Columnists
Mark Butcher: Harry Brook’s brilliance for England can’t mask the game’s wider issues
Mark Butcher praises Harry Brook’s remarkable England white-ball side but questions the lack of competitiveness and relevance surrounding international cricket.
-
Columnists
/ 1 week agoMark Butcher: Joe Root steadies the ship but South Africa will provide the real test for England
Mark Butcher says Joe Root has brought a sense of calmness to England’s Test side, but believes the tour of South...
-
Columnists
/ 3 weeks agoMark Butcher: Regal Ollie Robinson lights up Lord’s for England
Mark Butcher reflects on Ollie Robinson’s remarkable return to the England set-up, the strength of their pace attack and the selection...
-
Columnists
/ 4 weeks agoMark Butcher: England bowler Brydon Carse falls into a familiar trap
Mark Butcher believes England’s cricketers must recognise the scrutiny that comes with life in the spotlight, while also assessing the side’s...
-
Columnists
/ 1 month agoMark Butcher: Muddled England struggle to fill the Ben Stokes void
Mark Butcher questions England’s muddled squad for the Pakistan Test series, with the former international unconvinced Dan Lawrence can help fill...
-
Columnists
/ 2 months agoMark Butcher: Stephen Fleming is a sound choice but ‘stopgap’ England captain Joe Root faces an uphill battle
Mark Butcher welcomes Stephen Fleming’s appointment as England Test coach but questions the decision to hand Joe Root the captaincy.
-
Columnists
/ 2 months agoMark Butcher: Sir Garfield Sobers in a league of his own
Mark Butcher pays tribute to Sir Garfield Sobers’ unmatched brilliance and questions the ICC’s controversial new format for the 50-over World...
-
Columnists
/ 2 months agoMark Butcher: No easy answers as England search for a new coach
Mark Butcher examines England’s search for a new Test coach after Brendon McCullum’s departure, with Stephen Fleming and Justin Langer among...
-
Columnists
/ 3 months agoMark Butcher: Harry Brook the ‘best and only option’ to succeed Ben Stokes as England captain
Mark Butcher believes Harry Brook is the standout candidate to replace Ben Stokes as England’s Test captain.
-
Columnists
/ 3 months agoMark Butcher: Ben Stokes’ sudden exit leaves English cricket stunned
Mark Butcher questions Ben Stokes’ shock England retirement, his final Test decisions and what his exit means for Bazball and the...
-
Columnists
/ 4 months agoMark Butcher: All eyes on Brendon McCullum as English public expects change
It’s difficult to say what change looks like for England. The media seem to want Brendon McCullum to do a volte-face...
-
Columnists
/ 4 months agoMark Butcher: World Test Championship more muddled than ever
It’s been reported this week that the ICC are ready to resume discussions on Ireland, Afghanistan and Zimbabwe being added to...
-
Columnists
/ 4 months agoMark Butcher: Jofra Archer’s absence sours new-look England Test squad
After all the speculation, England have named a 15-strong squad for the first Test against New Zealand, and there are a...
-
Columnists
/ 5 months agoMark Butcher: Searching for an Ashley Giles! Who is England’s spinner?
There are no easy answers when it comes to England’s spin conundrum as they consider their options for the first Test...
-
Columnists
/ 5 months agoMark Butcher: Ollie Robinson stakes his claim but are England listening?
A lot of the discussion surrounding England’s first Test squad of the summer has been about who should replace Zak Crawley...
-
Columnists
/ 5 months agoMark Butcher: Replacement player rule needs an early bath
This season has seen the introduction, on an experimental basis, of a new rule in the County Championship whereby teams are...
-
Columnists
/ 5 months agoMark Butcher: Jamie Smith back on track after bleak winter with England
I’m still struggling to get my head around the fact that we’ve had two rounds of County Championship fixtures by mid-April,...
-
Columnists
/ 1 year agoMark Butcher: Jacob Bethell in pole position following Ollie Pope’s demotion
We’re in the commentary box for the One-Day Cup final, it’s raining outside, and Nick Knight pipes up: “Who bats three?...
-
Columnists
/ 1 year agoMark Butcher: Phil Salt and Jos Buttler go stratospheric
England’s batting performance in the T20 against South Africa at Old Trafford was simply extraordinary.
-
Columnists
/ 1 year agoMark Butcher: Proteas ODI defeat showed best and worst of Harry Brook’s England
England’s rollercoaster ODI series against South Africa summed up where they currently are as a side.
-
Columnists
/ 1 year agoMark Butcher: Name changes risk undermining the Hundred’s good work
After the most successful edition of The Hundred yet, in terms of both the quality of cricket and audience engagement, there...
-
Columnists
/ 1 year agoMark Butcher: Can a revamp reignite the T20 Blast?
As The Hundred draws to a close, attention returns to the Men’s T20 Blast next week, with the first of the...
-
Columnists
/ 1 year agoMark Butcher: Jacob Bethell is being asked to run before he can walk
Jacob Bethell’s selection as England captain for next month’s T20I series in Ireland is remarkable in a lot of ways. Not...
-
Columnists
/ 1 year agoMark Butcher: The Hundred in holding pattern as identity questions loom
The fifth edition of The Hundred is underway and this feels very much like a holding year. Several of the new...
-
Columnists
/ 1 year agoMark Butcher: The last quick standing – All hail Mohammad Siraj’s Summer
The unforgettable final scenes at The Oval gave us more drama than we knew what to do with. And at the...
Latest News
WOOD CALLS TIME ON ENGLAND CAREER
Latest News
TROTT TAKES THE REINS
County Championships
County Championship 2025: Middlesex Season Preview
ICC Champions Trophy
What now for England and Jos Buttler after Champions Trophy exit?
County Championships
Young players to watch in the 2025 County Championship season
