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The Cricket Paper, London (2026)

08/09/2026

ICYMI 👀

🗣️ “In Olli Robinson, Josh Tongue, Jofra Archer and Gus Atkinson, England have landed on a quartet who can do exactly what a captain wants – apply constant pressure and offer a wicket-taking threat.

“Given their different skillsets, Joe Root has the flexibility to throw the ball to whoever he feels is best able to exploit the conditions at any given time.

“It’s happy times for Root, who wasn’t always so blessed with his pace-bowling options in his first stint as captain.

“Archer has been unfortunate not to pick up more wickets this summer because he’s bowled quickly and extremely well, and Atkinson, who’s only managed one wicket across the first two Tests, can also consider himself unlucky.

“He has been overshadowed by the rest of the attack and, as a first – or second – change seamer, hasn’t had the pick of the opportunities to get into spells while everybody else has been hoovering up wickets.

“There are options on the bench, too, with Brydon Carse and Sam Cook offering different threats depending on the conditions.

“England will face much sterner tests in the months to come but their pace attack looks in excellent shape...

✍️ Mark Butcher reflected on England’s strength in depth with Ollie Robinson back in the side and the selection calls facing Joe Root’s side.

08/09/2026

🗣 "Yorkshire’s loss to Somerset in the One-Day Cup this week was probably the worst loss I’ve ever been involved in during my career.

"You cannot defend not being able to chase 12 runs when you’ve got five wickets in hand, it was just a complete capitulation.

"It’s been similar types of losses that have been a theme of our season.

"We’ve gone toe-to-toe with sides for quite a lot of it, but these moments of unravelling have consistently happened, and they’ve been really damaging.

"That different dynamic between really experienced players and younger players in the dressing room makes the aftermath of those kinds of situations quite challenging as a captain.

"I try to be really consistent whether we win or lose. I can be pretty fiery, but I’m not someone who’s going to spout off at the end of a game – you have to read the room...

✍️ Lauren Winfield-Hill on Yorkshire's dramatic batting collapse against Somerset and the task as captain to address the fallout.

08/09/2026

🗣️ “Walking into the show was one of the most nerve-racking experiences we’ve ever had.

“We knew we had to stand behind what we’ve built and explain clearly why women’s cricket needs better-designed kit.

“It was a huge opportunity to put that argument in front of a national audience.

“Maiden started because we were tired of girls having to compromise on kit that wasn’t made for them.

“Everything we’ve built is about changing that and making sure female players have products that work for them, not adapted versions of men’s gear...

🏏 Teenage sisters Honor and Cat Black founded Maiden after becoming frustrated with cricket kit that wasn’t designed for girls and women and their mission to change that has seen the fast-growing brand secure a £50,000 investment on Dragons’ Den.

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08/09/2026

🗣️ “As a patriotic Englishman, it is to my eternal regret that schadenfreude originates from German.

“For sports fans from these shores, taking joy in others’ misfortunes is our lifeblood.

“Illogical and petty though it may be, my misery will be reduced by the exact amount of your acute, added pain.

“Sometimes these emotions are complex, with more than a dash of inverted snobbery.

“For example, while Essex have enjoyed a spiky rivalry with Somerset since the summer of 1979, when both teams secured their first major trophies, there will be considerable solace if the Cidermen break their title duck this season, as it would mean all three trophies were won by non-host counties.

“This sort of uppity glee means the relegation battle is often more enthralling than the race for the summer’s crown – especially when a big side are sucked into it...

✍️ Richard Clarke revels in the drama, fine margins and delicious endings that make the Rothesay County Championship relegation battle so compelling.

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08/09/2026

ICYMI 👀

🔥 💯 England completed a series clean sweep against Ireland with a dominant victory in the third one-day international at Worcester as Sophia Dunkley starred with a century.

England finished their innings on 291 all out, and Ireland were never close to threatening that total, going down by 114 runs.

Ireland won the toss and chose to bowl, and Orla Prendergast thought she had trapped Dunkley in front with the score on just two, but England reviewed the decision and the replay showed the ball had hit the bat.

Dunkley emphatically made the most of her second chance, going on to make 119, her highest one-day international score.

The 28-year-old and fellow opener Maia Bouchier put on 61 in the first power play before Bouchier gave a catch to Gaby Lewis off the bowling of Kia McCartney when she looked set on 39.

Dunkley reached her second ODI century off exactly 100 balls, dominating a partnership of 110 with Jodi Grewcock, who fell for 35 to a soft caught-and-bowled from Cara Murray...

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07/09/2026

🗣️ “Meanwhile, comments from Aaqib Javed, aimed at players, the captain and coaching staff, have only increased scrutiny and pressure.

“Public criticism from senior figures rarely helps struggling teams.

“More often, it creates additional tension and encourages a blame culture rather than a solution-based approach.

“One wonders what thought is given before making such disrespectful and morale-sapping remarks.

“This is a group that requires structure, support, strong leadership and effective preparation.

“Instead, they have been confronted by confusion, criticism, political distractions, selection uncertainty and administrative turmoil from an organisation that seems to be in free-fall.

“Pakistan’s chances of mounting a serious challenge diminished long before a ball was bowled.

“The players have effectively been fighting battles on several fronts at once, many of which have little to do with cricket...

✍️ Saj Sadiq examines the chaos engulfing Pakistan cricket, arguing that poor preparation, selection uncertainty and off-field turmoil have left the players paying the price.

07/09/2026

🔙 🏏 Kevin Pietersen will rejoin England Cricket’s ranks after accepting a white-ball coaching role – a dozen years on from his international playing career ending in controversial fashion.

The former England captain has been appointed as a specialist mentor to the ODI and T20 teams in the build-up to next year’s 50-over World Cup in southern Africa and he will get stuck into his new role in a limited-overs series against Sri Lanka from next week.

Pietersen is regarded as one of England’s greatest batters of the 21st century and was instrumental in their 2005 Ashes win, with his hundred on the last day at the Oval securing a seminal 2-1 triumph.

His England playing days came to a much-publicised bitter end after the 2013-14 whitewash in Australia following a fallout with the management but he has been welcomed into the fold by white-ball head coach Brendon McCullum, whose time in charge of the Test side ended this summer.

“I am immensely proud to have been asked to help this team on their journey to win a World Cup in South Africa,” Pietersen said.

“Putting on the England uniform again for the first time since 2014 is a profound honour and a deeply special moment...

⤵️ Full story

07/09/2026

🇿🇦 Kyle Verreynne will miss Nottinghamshire's final three Rothesay County Championship matches of the 2026 season after being recalled home early by Cricket South Africa.

World Test champion wicketkeeper Verreynne, 29, had originally signed to play all of Nottinghamshire’s Championship matches this summer during his third spell at Trent Bridge.

However, under the terms of his contract with his home governing body, he - along with many other South Africans currently playing in England - have been recalled home early.

Verreynne - who hit the title-winning runs last season - therefore made his final appearance for Notts this summer in the fixture against Leicestershire at Trent Bridge, and will now miss games against Hampshire, Sussex, and Yorkshire as the East Midlands side aim to defend their crown.

Read more ⤵️

07/09/2026

🗣️ “The Lord’s Test marked a continuation of Ollie Robinson’s dream summer following his recall from the international wilderness.

“After returning match figures of 8-35 from 27 overs in the series-clinching victory, he took his tally across the first two Tests against Pakistan to 16 wickets at an astonishing average of 7.

“It has to be said that the opposition are very ordinary indeed, and the three Tests that Robinson has played so far this summer have all been on spicy pitches, but his overall record of 99 wickets at 19.53 is scarcely believable in the modern era.

“Long may it continue, and there’s nothing to say that his attributes can’t be as effective in different conditions.

“In Robinson, Josh Tongue, Jofra Archer and Gus Atkinson, England have landed on a quartet who can do exactly what a captain wants – apply constant pressure and offer a wicket-taking threat.

“Given their different skillsets, Joe Root has the flexibility to throw the ball to whoever he feels is best able to exploit the conditions at any given time...

✍️ Mark Butcher reflects on Ollie Robinson’s remarkable return to the England set-up, the strength of their pace attack and the selection questions facing Joe Root’s side.

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07/09/2026

🔥 England completed a series clean sweep against Ireland with a dominant victory in the third one-day international at Worcester.

Sophia Dunkley starred with a century as England finished their innings on 291 all out, and Ireland were never close to threatening that total, going down by 114 runs.

Ireland won the toss and chose to bowl, and Orla Prendergast thought she had trapped Dunkley in front with the score on just two, but England reviewed the decision and the replay showed the ball had hit the bat.

Dunkley emphatically made the most of her second chance, going on to make 119, her highest one-day international score.

The 28-year-old and fellow opener Maia Bouchier put on 61 in the first power play before Bouchier gave a catch to Gaby Lewis off the bowling of Kia McCartney when she looked set on 39.

Dunkley reached her second ODI century off exactly 100 balls, dominating a partnership of 110 with Jodi Grewcock, who fell for 35 to a soft caught-and-bowled from Cara Murray...

⤵️ Full report

The Cricket Paper

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