play Championship cricket? It's a tough thing to do."Despite the challenges, Dawson believes that England have two promising young spinners in Tom Hartley and Shoaib Bashir, who both impressed on the tour of India."They [Hartley and Bashir] did very well," Dawson said. "They're good bowlers. I faced Bashir last year here, I thought he was a really good bowler, and the same with Tom Hartley when we played them in Southport, very consistent. Hopefully they can continue to do well."

England's T20I and ODI campaign against New Zealand has been dealt a blow with the news that legspinner Sarah Glenn has been ruled out due to concussion. Glenn sustained the injury during the third T20I in Nelson, where she landed heavily after dropping a catch.Despite initially staying on the field and bowling the next over, Glenn was eventually substituted out for Holly Armitage at the change of innings. She missed the fourth T20I in Wellington and will now miss at least the first two ODIs as she follows the ECB's Graded Return to Play Protocols.Glenn's absence is a significant loss for England, as she is a key member of their spin attack. However, the team was able to replace her with Sophie Ecclestone in Wellington, who returned to the squad after featuring in the Women's Premier League (WPL).Alongside Ecclestone, Danni Wyatt, Nat Sciver-Brunt, and Alice Capsey also became available for the fourth T20I, which England won by a commanding 47 runs to wrap up the series.Offspinner Charlie Dean claimed four wickets in the fourth T20I, and with Ecclestone and Glenn also available, England could field a formidable spin attack for the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh.Meanwhile, New Zealand have an injury concern of their own after captain Sophie Devine sustained a quad strain in Wellington. Devine was limited to one over and did not bat, and will undergo an MRI scan on Thursday to determine the extent of the injury."Probably just a small niggle," Devine said. "Just looking ahead with the one-dayers being really important with WC [World Championship] points. I probably wanted to get back out there but someone with a bit more of a rational brain kept me off."

England's Maia Bouchier emerged as a batting sensation, guiding her team to a commanding 47-run victory over New Zealand in the third T20I in Wellington. Bouchier's blistering 91 propelled England to a formidable 177 for 3, setting an insurmountable target for the hosts.Bouchier, promoted to open the innings, seized the opportunity with aplomb. Despite an early reprieve on 5, she unleashed a destructive display, reaching her maiden T20I half-century in just 33 balls. Her innings was a masterclass in power-hitting, featuring a magnificent straight six off Hannah Rowe.Bouchier's dominance continued as she forged a 75-run partnership with Alice Capsey. Nat Sciver-Brunt and Heather Knight provided the late fireworks, adding 34 runs off just 14 balls. England's aggressive approach saw them amass 65 runs in the final five overs, leaving New Zealand with a daunting chase.New Zealand's hopes were dealt a major blow when captain Sophie Devine suffered a quad strain while bowling. Her absence was keenly felt as the hosts struggled to keep pace with England's imposing total. Bernadine Bezuidenhout and Amelia Kerr provided some resistance, but Charlie Dean's four-wicket haul extinguished any hopes of a comeback.Dean's impressive performance highlighted England's bowling strength. Sophie Ecclestone, returning to international duty, was typically economical, despite a rare fielding lapse. Lauren Bell's early strike on Suzie Bates further weakened New Zealand's batting lineup.Bouchier's outstanding innings and England's collective dominance secured a series-clinching victory. The visitors' aggressive approach and clinical execution proved too much for a depleted New Zealand side.

Ollie Pope, England's rising star, has declared his availability for Surrey's County Championship opener against Lancashire, eager to contribute to the club's title defense and honor the legacy of outgoing director of cricket Alec Stewart.Despite a disappointing Test tour of India, where he failed to capitalize on his impressive 196 against Hyderabad, Pope is determined to make amends. He believes he is in good form and is eager to find his rhythm at No. 3 for Surrey.Pope's return is a significant boost for Surrey, who are aiming for a hat-trick of County Championship titles. However, the 24-year-old is also deeply saddened by Stewart's impending departure. He credits Stewart with transforming the club and fostering a culture of success.Pope recalls his early days at Surrey, when the club was grappling with challenges, including the tragic death of Tom Maynard. He believes Stewart's leadership and unwavering commitment played a crucial role in turning things around.Pope also acknowledges the influence of Stewart's brother, Neil, a batting coach who has been instrumental in his development. He praises Neil's technical expertise and unwavering belief in his abilities.As Stewart prepares to step down, Pope expresses his gratitude for his guidance and support. He hopes to honor Stewart's legacy by winning trophies for the club and continuing to improve his game.

Rob Key, England's managing director, believes that Andrew Flintoff possesses exceptional leadership qualities and would be an ideal candidate for the England head coach position in the future. Key, a close friend of Flintoff, played a pivotal role in his return to the public eye after a serious accident in 2022.Flintoff's involvement with the England team has gradually increased since his initial unpaid role during the New Zealand series last year. He has since mentored the England Lions and is now part of the back-room staff for the upcoming T20 World Cup in the Caribbean.Key believes that Flintoff's personal experiences, both on and off the field, have equipped him with the emotional intelligence and empathy that are essential for effective leadership. He compares Flintoff to Ben Stokes, another former England captain known for his ability to connect with players and inspire them."Flintoff is a leader like Stokes," Key said. "He knows what it's like to struggle and come out the other end. He can relate to players and understand their challenges. He has high emotional intelligence and knows when to offer support or provide blunt honesty."Flintoff's role with England will extend into the ODI series against Pakistan before the T20 World Cup. Key sees this as a valuable opportunity for Flintoff to gain further experience in team management and squad assembly. He hopes that other former players, such as Moeen Ali and Eoin Morgan, can also be integrated into the coaching setup in the future."Flintoff is on a brilliant journey in his coaching development," Key said. "He's gaining practical experience in various roles, which is more valuable than theoretical knowledge. We want to create opportunities for former players with these skills to learn and contribute to the team."