Cricket

Danni Wyatt-Hodge, England's prolific batter, has made a significant move by transferring her allegiance from Southern Vipers to Surrey for the inaugural Women's Tier 1 county competition in 2025. This decision marks a new chapter in her illustrious career, which has spanned over a decade and witnessed numerous accolades.Wyatt-Hodge, 33, has been a cornerstone of the England women's team since her debut in 2010. With 278 international appearances, she has amassed over 5,000 runs across all formats. Her exceptional performances in T20Is have earned her the distinction of being England's all-time leading run-scorer in the format, with 2,979 runs at an impressive strike rate of 127.85.Her move to Surrey reunites her with England teammates Sophia Dunkley and Alice Capsey. Wyatt-Hodge expressed her excitement about joining the club, stating, "I am both excited and honored to be joining Surrey. The club has an incredible history with a culture of success, which I want to contribute to."Emma Calvert, Surrey's Director of Women's Cricket, hailed Wyatt-Hodge's signing as a major coup for the club. "Danni's career speaks for itself, and we believe she will add strength and depth on the field as well as adding to the team off the field," Calvert said.Wyatt-Hodge's decision to join Surrey is a testament to the club's growing stature in women's cricket. The South East Stars, Surrey's women's team, have established themselves as a force to be reckoned with in recent years, winning the Charlotte Edwards Cup in 2022.Wyatt-Hodge's experience and leadership will be invaluable to Surrey as they aim to challenge for silverware in the new Women's Tier 1 competition. Her aggressive batting style and ability to score runs at a rapid pace will be a major asset to the team.

Offspinner Amar Virdi's departure from Surrey marks the end of an era for the county, as the 26-year-old departs after a decade-long association with the club. Virdi's release comes as a surprise, given his impressive performances in Surrey's 2018 County Championship-winning season, where he claimed 39 wickets.Virdi's career trajectory has taken a downturn in recent years, with the offspinner falling out of favor with Surrey's management. The emergence of batting allrounders like Will Jacks and Dan Lawrence has limited Virdi's opportunities, despite his proven ability as a wicket-taker.In search of regular playing time, Virdi spent the latter part of the 2024 county season on loan at Worcestershire, where he impressed with 14 wickets in four matches. However, a permanent move to Worcestershire is unlikely, leaving Virdi's future uncertain.Virdi's departure is a significant loss for Surrey, who have relied heavily on his spin bowling in recent years. His ability to extract turn and bounce from the pitch has been a key factor in Surrey's success, and his absence will be felt.For Virdi, the move away from Surrey presents an opportunity for a fresh start. The offspinner remains confident in his abilities and believes he has much to offer the game. With his experience and talent, Virdi is likely to attract interest from other counties looking to bolster their spin bowling options.

Shakib Al Hasan, the legendary Bangladesh all-rounder, has been requested by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to undergo an analysis of his bowling action. This request comes after umpires reported him during his solitary appearance for Surrey in the County Championship this season.Shakib, now 37, made a significant impact in his first County Championship appearance since 2011, claiming nine wickets for Surrey in a thrilling clash with Somerset at Taunton in September. As a left-arm spinner, he had agreed to a short-term deal to bolster Surrey's resources during their title push, with eight players absent on England duty.Despite his immediate impact, Shakib was unable to prevent Somerset from securing a remarkable 111-run victory that briefly halted Surrey's march towards their third consecutive Championship title. He bowled over 63 overs in the fixture, and while he was not no-balled for throwing at any stage, it has now emerged that the on-field umpires, Steve O'Shaughnessy and David Millns, subsequently deemed his bowling action to be suspect.Shakib is not currently suspended from playing, but negotiations are reportedly underway for him to undergo further tests in an approved location within the next couple of weeks. This is believed to be the first time that Shakib's bowling action has come under scrutiny in his illustrious career spanning two decades. He has taken a total of 712 wickets across 447 international matches, including 246 in 71 Tests.Shakib's international career is currently in limbo following protests that accompanied his withdrawal, on security grounds, from Bangladesh's Test squad to face South Africa at Mirpur last month. He had previously served as an MP for the longstanding Awami League-led government, which was toppled amid student protests in July.

Surrey's Dom Sibley played a pivotal role in securing the Vitality County Championship trophy for the third consecutive year, despite a draw against Essex at Chelmsford. Sibley's resilient 125 off 189 balls ensured Surrey avoided any last-day embarrassment, although they were comprehensively outplayed by Essex.Essex declared their first innings on 508 for 8, with Dean Elgar (182), Tom Westley (135), and Matt Critchley (112) contributing significant scores. Surrey's bowling attack struggled to contain Essex's batsmen, with only two bonus points earned from the game.Sibley's innings was a masterclass in patience and determination. He dominated partnerships with Dan Lawrence and Josh Blake, showcasing both power and finesse. His dismissal with Surrey still 143 runs behind Essex's total was a minor setback, but the draw was already inevitable.The final day of the Championship season descended into a comedic affair as Essex bowlers experimented with unconventional bowling styles. The game meandered towards a draw, with handshakes exchanged at 4.10pm with Surrey on 267 for 7.Essex finished fourth in the standings, two points behind Somerset. Yousef Majid extended his nightwatchman duties, but was dismissed by Simon Harmer. Jamie Porter's impressive spell was broken by Sibley's aggressive driving. Ryan Patel and Ben Geddes also departed, leaving Sibley to anchor the innings.Sibley and Lawrence put on a 75-run partnership, with Sibley dominating the scoring. Shane Snater eventually trapped Lawrence lbw, but Sibley continued to grind out runs. He reached his century with a boundary off Sam Cook and celebrated with a six over long leg.Critchley gained revenge by dismissing Sibley, and Tom Westley struck with his sixth ball to remove Ollie Sykes. The post-tea session was a farcical affair, with bowlers experimenting with different styles and time-wasting tactics.Despite the lack of enthusiasm, Surrey savored their champagne-spraying celebrations, marking their third successive County Championship title. Sibley's century and Essex's dominance highlighted the contrasting fortunes of the two teams in this attritional draw.

Essex batters Dean Elgar, Tom Westley, and Matt Critchley dominated the third day of their match against Surrey at Chelmsford, piling up a mammoth 508 for 8 declared. The trio notched up centuries, leaving Surrey with a daunting task of chasing down a 478-run deficit.Elgar, despite an injured left calf, led the charge with a patient 182, his highest score for Essex this season. He shared a record-breaking 253-run partnership with Westley, who exploded for 135 runs, including 25 fours and a six. Critchley joined the century-making party with a fluent 112 from 171 balls.Surrey's bowlers struggled to contain the Essex onslaught, with James Taylor and Yousef Majid bearing the brunt of the punishment. Majid, making his first-class debut, claimed two wickets, including Westley's dismissal. However, Essex's middle order collapsed briefly, with Ryan Patel taking three wickets in seven balls.Critchley reached his century and became the third centurion of the day, but Taylor and Shane Snater struck late to bring about the declaration. Surrey's chase got off to a poor start as captain Rory Burns was caught at point off Simon Harmer, leaving them 30 for 1 at the close of play.Essex now need 17 points from the game to finish ahead of Somerset in third place. They have already secured the maximum five points for batting and must bowl Surrey out twice on the final day to secure the victory.

Essex's Dean Elgar and Tom Westley put on an unbeaten century stand to put the brakes on Surrey's winning streak in the Vitality County Championship.The champions, who had celebrated their third successive title triumph last week, were brought back down to earth as Elgar and Westley dominated the Surrey attack at Chelmsford.Despite a delayed start due to heavy rain, Essex won the toss and elected to bat. They lost Robin Das early on, but Elgar and Westley quickly settled in and began to build a solid partnership.Elgar, who has now passed 1000 runs for the season, was the more aggressive of the two initially, taking three boundaries off Kemar Roach early on. Westley, who also has over 1000 runs to his name this season, gradually accelerated as the partnership grew.The pair brought up their century stand in just 26 overs, with Westley reaching his half-century shortly after. Elgar reached his fifty for the ninth time this season, while Westley's half-century was his sixth of the year.Surrey's attack, which included three first-class debutants, struggled to contain the Essex batsmen. Elgar and Westley hit boundaries to all corners of the ground, putting the Surrey bowlers under pressure.The rain returned just before lunch, forcing the players off the field. By that time, Essex had reached 116 for 1, with Elgar on 54* and Westley on 52*.The rain continued throughout the afternoon, and play was eventually called off for the day at 2.30pm. Essex will resume their innings on day two with a strong position, looking to build on their solid start and put further pressure on Surrey.

Lancashire's emphatic 168-run victory over Somerset at Emirates Old Trafford has sealed Surrey's third consecutive Vitality County Championship title. Resuming on 204 for 6, Somerset's hopes of a breakthrough title were dashed as they were dismissed for 224 on the fourth morning.Luke Wells played a pivotal role for Lancashire, claiming two wickets to finish with 4 for 36, while Anderson Phillip also impressed with 3 for 81. Somerset's Lewis Gregory was dismissed for a golden duck by Wells' googly, while Craig Overton and Brett Randell fell cheaply to Phillip and Wells, respectively.The game ended with James Rew being bowled by Phillip for 31, confirming Surrey's title triumph. The result leaves Lancashire facing relegation to Division Two next season, regardless of their outcome against Worcestershire next week.Nottinghamshire's potential ten-point haul in their final match against Warwickshire would seal Lancashire's fate, with Warwickshire also requiring five points to avoid relegation.This match holds a unique place in County Championship history, becoming the first to witness 21 wickets falling on the first day and continuing until the fourth morning without weather interruptions.

Surrey's relentless pursuit of the 2024 County Championship title reached a crescendo at the Kia Oval, as they crushed Durham by ten wickets to move within touching distance of silverware.Under the golden rays of a sun-kissed London, Surrey's bowlers wreaked havoc on Durham's batting lineup, dismissing them for a paltry 177 in their second innings. Sam Curran led the charge with a devastating spell of 4 for 23, while Dan Worrall claimed 4 for 34.The victory was a testament to Surrey's resilience and determination, following a disappointing week that saw them suffer twin defeats to Somerset. However, the team rallied behind the leadership of Gareth Batty, Rory Burns, and Alec Stewart, who urged them to forget the past and focus on the task at hand.Ryan Patel, a bit-part player in the Surrey squad, played a pivotal role in the victory, scoring a face-saving century on day two. His innings provided a much-needed foundation for Surrey's eventual triumph.Durham's resistance was led by Emilio Gay, who scored a gritty 48, but his efforts were ultimately in vain. Colin Ackermann and Bas de Leede gave Durham a brief glimmer of hope, but Curran and Tom Lawes quickly extinguished it.With just one round remaining, Surrey now hold a 28-point lead over Somerset, who must chase down 393 against Lancashire to keep their title hopes alive. If Somerset fail, Surrey will be crowned champions on Friday.The victory was a fitting tribute to Alec Stewart, who is set to step down as Surrey's director of cricket after 11 years. Under his stewardship, Surrey have won three County Championships, including the 2022 title.

Ryan Patel's masterful 134 propelled Surrey to a commanding 415 in their first innings, establishing a significant 153-run lead over Durham at the Kia Oval. Patel's marathon innings, spanning nearly five hours, anchored Surrey's batting and proved pivotal in their dominance.Durham's fielding woes compounded their struggles, with Patel benefiting from dropped catches on 19 and 70. The 26-year-old batsman seized the opportunity, punishing the opposition with three sixes and 14 fours. Tom Lawes, the talented 21-year-old all-rounder, provided valuable support with a career-best 58, including a six and six fours.Surrey's innings began promisingly with an 87-run opening stand between Rory Burns and Dom Sibley. However, Durham's bowlers gradually tightened their grip, with Bas de Leede emerging as the standout performer. De Leede's incisive seam bowling accounted for four wickets, including the crucial dismissals of Sibley and Burns.Despite the setbacks, Patel and Ben Foakes steadied the innings with a 47-run partnership. Foakes' departure for 17 triggered a mini-collapse, with Dan Lawrence and Sam Curran falling in quick succession. Tom Curran and Patel then combined for a 63-run stand, but Curran's dismissal to Parkinson left Surrey vulnerable.Patel's resilience shone through as he survived another dropped catch on 70 and guided Surrey into the lead. Lawes joined Patel in a crucial eighth-wicket partnership, adding 92 runs in 19 overs. Lawes' confident strokeplay, including a six and six fours, further extended Surrey's advantage.Durham's bowlers fought valiantly, but Patel's brilliance and Lawes' support proved too much to overcome. McAlindon's dropped catch off Patel's hook shot proved costly, allowing the batsman to reach 80 and set the stage for Surrey's dominance.In Durham's brief second innings, nightwatchman Callum Parkinson was superbly caught by Conor McKerr at third slip off Dan Worrall's first delivery. Durham finished the day on 1 for 1, trailing by 152 runs.