The Buzz
Club launches appeal to save Afghan refugee
A cricket club in South London has launched an appeal to save one of their youth team players, an Afghan refugee, from deportation
ESPNcricinfo staff
11-Nov-2016
A cricket club in South London has launched an appeal to save one of their youth team players, an Afghan refugee, from deportation.
Ashoquolla Sultankhil, affectionally known by his team-mates as Shuk, arrived in the UK as a 14-year-old in 2014 following a perilous journey via Pakistan, Iran, Turkey, Bulgaria, Hungry, Serbia, Italy, and France.
At the age of 10, Shuk's mother and elder brother had been killed in a Taliban attack, and so he made the brave decision to follow in the footsteps of his father, with whom he has never had any contact, who left Afghanistan to seek work in Europe when Shuk was a baby.
Full postRadio station fined for tricking Stokes mum
Ben Stokes' mother has been awarded compensation after her defence of her son's performance was broadcast live on air without her knowledge
ESPNcricinfo staff
10-Nov-2016
Ben Stokes' mother has been awarded $4,000 in compensation by a New Zealand radio station after her defence of her son's performance in the World T20 final was broadcast live on air without her knowledge.
Deborah Stokes contacted Hauraki Breakfast Show in the wake of England's defeat in Kolkata in April, in which Ben had been struck for four consecutive sixes in the final over of West Indies' victory.
After requesting to speak to someone off-air about the criticism being levelled against her son by presenters Jeremy Wells and Matt Heath, Mrs Stokes was instead put straight through to the live broadcast, where she went on to defend his performance.
Full postDizzy's seven-year-old successor
A seven-year-old Yorkshire fan has applied to be the county's new head coach, following the recent departure of Jason Gillespie
ESPNcricinfo staff
07-Nov-2016
A seven-year-old Yorkshire fan has applied to be the county's new head coach, following the recent departure of Jason Gillespie.
Isaac Zabrocky, who has Asperger Syndrome and suffers with ligamentous laxity in his wrists, wrote to Martyn Moxon, the director of cricket, stating: "I would like to replace Dizzy as coach. I think I can help us win."
His application was rejected on the grounds of insufficient experience, but it prompted Yorkshire's chief executive, Mark Arthur, to send a personalised reply.
Full postA new home for Mehedi
A sensational debut series against England has given Bangladesh offspinner Mehedi Hasan another reason to celebrate: the gift of a new house from Bangladesh's prime minister
ESPNcricinfo staff
04-Nov-2016
When photos and footage of Bangladesh offspinner Mehedi Hasan's Khulna home emerged in the media following his heroics against England recently, it moved fans in the country. So much so that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has taken it upon herself to ensure a new house for the offspinner and his family.
According the Dhaka-based The Daily Star, construction of the new home for Mehedi and his family will begin as soon as a suitable location is found.
"Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has already directed the authorities concerned and accordingly her Principal Secretary Md Abdul Kalam Azad conveyed the directives to the deputy commissioner of Khulna," said Ashraful Alam Khokan, the PM's deputy press secretary.
Full postHis excellency Prime Minister McCullum
When did he become New Zealand's prime minister?
ESPNcricinfo staff
28-Oct-2016
Given the huge draw that cricket is in India, it was no surprise that Brendon McCullum was part of New Zealand's prime minister John Key's trade delegation during his recent visit to the country.
But did the presence of the inspirational captain create too much of an impression?
At an event to promote New Zealand tourism, in New Delhi, India's minister of culture Mahesh Sharma made a gaffe by addressing Key as "his excellency Prime Minister McCullum". Perhaps it was in the air: Bollywood star Sidharth Malhotra, who was also in attendance, later failed to recall Sharma's name while addressing the audience.
Full postGroundsman loses length on extra-long pitch
Red faces in Melbourne match after teams compete on incorrectly measured wicket
ESPNcricinfo staff
18-Oct-2016
A Victorian Premier Cricket match between St Kilda and Footscray-Edgewater ended in farce on Saturday, after it was discovered that the pitch they were playing on was eight feet too long.
The true length of the strip at the Harry Trott Oval in Melbourne's Albert Park was only discovered after the match when the umpires ran a measuring tape over it.
Glenn Lalor, St Kilda's coach, admitted his team had had their doubts throughout the game.
Full postAshwin bats for Yasir
When an offspinner roots for a legspinner
ESPNcricinfo staff
13-Oct-2016
Legpsinner Yasir Shah begins Pakistan's first day-night Test with the milestone of 100 wickets in sight, and could become among the fastest to the mark if he gets five wickets in Dubai.
With 95 wickets in 16 Tests, Yasir can no longer break George Lohmann's record, but he can join Charlie Turner, Sydney Barnes and Clarrie Grimmett in second place.
Yasir, though, can still aim for the 'Asian' record, and go one-up in what has the potential to become an interesting modern duel between two spinners from the subcontinent.
Full postCowdrey grandson joins reality TV show
Colin Cowdrey's grandson has been unveiled as the latest star of Made in Chelsea
ESPNcricinfo staff
11-Oct-2016
Colin Cowdrey's grandson has been unveiled as the latest star of Made in Chelsea, the hugely popular, if somewhat vapid, British "constructed reality" TV show.
Julius Cowdrey, the son of former England captain Chris and brother of current Kent batsman Fabian, made his debut in the show on Sunday night.
MiC (as it is popularly known) is now in its tenth season, and charts the lives and relationships of a group of twenty-somethings living in some of London's most desirable postcodes.
Full postPlayers donate £25,000 to Taylor heart appeal
James Taylor's team-mates dig deep after heart diagnosis
ESPNcricinfo staff
21-Sep-2016
A group of England cricketers have contributed £25,000 towards a fundraising effort for the British Heart Foundation, in support of their former team-mate, James Taylor.
The 24 players, including the current Test captain, Alastair Cook, donated to a fund organised by Taylor's partner Josephine Naylor and her siblings, Campbell and Libby, who will be running the Robin Hood marathon in Nottingham on Sunday.
"Whilst James would have waltzed around a marathon course, we are not blessed with such endurance capabilities, so this really is a challenge!" wrote Libby Naylor on her fundraising page.
Full postKent 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 post