Total Football, Tiki Taka and Bazball? Brendon McCuulum needs to lean into his team’s mythology rather than repudiate it ahead of this winter’s Ashes. For @ipapersport.bsky.social inews.co.uk/sport/cricke...

The day everybody, no one more so than Jofra Archer, had been waiting for. Something from Lord’s today for @ipapersport.bsky.social inews.co.uk/sport/cricke...

Here’s a big read for the bank holiday weekend from @ipapersport.bsky.social on what private investment - particularly GMR taking over Hampshire - means for English cricket. inews.co.uk/sport/cricke...

Picking the brains of Jimmy Anderson and impressing a close friend of Brendon McCullum on the franchise circuit. Why now is the time for Sam Cook’s England chance and why he’s a live contender for this winter’s Ashes. Piece for @ipapersport.bsky.social
inews.co.uk/sport/cricke...

Ben Stokes as England's one-day captain? Somebody seriously needs to get the smelling salts out for Rob Key if he goes for the most bats*** choice available. And if it happens, you can forget the Ashes. Piece for @ipapersport.bsky.social inews.co.uk/sport/cricke...

Essex to win the title? Warwickshire and Worcestershire relegated? Lancashire and Middlesex to go up? All the pre-season predictions plus a full @ipapersport.bsky.social preview ahead of the start of the new County Championship season on Friday inews.co.uk/sport/cricke...

Not a bad shout. Not sure he’ll get the chance though

First piece on the ground in Lahore for @TheiPaperSport ahead of England's Champions Trophy opener against Australia on Saturday inews.co.uk/sport/cricke...

Good story from @stocksycricket.bsky.social

ECB chiefs will meet with exiled Afghanistan women players in comings weeks

Among discussions will be issue of whether to boycott Champions Trophy fixture next month in protest at the Taliban's erosion of women's rights

inews.co.uk/sport/cricke...

Merry Christmas from Pepper! 😻

Looking good in Wellington

Christchurch is so beautiful

Something on Ollie Pope from the Hagley Oval today via @ipapersport.bsky.social inews.co.uk/sport/cricke...

Cold!

2/2: England coach Brendon McCullum: "I’m gutted for Jordan. He's been shaping up nicely, both with the bat and gloves, since we got to NZ. We will get around him and look after him. He is resilient, and his time will come at some point in the future."

1/2: BREAKING: Big news overnight. Jordan Cox has been ruled out of England's series in NZ with fractured right thumb. Sustained in nets Sunday am in Queenstown.
Replacement not yet named but understood Durham's Ollie Robinson in the frame. Bairstow/Foakes not considered.

News on Jordan Cox seems more serious now. Blow in the nets from a dog stick on his right hand. Off to hospital now for an X-ray. Means England are worried and likes of Michael Pepper, Ollie Robinson, James Rew could well be called up as cover for this series

Jimmy Anderson is on the field for England in this warm-up game in Queenstown. Injury to Jordan Cox in the nets means Pope keeping and Stokes now captaining having sat out day 1. Brook and Crawley netting so England were down to 10. Hence Jimmy making his comeback

Just a heads up I’ll be landing in New Zealand at the end of the week to cover England’s last Test series of the year (and last overseas until next winter’s Ashes). Privilege again to be sent on tour by @theipaper.bsky.social
Updates, stories and some other random stuff on here throughout

That first one seemed to go well so here’s one of Pepper when she was a (tiny) kitten

I might as well start with a cat picture