The Buzz
Early photograph unearthed of cricket at Eton
A photo dated c1862 of cricketers at Eton is thought to be one of the oldest school cricket photos in existence
ESPNcricinfo staff
25-Mar-2015
One of the earliest cricket photographs ever recorded - and perhaps the earliest schools cricket picture ever - has been discovered in a box of books and ephemera about Eton, the public school where the British prime minister, David Cameron, and a fair proportion of his cabinet, were former pupils.
The image has been dated c1862 and is signed on the mount by Victor Prout, who was best known for his portraits of the River Thames. It shows 11 schoolboys in trousers and waistcoats and such is its sense of languor it is not immediately clear whether the match is in progress or they are waiting for it to begin.
It is expected to raise in the region of £500 when it is put under the hammer by Dominic Winter Auctioneers in Cirencester. The earliest cricket photo of all is thought to precede this photo by about five years.
Full postCon man dupes BBC as Pakistan star
A club cricketer in northern England has duped the BBC into paying him to appear on programmes by pretending to be the former Pakistan batsman Nadeem Abbasi.
ESPNcricinfo staff
15-Mar-2015
A club cricketer in northern England has duped the BBC into paying him to appear on programmes by pretending to be the former Pakistan batsman Nadeem Abbasi.
Abbasi is furious about being impersonated regularly on BBC World News, BBC Asian Network and Radio Five Live and told The Sun that he would punch Alam in the face if he ever met him for "damaging the country's reputation".
Abbasi, 46, played three Tests for Pakistan in the late 1980s and now coaches a team in Rawalpindi. The wannabe Abbasi is reported to live in Hulme, a suburb of Manchester, and has just played a bit of local cricket in and around Huddersfield.
A BBC spokesman said: "We apologise to the real Mr Abbasi and we will be looking seriously into what has happened."
Full postAll head to McLean Park
Napier's 10022 at the New Zealand v Afghanistan match was 7.59 per cent of the regional population, with Wellington, where 7.14 percent of its regional population of 422103 i.e. a crowd of 30,148 showed up for the New Zealand v England game, a close secon
ESPNcricinfo staff
11-Mar-2015
If cricket loves its statistics, Statistics New Zealand loves the World Cup even more. Napier has been name as the country's "most prolific cricket-watching centre, by the the country's official statistical body, reported the New Zealand Herald. Napier was given top-dog status from a calculation made after dividing the crowd figures at every New Zealand World Cup venue. Napier's 10022 at the New Zealand v Afghanistan match was 7.59 per cent of the regional population, with Wellington, where 7.14 percent of its regional population of 422103 i.e. a crowd of 30,148 showed up for the New Zealand v England game, a close second.
The best crowd figures for every World Cup game in New Zealand were compared to their regional populations i.e. people living within 50km of every ground. Statistics New Zealand spokesman Colin Marshall spelt out the official stance, "We at Statistics New Zealand love cricket and cricket statistics in particular." He added that the calculation did not include a few factors: travelling fans at every game, the capacity of every ground or whether it was sold out and the likely performance of England cricketers (said with a straight face no doubt).
Full postAll not well in the land of Dungog Doug
While Australia glories in the excitement of co-hosting the World Cup, out in the land of Dungog Doug, cricket is suffering troubled times
ESPNcricinfo staff
10-Mar-2015
Australia loves little more than celebrating the authenticity of its Bush cricketers who rose from humble beginnings to achieve greatness on the international stage.
But while Australia co-hosts the World Cup, one news story that will go largely overlooked is a warning that all is not well for cricket in more isolated parts.
Dungog Shire, a hilly agricultural and tourism area in the Hunter Region of New South Wales, 75kms north of Newcastle, is famous for producing Australian cricketers of the calibre of Arthur Morris and Doug Walters.
Full postHigh Court backs inmates' World Cup plea
A High Court judge in India has ruled that inmates in a Guhawati prison should be able to watch the World Cup on cable TV as part of their basic human rights
ESPNcricinfo staff
07-Mar-2015
Inmates in an Indian prison have successfully argued in the High Court that watching the World Cup is part of their fundamental human rights.
The High Court in Guhawati has ordered that a cable connection must be laid within five days with Justice Arup Kumar Goswami ruling: "Prisoners need recreation for a healthy mind."
Although prisoners were already able to watch the state-run Doordarshan channel, which is screening India's matches, the majority of matches in the World Cup are only available on cable TV.
Lawyers representing the prisoners had argued that television was part of the "right to life and personal liberty" set out by India's constitution.
Full postWorcestershire make Hughes shirt tribute
Worcestershire have unveiled a shirt for their pre-season tour that features a tribute to Phillip Hughes
ESPNcricinfo staff
06-Mar-2015
Worcestershire have unveiled a shirt for their pre-season tour that features a tribute to Phillip Hughes. The shirt, made by Canterbury, has 408 - Hughes' Australia Test cap number - on the sleeve, as well as "P. Hughes 63 not out" below the badge.
Hughes, who died last year after being struck by a ball, was a popular figure at New Road, where he spent much of the 2012 season. Shirts worn by Worcestershire players in Abu Dhabi will be auctioned off and there are also plans for it to be stocked in the club shop, with all proceeds going to charity.
"Following the tragic death of Phil Hughes at the back end of last year, without doubt it hit the club and the staff really hard," Worcestershire's commercial director, Jon Graham, said. "Phil was such a popular guy and, when things like that happen, you want to do something that is befitting of the individual and commemorate his name.
"For the trip to Abu Dhabi, we thought it would be a good idea to develop a one-off kit in honour of Phil's name. We have worked alongside Canterbury to design that and I'm sure the lads will be proud to wear that kit."
Full postTaxman goes after Ashes heroes
Ten years on from the Ashes series that briefly made English cricket sexy, some of the players involved are facing allegations of impropriety in that most unsexy of areas: tax
ESPNcricinfo staff
06-Mar-2015
Ten years on from the Ashes series that briefly made English cricket sexy, some of the players involved are facing allegations of impropriety in that most unsexy of areas: tax.
A number of former England cricketers, including members of the 2005 Ashes-winning side, could be facing "very substantial" bills from the UK taxman, according to a report in the Guardian. The demands concern investments made almost a decade ago, which Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs is investigating as alleged tax avoidance.
Players including Michael Vaughan, Matthew Hoggard, Ashley Giles and Paul Collingwood - who played in the 2005 Ashes - reportedly invested in the UK film industry via partnerships set up by a company called Ingenious Media. HMRC is now challenging the tax relief granted by such schemes.
Full postThat's Out! Dickie Bird opens his wallet for Yorkshire
Dickie Bird, among the most loved of all Yorkshiremen, has gone beyond the call of duty to help with the Headingley development by funding a new dressing room balcony out of his own pocket.
ESPNcricinfo staff
03-Mar-2015
Dickie Bird, one the most famous of former Test umpires, has gone beyond the call of duty to help with Yorkshire's development of Headingley by funding a new dressing room balcony out of his own pocket.
Bird, now 81, is revered in his native Yorkshire for his eccentric good nature, and as his largesse is applauded around the county, the jokes that nobody has ever seen his wallet have now become outdated in quite wonderful style.
Bird has been nominated to stand for a second term as Yorkshire president at the AGM in April - an uncommon honour which even passed Geoffrey Boycott by, and which has been proposed in recognition of the support role he played as the county won the Championship for the first time in 13 years.
Full postNational anthem leaves Morgan lost for words
Eoin Morgan's failure to sing the national anthem for "personal reasons" has not gone down too well with the flag wavers now he is England captain
ESPNcricinfo staff
28-Feb-2015
National anthems are routinely played at ICC world tournaments, but singing them out loud has never been regarded as obligatory… has it?
Eoin Morgan, England's Dublin-born captain, has enough problems to deal with without being the subject of media debate about why he has never sung the national anthem during his six years of playing for England. As captain, though, it is now deemed to matter.
"I have never sang the national anthem when playing for Ireland or England," he said. "It does not make me any less proud to be an English cricketer. It is a long story. It is a personal thing."
Full postLeave your fruit and veg at home
Fans heading to Eden Park on Saturday for the match between New Zealand and Australia in Auckland have been implored to leave their fruit and vegetables at home by the very people who grow them
ESPNcricinfo staff
27-Feb-2015
Fans heading to Eden Park on Saturday for the match between New Zealand and Australia in Auckland have been implored to leave their fruit and vegetables at home by the very people who grow them.
That's not bad marketing.
In a full-page advertisement in the New Zealand Herald, the country's commercial fruit and vegetable growers have asked cricket fans to "hit an unwelcome Aussie visitor for six!" And they don't mean the cricketers from across the ditch. They are referring to a "potentially devastating" Australian (Queensland) fruit fly - not Merv Hughes either - which was discovered in Grey Lynn, a suburb of Auckland, last week.
"This is the only time we will ask you not to eat fruit," the ad says. "New Zealand growers appeal to cricket fans - Please don't take any fruit to the big game tomorrow."
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