Cricket

Despite concerns raised by players about the demanding schedule, the volume of men's county cricket in England will remain largely unchanged in 2025. A survey conducted by the Professional Cricketers' Association (PCA) revealed that over 80% of players expressed concerns about their physical well-being due to the packed schedule.However, the only modifications for the upcoming season will be minor adjustments. Each county will continue to play a minimum of 14 County Championship matches, eight Metro Bank Cup matches, and 14 Vitality T20 Blast matches.The PCA continues to advocate for gradual changes, such as spreading out T20 fixtures throughout the week to reduce tight turnarounds and implementing uniform three-day gaps between Championship matches."There's definitely room for improvement in 2025 compared to 2024," said Daryl Mitchell, the PCA's interim chief executive. "The schedule can definitely be managed better."The main point of contention for the 2025 schedule revolves around the T20 Blast and the timing of the knockout stages. In 2023, the knockout stages were held immediately after the group stages in July, allowing counties to retain their overseas players. This year, they will be held in September, giving clubs more time to sell tickets for home quarter-finals.Kent's T20 captain Sam Billings criticized this year's Blast schedule as "ridiculous," arguing that holding the final two months after the group stages "just does not make sense." However, it is understood that T20 Finals Day is likely to remain in September next year, potentially overlapping with England's white-ball series against South Africa."Everyone's in agreement that the schedule isn't perfect, is it?" Mitchell said. "The ECB and the counties - particularly the directors of cricket that I've spoken to - are on board with what we've said. I don't think players in general would actually want a significant reduction in cricket, maybe just a few days here and there… we're looking for small, incremental change."The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) recently announced the international fixtures for the 2025 summer, including incoming men's tours from Zimbabwe, India, West Indies, and South Africa, as well as women's tours from West Indies and India. The Hundred will be played in August, starting immediately after the fifth Test against India and running until the end of the month.

Chris Wright, the experienced Leicestershire seamer, has been suspended for nine months after testing positive for a trace amount of Ostarine, a banned substance. The 38-year-old admitted to the adverse result in October 2023, which stemmed from a contaminated food supplement.Despite signing a new contract with Leicestershire last year, Wright has not played for the club this season due to his suspension. The Cricket Regulator and the National Anti-Doping Agency accepted that Wright did not intentionally ingest the substance, which is not performance-enhancing.Wright's suspension has been backdated, making him eligible to play from July 19. He expressed shock and disappointment upon learning of the positive test, emphasizing that he had disclosed the use of the supplement on his doping control form.With the help of scientific experts, Wright identified the supplement as the source of the contamination. He criticized the supplement manufacturer for failing to explain how Ostarine entered the product.The Professional Cricketers' Association (PCA) has expressed concern over the lack of thresholds for banned substances in cases where there is no intent or scientific evidence of intentional ingestion. The PCA is lobbying the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) to review its stance on trace amounts of substances ingested via contamination.Ian Thomas, PCA managing director of member services, highlighted the dangers of supplement usage and the stress Wright and his family have endured during the suspension. He emphasized the need for a review of WADA's rules to protect innocent athletes from lengthy bans due to contamination.Wright expressed gratitude for the support he received from the PCA, Leicestershire CCC, and his family. He is eager to return to training and resume his playing career.

Professional Cricketers' Association (PCA) chief executive Rob Lynch is set to depart his role in June to join MCC as director of cricket operations. Lynch, who represented New Zealand at the Under-19 World Cup in 2000, has been at the helm of the players' union since October 2020.During his tenure, Lynch has guided the PCA through the challenges of the pandemic and has been a vocal advocate for player welfare, criticizing the "unsustainable" domestic schedule. He also played a key role in addressing allegations of racism at Yorkshire, acknowledging the PCA's shortcomings in supporting Azeem Rafiq.Lynch's departure will see Daryl Mitchell, currently COO at the PCA, take over as interim CEO. Lynch will join MCC in July, succeeding Jamie Cox, who is moving to Somerset as their new chief executive.As director of cricket operations, Lynch will oversee MCC's cricket departments and global role, including the guardianship of the Laws of Cricket and the MCC World Cricket Committee. He will also be responsible for matchday operations at Lord's, starting with the first men's Test match of the summer between England and West Indies on July 10.MCC chief executive and secretary Guy Lavender praised Lynch's experience and qualifications for the role, highlighting his deep understanding of the game both on and off the field. He also thanked Cox for his contributions to MCC, particularly in developing the club's cricket strategy.Lynch expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to serve as PCA chief executive, emphasizing the strong financial position and growth of the women's game during his tenure. He also acknowledged the importance of EDI initiatives and the dedication of the PCA staff.

The Professional Cricketers Association (PCA) has urged counties to fulfill their commitments to women's cricket after the ECB announced the allocation of 'Tier 1' teams in England's revamped domestic structure.Counties, excluding Derbyshire and Worcestershire, will soon learn if their bids to host Tier 1 teams have been successful. However, players have expressed concerns that counties may not deliver on their promises.Daryl Mitchell, PCA's chief operating officer, emphasized the importance of holding counties accountable. "We'll lobby the ECB to ensure successful bidders keep their word," he said. "The ECB's auditing and policing will be crucial, and we can play our part."The PCA and ECB have agreed on a minimum squad size of 15 for Tier 1 teams and equalizing the minimum wage for female and male cricketers. These commitments will be formalized in the updated County Partnership Agreement (CPA)."Some female players currently work two jobs to make ends meet," Mitchell said. "We need to ensure minimum salaries are appropriate and equal to men's salaries. This is crucial for players to become professional."Players are excited about the new system, which will provide equal access to facilities and coaches. "Players want the 'one club, two team' mentality seen in the Hundred," Mitchell said. "There will be teething problems, but overall, it's positive for the game."Despite the challenges, Mitchell encouraged unsuccessful counties to continue investing in women's cricket. "The tender process has made counties consider how to incorporate women's cricket into their structures," he said. "Hopefully, those eight that are unsuccessful become Tier 2 teams and build foundations."The Hundred's potential ownership changes have also been discussed by the PCA. "There's a lot of talk about the women's game behind the scenes," Mitchell said. "We'll ensure that investors are fully committed to both the men's and women's Hundred."The final season of the women's regional structure begins next Saturday, with several teams signing Australian overseas players.