The Buzz
Kent boss takes to a cardboard box
Chief executive joins fundraiser for homeless charities
ESPNcricinfo staff
19-Sep-2016
Kent's chief executive, Jamie Clifford, experienced an unusual Saturday night out in Canterbury this weekend, by sleeping rough under a cardboard shelter to raise awareness and funds for two local charities.
Clifford, along with other local business and community bosses, took part in an event organised by Rotary Club of Canterbury Sunrise to highlight the work of Porchlight and Catching Lives, two local charities supporting the homeless.
The shelters were built from scratch in the Precincts of Canterbury Cathedral, using cardboard and plastic materials provided by the organisers.
Full postEx-county pro makes TV acting debut
A former Derbyshire cricketer has landed an acting role in a popular BBC drama
ESPNcricinfo staff
14-Sep-2016
Former Derbyshire batsman Hamza Siddique has landed his first television acting role in the BBC's long-running drama series 'Doctors'.
Siddique, who had two years on Derbyshire's staff and played three first-class matches for Cardiff MCCU, graduated from the Central School of Speech and Drama in London last year with a Masters degree in acting.
The 25 year-old, whose course was part-funded by the PCA, has since landed a part in 'Doctors' and will appear three forthcoming episodes of the daytime drama.
Full postDavid Warner: sports dad of the year
When Australia's super smasher was named Australia's super daddy
ESPNcricinfo staff
04-Sep-2016
A maiden ODI century by an Australian in Sri Lanka, an ODI series wrapped up 4-1 as stand-in captain, and an award for Australia's best sports dad of 2016. It was a super Sunday for super dad David Warner, father to two girls, Ivy Mae and Indi Rae.
The award for best sports dad was announced on what was officially Father's Day in Australia - the first Sunday of every September. Warner, one among ten nominees for the award, will get to choose a charity to which AUD 10,000 will be donated.
Warner, he of the infamous bar brawl with England's Joe Root, credited his family for making him a calmer and more level-headed person. He said he had a "sneaky suspicion" he was nominated for the award by his wife, former ironwoman Candice, according to the Cricket Australia website.
Full postLord's calls for champagne cork ceasefire
Spectators at Lord's have been warned to desist from the time-honoured tradition of firing their champagne corks onto the field of play
ESPNcricinfo staff
26-Aug-2016
Spectators at Lord's have been warned to desist from the time-honoured tradition of firing their champagne corks onto the field of play, because they risk causing a "hazard" to the players.
Lord's is the only international cricket ground at which spectators are still allowed to bring in their own alcohol, but in its latest newsletter, Marylebone Cricket Club admitted that concerns had been "formally raised" by visiting players who have been in the firing line.
"In recent times the practice of some members and other spectators opening bottles of champagne in such a way as to allow corks to be projected on to the outfield has been criticised," the letter read.
Full postIn Colombo and Rio, Starc brothers taste bittersweet success
Both Starc brothers have tasted individual success in their respective sports over the past few days, but both would probably have wanted just a little bit more
ESPNcricinfo staff
17-Aug-2016
Mitchell Starc, when on song, is no stranger to getting a batsman jumping. His younger brother Brandon, by contrast, prefers to do the jumping himself. Over the past few days, the Starc brothers have been plying their respective trades in sporting events half a world away from each other.
In Colombo, Mitchell took his 24th wicket of the series on Tuesday to move past Richard Hadlee in bagging the highest wicket tally for an overseas pacer in a three-Test series in Asia. His team, however, were on the receiving end of a series whitewash.
In Rio de Janeiro, Brandon qualified for the final of the high jump event at the Olympics. That final, though, proved to be too high a bar, at least for now. Brandon finished last among the 15 finalists.
Full postRugby union team inspired by 'Bodyline'
England coach Eddie Jones has revealed he showed his players footage of the "Bodyline" tour of the 1930s before their successful trip Down Under
ESPNcricinfo staff
12-Aug-2016
Eddie Jones, the Australian coach of England's rugby union team, has revealed he showed his players footage of the "Bodyline" tour of the 1930s before their successful trip Down Under earlier this year.
Jones oversaw England's 3-0 win over the Wallabies - their first ever tour success in Australia - and was subsequently invited to a training session at Lord's before the first Test against Pakistan. He was also in attendance for the fourth Test at The Oval, this time as a spectator.
With England's cricketers also being coached by an Australian in Trevor Bayliss, the Ashes tour of 2017-18 will have an extra layer of intrigue. England's success in the 1932-33 series nearly led to a diplomatic incident over their use of "leg-theory" bowling but Jones, speaking to the ECB's website, said it was a good example of how to tackle Australia head on in their own conditions.
Full post'I might have crumbled with 20,000'
England opener surprised when fan responded to his tweet
ESPNcricinfo staff
09-Aug-2016
Alex Hales admitted he felt compelled to give a fan a partial refund on the cost of his ticket for the third day at Edgbaston after Alexis Fuller sent the opener his bank details.
After just 81 overs had been bowled during Friday's play, Fuller tweeted a group of England players asking if they would give 10% of the ticket price back. Hales replied, said he would, then found Fuller took up the offer.
"I saw the tweet and it made me chuckle and bit," Hales said. "He had a point as well. I didn't think I'd get a response but when he did it I thought I better go through with it. But it was all in good spirits."
Full postHales offers fan 10% ticket refund
Slow over-rate at Edgbaston leads to gesture
ESPNcricinfo staff
06-Aug-2016
Alex Hales, England's opening batsman, has apologised for his team's slow over-rate during the third Test against Pakistan, by giving a disgruntled fan a partial refund on his match ticket.
Alexis Fuller, who attended the third day's play at Edgbaston, contacted several players on Twitter to ask for a 10% refund, after it had been pointed out by Michael Vaughan, the former England captain, that only 81 of the day's prescribed 90 overs had been bowled.
"I want 10% of my money back," Fuller wrote. "Wouldn't go to football and find it ended after 80mins."
Full postStuart Broad turns pub landlord
Presenting the Cat & Wickets Pub Company
ESPNcricinfo staff
13-Jul-2016
Stuart Broad has become a pub landlord after going into business with his Nottinghamshire team-mate, Harry Gurney.
The pair recently set up the Cat & Wickets Pub Company, in conjunction with another friend, Dan Cramp, and are in the process of refurbishing the Three Crowns, in Wymeswold, near Loughborough.
"It's 10 miles from Leicester and 10 miles from Nottingham, so there's quite a good hub of people around there," Broad told the Leicester Mercury. "The locals support it really well already, but we're just looking to take it to that next step.
Full postNasser bags a skier, and a Guinness World Record
Former England captain Nasser Hussain caught one sent his way from 150 feet straight up, to set the record for the "highest catch of a cricket ball"
ESPNcricinfo staff
06-Jul-2016
At 48, former England captain Nasser Hussain still has it when it comes to catching a cricket ball. Albeit with a mismatched pair of gloves on. Armed with one white and red wicketkeeping glove, and one black and yellow one, he settled under a drone at Lord's and caught his way into the Guinness Book of World Records. The drone dropped the ball from a height of 150 feet, the ball reached estimated speeds of 74 mph on its descent, it swirled around a bit, but none of it was too much for Nasser.
"It was great fun to spend the morning attempting to catch cricket balls dropped from a drone at the home of cricket - something I never thought I would do," he said after his record-setter, according to the Guinness Book of World Records website. "But I am looking forward to giving my hands a rest and getting back to the commentary box for the upcoming Test match [against Pakistan]."
Nasser had also caught one dropped from a height of 105 feet, and he attempted one more: a monster 400-feet drop - the highest the drone could go. The wind displacement, as expected, proved too much on that one, blowing the ball well out of his reach.
Full post