Ollie Pope and Moeen Ali are in line to be available for the first India Test
NICK HOWSON: After England secured a 2-0 series win over Sri Lanka playing largely on the back-foot, the captain is optimistic his side are ready to take on Virat Kohli's men
25/01/2021 | Nick Howson | News | International | England match centre | England |
NICK HOWSON: Have England got selection right for India, did DRS make a mistake and how happy are the Sri Lanka tourist board?
24/01/2021 | Nick Howson | Sri Lanka | News | International | England match centre | England |
NICK HOWSON: The seamer produced his best figures for more than 10 years against Sri Lanka at Galle. But is it enough for an England legend to be accepted as a world great?
23/01/2021 | Nick Howson | Sri Lanka | News | International | England match centre | England |
NICK HOWSON: After a disastrous display in the first innings of the opening Test, the hosts keep England at an arm's length in Galle
22/01/2021 | Nick Howson | Sri Lanka | News | International |
NICK HOWSON: Grounds around the country are assisting with the effort to inoculate the nation. Even in the English winter the heartening tales have continued
NICK HOWSON: The England captains admits to having over-thought his poor conversion rate after going to his 18th Test century against Sri Lanka in Galle
NICK HOWSON speaks to three clubs being used to assist with the roll-out of Covid-19 vaccines and finds them bursting with pride following an uncertain year
NICK HOWSON: Nearly five months on from their last red-ball outing the tourists have had one aborted intra-squad match ahead of the two-Test series
NICK HOWSON: The England seamer is all-but-certain to miss the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle due to having spent seven days of the build-up in isolation
NICK HOWSON: As the Essex batsman prepares for his biggest challenge yet he is unwilling to compromise on the technique which has brought him to this point
England's newest double-centurion has worked at his approach against spin and hopes to implement that strategy with success this month
England's all-time leading wicket-taker is expecting to be in and out of the team during a year which includes 17 Tests
NICK HOWSON: The 18 first-class counties and MCC have a stellar collection of gifts for the festive period. But where are the best and worst items to be found?
21/12/2020 | Nick Howson | News | Features | County Cricket |
The Cricketer looks at the major themes ahead of the eagerly anticipated four Tests between two of the biggest nations around...
16/12/2020 | Nick Howson | News | International | India | Australia |
NICK HOWSON: The Surrey allrounder and now Hobart Hurricanes new boy wants to ensure his career isn't exclusively known for that knock in Dubai in 2019
09/12/2020 | Nick Howson | News | Hobart Hurricanes | Global Game | Big Bash |
NICK HOWSON: CSA do not deserve huge criticism over the postponed ODI series. Bio-secure bubbles are a relatively new phenomenon. But we must get used to series and competitions disappearing
The Somerset and England batsman admits "it has been harder than I thought" spending time in bio-secure bubbles
05/12/2020 | Nick Howson | News | Global Game | Brisbane Heat | Big Bash |
NICK HOWSON: The Nottinghamshire and England batsman is recovering from a low ebb but is looking at evolution rather than revolution
03/12/2020 | Nick Howson | Nottinghamshire | News | England | County Cricket |
NICK HOWSON: The year of 2020 hasn't been a vintage one for the Nottinghamshire seamer but the sport deserves acknowledgement
The Cricketer looks at the prevailing topics ahead of the second three-match 20-over series between the two nations in 2020...
25/11/2020 | Nick Howson | Testing | South Africa | News | International | Features | England |
NICK HOWSON: India are without their skipper for much of the Australia Test series while T20 franchise cricket heads to Sri Lanka
NICK HOWSON speaks to four players without a club for the 2021 season thanks to the financial impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and asks: where do they go next?
09/11/2020 | Nick Howson | Features | County Cricket | 1Banner |
NICK HOWSON: Grass roots sport has been curtailed for at least a month,, meaning early winter nets are off, but schools will continue to deliver lessons
03/11/2020 | Nick Howson | Warwickshire | Opinion | News | IPL | Grass Roots | England |
NICK HOWSON: Currently a bridesmaid of Australia's Test squad, the 30-year-old is determined that his international aspirations will not wither away
NICK HOWSON: Countries are either ignoring the schedule or unable to fulfil it. There is no need to flog the dead horse that is the FTP
NICK HOWSON: Cricket has rarely turned down the opportunity to monetise an aspect of its product. A tournament of six-ball shoot-outs is the next cab off the rank
20/10/2020 | Nick Howson | Opinion | News | International | Global Game |
NICK HOWSON: Restructure has been the byword for the first-class game for much of the last decade. Change is never easy, but it's often for the greater good
13/10/2020 | Nick Howson | Opinion | News | England | County Cricket |
THE CRICKETER'S HEROES OF 2020: The ECB's director of events staged bio-secure sport with aplomb and gave the world a framework from which to build on. Without him, the summer simply wouldn't have been possible
NICK HOWSON: The 31-year-old played a vital role with a bat and ball during a truncated summer - but doesn't believe it was the finest summer of his career
The wicket-keeper was convinced he had his fellow England international run-out on two occasions - and showed his frustration to the umpires during the T20 Blast quarter-final
01/10/2020 | Nick Howson | T20 Blast | News | Kent | County Cricket |
NICK HOWSON AT THE KIA OVAL: Surrey and Kent duelled in the first match played in the 10th month of the year in England for 156 years. Get used to it
01/10/2020 | Nick Howson | T20 Blast | Surrey | News | Kent | County Cricket |
The veteran spinner will lead Surrey in Thursday's first quarter-final against Kent at The Kia Oval as the club target reaching Finals Day for the first time since 2014
30/09/2020 | Nick Howson | T20 Blast | Surrey | News | County Cricket |
NICK HOWSON: Neither player has been handed a red-ball deal for 2020-21 but Ashley Giles insists the door is not closed
NICK HOWSON: Following confirmation of the new batch of central contracts, an announcement regarding the terms of the deals is due imminently. But further reductions are possible
Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope and Dom Sibley earn red-ball deals while Tom Curran is added to the limited-overs list.
NICK HOWSON: Despite the circumstances, it was one of the most encouraging red ball seasons in years as youngsters emerged and a showcase final took centre stage
28/09/2020 | Nick Howson | Yorkshire | Worcestershire | Warwickshire | Sussex | Surrey | Somerset | Nottinghamshire | Northamptonshire | News | Middlesex | Leicestershire | Lancashire | Kent | Hampshire | Gloucestershire | Glamorgan | Essex | Derbyshire | County Cricket | Bob Willis Trophy |
NICK HOWSON AT LORD'S: While Essex can celebrate a third first-class trophy in four seasons, Somerset are left as runners-up again. Both sides know the feeling well
27/09/2020 | Nick Howson | Somerset | News | Essex | County Cricket | Bob Willis Trophy |
NICK HOWSON AT LORD'S: Essex claimed a third red ball trophy in four years after navigating their way through the gloom to hold off Somerset at the home of cricket
27/09/2020 | Nick Howson | Somerset | News | Essex | County Cricket | Bob Willis Trophy |
NICK HOWSON AT LORD'S: A fifth-day rearguard delivered Essex their third red-ball trophy in four years and consigned the Cidermen to another runners-up finish as their wait for first-class honours goes on
27/09/2020 | Nick Howson | Somerset | News | Essex | County Cricket | Bob Willis Trophy |
NICK HOWSON AT LORD'S: Jamie Porter claimed 4-51 after the reigning County Championship holders took a crucial first innings lead
26/09/2020 | Nick Howson | Somerset | News | Essex | County Cricket | Bob Willis Trophy |
NICK HOWSON AT LORD'S: The Bob Willis Trophy final is heading for a thrilling finale despite a pitch which has offered little assistance for batsmen or bowlers
26/09/2020 | Nick Howson | Somerset | News | Essex | County Cricket | Bob Willis Trophy |
NICK HOWSON: The fresh-faced 20-year-old opener has enjoyed a remarkable 2020 but somehow manages to keep his feet firmly on the ground
26/09/2020 | Nick Howson | Somerset | News | County Cricket | Bob Willis Trophy |
NICK HOWSON AT LORD'S: The ex-England captain admits to feeling too "scared" to walk away from the sport upon his international retirement two years ago
25/09/2020 | Nick Howson | Somerset | News | Essex | County Cricket | Bob Willis Trophy |
NICK HOWSON AT LORD'S: There was an inevitability about the ex-England captain's performance, which leaves the Bob Willis Trophy final in the balance
25/09/2020 | Nick Howson | Somerset | News | Essex | County Cricket | Bob Willis Trophy |
NICK HOWSON AT LORD'S: The destination of the inaugural Bob Willis Trophy remains unknown after the former England captain took the reigning county champions to near parity on day three
25/09/2020 | Nick Howson | Somerset | News | Essex | County Cricket | Bob Willis Trophy |
NICK HOWSON AT LORD'S: An Irish passport, a journalist father and ambitions of playing for England. The Somerset youngster is a simple player with a cosmopolitan background
24/09/2020 | Nick Howson | Somerset | News | County Cricket | Bob Willis Trophy |
NICK HOWSON AT LORD'S: The 23-year-old hit 117 as the Taunton club got the better of Essex during another heavily-disrupted day at the home of cricket
24/09/2020 | Nick Howson | Somerset | News | Essex | County Cricket | Bob Willis Trophy |
NICK HOWSON AT LORD'S: It was no coincidence that Essex suffered one of their most difficult days in recent red-ball cricket as their trump card struggled
24/09/2020 | Nick Howson | Somerset | News | Essex | County Cricket | Bob Willis Trophy |
NICK HOWSON AT LORD'S: Somerset and Essex played-out a frustrating first day of the Bob Willis Trophy final. But it mattered little as this was an occasion to cherish what we have
23/09/2020 | Nick Howson | Somerset | News | Essex | County Cricket | Bob Willis Trophy |
NICK HOWSON AT LORD'S: The first piece of domestic silverware remains very much up for grabs after some tense opening exchanges
23/09/2020 | Nick Howson | Somerset | News | Essex | County Cricket | Bob Willis Trophy |
NICK HOWSON: The seamer doesn't get the attention of messieurs Simon Harmer and Jamie Porter but he is a vital cog in the Chelmsford machine, who are eyeing another piece of silverware
23/09/2020 | Nick Howson | News | Features | Essex | County Cricket | Bob Willis Trophy |
NICK HOWSON: The 13th edition of franchise cricket's premier event returns to the United Arab Emirates amid a combination of trepidation and excitement
19/09/2020 | Nick Howson | News | IPL | Features |
NICK HOWSON: The governing body have announced a series of cost-cutting measures and it remains to be seen if central contracts are also affected
England seamer says the BLM remains important despite players not taking the knee for the Australia white-ball series
Shorter days, sporadic spells, and a change of format are key to the England seamer being able to bowl at full tilt on a regular basis
After hitting a maiden international century in the first ODI against Australia, the Kent man is keen to make-up for lost time
The Cricketer runs the rule over the performances of both sets of players after the opening match of the ODI series
11/09/2020 | Nick Howson | News | International | England | Australia |
NICK HOWSON rounds up the major events of the opening one-day international at Emirates Old Trafford as Australia take a 1-0 series lead
11/09/2020 | Nick Howson | News | International | England match centre | England | Australia |
Adam Zampa and Josh Hazlewood inspire with the ball as the tourists take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series
11/09/2020 | Nick Howson | News | International | England match centre | England | Australia |
NICK HOWSON: The next 20 and 50-over World Cups are bound for India and with the skipper relishing three ODIs against Australia at Old Trafford,he wants his team to be challenged going forward
NICK HOWSON: The captain expects Eoin Morgan's men to dominate 50-over cricket for years to come and says the five-time world champions must up
10/09/2020 | Nick Howson | News | International | Australia |
A red-ball camp could allow the Yorkshire spinner to take his place in the squads to face India and Sri Lanka in 2021
NICK HOWSON looks at the major topics to come out of the final match of the three-game T20 series ahead of the ODI leg of the tour
08/09/2020 | Nick Howson | News | International | England match centre | England | Australia |
Mitchell Marsh hits a match-winning knock to give Australia victory ahead of the one-day international series starting on Friday
08/09/2020 | Nick Howson | News | International | England | Australia |
Ahead of the three-match T20 series between the two rivals, The Cricketer considered which players would get into a joint team...
04/09/2020 | Nick Howson | News | International | Features | England | Australia |
A poor record in the first six overs is a major hurdle the team need to clear to ensure they can add a second white-ball world title
The touring skipper accepts some players will relish performing without a baying English crowd - but still expects plenty of intensity
03/09/2020 | Nick Howson | News | International | Australia |
England and Australia renew their rivalry this month in three T20s and a trio of ODIs and the Durham seamer is hoping to rough-up some of his opponents ahead of next winter
Ahead of the start of the white-ball tour of England, the coach believes the reputation of the team has changed since the ball-tampering affair
02/09/2020 | Nick Howson | News | International | Australia |
NICK HOWSON rounds-up the third T20I at Emirates Old Trafford where England chase down 191 to complete a 2-0 series win
01/09/2020 | Nick Howson | Pakistan | News | International | England |
Two wickets and a run-out for Wahab Riaz gave the tourists a winning end to their seven-week tour of England
01/09/2020 | Nick Howson | Pakistan | News | International | England |
NICK HOWSON: Colin Graves' successor did not make any groundbreaking announcements on his first day in the hot seat and remains committed to seeing through the Inspiring Generations Strategy
01/09/2020 | Nick Howson | The Hundred | News | England | County Cricket |
NICK HOWSON: From the players available for the three-match series, who makes up the perfect team from the two nations?
27/08/2020 | Nick Howson | Pakistan | News | International | England |
Without a number of first-choice players for the series with Pakista, the skipper says several players have the opportunity to make an impression
NICK HOWSON: Behind-closed doors will be a fresh challenge for clubs who will be without overseas starts to supercharge their campaigns
27/08/2020 | Nick Howson | T20 Blast | News | County Cricket |
LOCKDOWN HEROES: THE WINNERS - CLUB HERO: Jon Speller took it upon himself to create a programme at Wimbledon CC which allowed junior cricket to continue during the coronavirus pandemic. He is your Club Hero
LOCKDOWN HEROES: THE WINNERS - FUNDRAISING HERO: Dan Manders had a simple plan to get his cricket and football sides out and about during the pandemic... it turned into a massive fundraising exercise involving 40 different teams. Here's the story...
T20 BLAST PREVIEW: Joe Root, Adil Rashid, Dawid Malan, Jonny Bairstow and David Willey would all play for the White Rose in an ideal scenario... but how many will feature for their county, and how often, in 2020?
24/08/2020 | Nick Howson | Yorkshire | T20 Blast | County Cricket |
T20 BLAST PREVIEW: Only net run rate kept the Bears off the bottom of the North Division last year. This year, without their overseas spinners Chris Green and Ashton Agar, they will be hoping for much, much better...
24/08/2020 | Nick Howson | Warwickshire | T20 Blast | County Cricket |
T20 BLAST PREVIEW: There's no Marnus Labuschagne or Colin Ingram for Glamorgan in 2020, and much will come down to how much of an impact their younger players can have in the competition...
24/08/2020 | Nick Howson | T20 Blast | Glamorgan | County Cricket |
T20 BLAST PREVIEW: Captain Colin Ackermann and coach Paul Nixon have the gumption and experience, but do their charges have it in them to make a run to the knockout stages of the Blast?
24/08/2020 | Nick Howson | T20 Blast | Leicestershire | County Cricket |
T20 BLAST PREVIEW: With England duties taking away several of their stars, Surrey will look to the likes of Will Jacks, Sam Curran and Jamie Smith to come to the fore
24/08/2020 | Nick Howson | Testing | T20 Blast | Surrey | County Cricket |
NICK HOWSON: The Sussex batsman has achieved so much at the age of just 23 - but he is unwilling to bide his time
24/08/2020 | Nick Howson | Sussex | News | England | County Cricket | Bob Willis Trophy |
NICK HOWSON: The runs flowed again for England at The Ageas Bowl as Zak Crawley stormed into the record books as Pakistan were made to sweat
22/08/2020 | Nick Howson | Pakistan | News | International | England |
The skipper has urged his troops to throw everything at Pakistan in the final Test - with uncertainty over what the future may hold
20/08/2020 | Nick Howson | Pakistan | News | International | England |
A schedule including six Tests in seven weeks means rotation has been necessary this summer, even with the tour of Australia on the horizon in 2021-22
Amid reports 10:30 am starts could be deployed for the third Test against Pakistan, calls for the ECB to act have swelled
NICK HOWSON: The national selector is encouraged by the spinner's recovery from a shoulder problem but may resist the temptation to bring him back this winter
NICK HOWSON: After five years out of professional cricket, the 31-year-old is enjoying the sport more than ever. And the results speak for themselves.
16/08/2020 | Nick Howson | Northamptonshire | News | Features | County Cricket | Bob Willis Trophy |
NICK HOWSON: Guyana Amazon Warriors aim to end their wait for success, Rashid Khan and Ross Taylor take center-stage, and who is next off the talent conveyor belt?
16/08/2020 | Nick Howson | News | Global Game | Features | CPL |
NICK HOWSON: Mohammad Rizwan makes England pay while Sky Sports deliver another memorable segment during a summer in which they have been imperious
14/08/2020 | Nick Howson | Pakistan | News | International | England |
Just 40.2 overs were possible on day two of the second Test as the tourists, via Mohammad Rizwan's half-century, played possum before putting on some lower order runs
14/08/2020 | Nick Howson | Pakistan | News | International | England |
CPL TEAM PREVIEW: Chris Lynn and Evin Lewis offer tremendous strike-power for the Patriots, who will need their bowlers to step up to the plate if they are to enjoy success in 2020
CPL TEAM PREVIEW: Daren Sammy's side have not inspired in recent years but with Andy Flower at the helm, will St Lucia find a new gear in 2019?
14/08/2020 | Nick Howson | Testing | News | Global Game | CPL |
CPL TEAM PREVIEW: Guyana romped to the final of last year's competition before slipping up against Barbados Tridents. Can they go one better in 2020?
14/08/2020 | Nick Howson | Testing | News | Global Game | CPL |
NICK HOWSON: The hosts continue their confusing selection policy and an 11-year wait for a Test return ends at The Ageas Bowl
13/08/2020 | Nick Howson | Pakistan | News | International | England match centre | England |
The newly-appointed Stuart Cain hopes between 5,000 and 8,000 can attend the showcase event on the English domestic cricket calendar on October 3
12/08/2020 | Nick Howson | Warwickshire | T20 Blast | News | County Cricket |
The Warwickshire opener has two centuries in 10 Tests and is coming to terms with the extra attention on all facets of his technique
NICK HOWSON: The Nottinghamshire loanee kick-started his spell at Leicestershire with his highest first-class score. But the future holds no guarantees
08/08/2020 | Nick Howson | News | Leicestershire | County Cricket | Bob Willis Trophy |
NICK HOWSON: Ollie Pope and Naseem Shah go head-to-head, England suffer another post-lunch dip and Shane Warne proves his worth
07/08/2020 | Nick Howson | Pakistan | News | International | Features | England |
The Cricketer looks ahead to the upcoming three-Test series by assessing which available players would make a dream line-up
04/08/2020 | Nick Howson | Pakistan | News | International | England |
The Cricketer identifies the key narratives ahead of the three-Test series as the behind-closed-doors summer continues...
03/08/2020 | Nick Howson | Pakistan | News | International | Features | England |
NICK HOWSON finds the World Cup and multi-Ashes winner as hungry and driven as ever after swapping boyhood club Yorkshire for Warwickshire
19/07/2020 | Nick Howson | Yorkshire | Warwickshire | News | Features | County Cricket |
NICK HOWSON: Just one win away from a first Test series win in England since 1988, but the skipper is trying to keep his squad's feet firmly on the ground
15/07/2020 | Nick Howson | West Indies | News | International |
NICK HOWSON: The England captain is back at the helm but issues surrounding selection remain as the hosts look to balance a long summer and a desire to fight back in the series
NICK HOWSON: Cricket selection panels are horribly archaic. They do often work. But when there are failures, the system must surely be reviewed
15/07/2020 | Nick Howson | News | International | Features | England |
England's first-choice spinner is refusing to rest on his laurels and has delivered an insight into his relationship with Jack Leach
The four-wicket defeating to the West Indies was the eighth time in 10 multi-match series they started a series with a reverse
Head coach Chris Silverwood is willing the pair to produce their best - an indication they could remain in the team at Emirates Old Trafford
NICK HOWSON: Roston Chase maintains his good run against England, Kemar Roach fails to make an impact and the pressure continues to ratchet up on Jos Buttler
12/07/2020 | Nick Howson | West Indies | News | International | England match centre | England |
NICK HOWSON: Jofra Archer answers his critics while eagle-eyed viewers thought they spotted James Anderson breaking the rules. Day five of the first Test was not without incident
12/07/2020 | Nick Howson | West Indies | News | International | Features | England match centre | England |
NICK HOWSON: The BBC have turned back the clock 12 months to one of the greatest sporting days on British shores. It'll never get old
NICK HOWSON: Prenetics, the company behind the testing process which has helped the sport return, are ready to oversee a testing process which could allow for crowds to return
NICK HOWSON: The tourists' batting line-up have contrasting fortunes at the crease while Ben Stokes reaches another milestone - but at a cost
10/07/2020 | Nick Howson | Testing | News | International | Features | England match centre | England |
Kraigg Brathwaite and Shane Dowrich both hit half-centuries to give the tourists a health first-innings after day three in Southampton
10/07/2020 | Nick Howson | West Indies | News | International | England match centre | England |
NICK HOWSON: The hosts and West Indies will carry the BLM logo on their shirts during the upcoming Test series as the conversation continues to gather pace
The Windies embark on attempts to win the Wisden Trophy away from home for the first time since 1988 at The Ageas Bowl on Wednesday
NICK HOWSON: From fake crowd noise to music before play, behind-closed-doors Tests will be injected with atmosphere. But there is plenty of delight to be found in what already exists
The Warwickshire batsman has shed 12 kilos during the enforced break after realising he had to change during the eventually-aborted tour of Sri Lanka
As both teams prepare to square off in a three-Test series, The Cricketer assesses which available players would feature in a composite XI.
06/07/2020 | Nick Howson | West Indies | News | Features | England |
National Selector Ed Smith expects the Kent man to bat at No.3 in the first West Indies Test next week after giving him a vote of confidence
Sir Ian Botham and Andrew Flintoff struggled with the burden but the national selector is unconcerned as the Durham man prepares to assume the mantle
Both players will form part of the white-ball bubble after missing out on selection in a 22-man group for the Test series
NICK HOWSON: Fixed cameras. No commentary. Sponsors logos. Cricket is back - but not as we know it
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