The Ashes

The Telegraph: Exclusive Jason Gillespie interview – ‘I say what I think and don’t like seeing injustice’

Features, Match Reports, Print, Sport, The Telegraph

Australian coach – who has worked for last nine years in England – has endeared himself to county fans because he is emotionally invested.

“The short answer is probably not,” says Jason Gillespie, Sussex’s departing head coach, shying away from the question of whether he might, one day, want to venture beyond the world of cricket. 

It seems an obvious question to ask, and not just because Gillespie’s impending departure from English cricket – where he has worked for the last nine years, first at Yorkshire and then, since 2018, at Hove – for a role with the South Australian Cricket Association is a clear moment to appraise his career.

The full version of this article was printed in The Telegraph on 30 September 2020 and can be accessed here.

Advertisement

The Telegraph: All-round brilliance from England beats West Indies by 47 runs again

Features, Match Reports, Print, Sport, The Telegraph

It’s time to replace the record player because this one’s broken. England have played the West Indies three times this year and after Wednesday night’s effort have beaten the tourists in similar fashion on each occasion, notching up a 46, 47 and now another 47-run win.

Float it up and pace off was the order of the evening as England’s three spinners, Mady Villiers, Sarah Glenn and Sophie Ecclestone, picked up six wickets between them. Unless you’ve got the pinpoint accuracy of the fiery opener Katherine Brunt, once again going at under three per over, it was hardly even a choice but to opt for slow and steady.

The full version of this article was printed in The Telegraph on 23 September 2020 and can be accessed here.

The Telegraph: Exclusive David Gower interview – ‘Element of implied ageism’ in Sky’s decision not to renew my contract

Features, Match Reports, Print, Sport, The Telegraph

David Gower believes there was “an element of implied ageism” in the decision by Sky not to renew his contract once the Ashes finishes next week. The comments come as the former England captain, who has spent more than 20 years with the television broadcaster, prepares for his final Test match behind the mic at the Oval on Thursday.

The full version of this article was printed in The Telegraph on 9 September 2019 and can be accessed here.

The Telegraph: Sledging serves up amusing Ashes sideshow but it is telling who is doing the talking at Old Trafford

Features, Match Reports, Print, Sport, The Telegraph

The silent treatment. It’s one of those theories, reverse psychology if you will, that is applied to those opponents who are believed to crave the limelight, the attention. Those who need something or someone to rise up against in order to perform at their best. No surprises, then, that it was tried by many against one Pietersen, Kevin.

The full version of this article was printed in The Telegraph on 7 September 2019 and can be accessed here.

The Telegraph: 42 days after the World Cup final – a better innings, a better match… but a better story?

Features, Match Reports, Print, Sport, The Telegraph

They were, both, a once-in-a-generation match. A once-in-a-generation innings. Only there were two. Within 42 days of each other, in fact. Perhaps it was fate, written in the stars. The answer to the great question of life, the universe and everything is, of course, 42. “42 days, in this instance,” said Douglas Adam’s supernatural computer, Deep Thought, with infinite majesty and calm.

The full version of this article was printed in The Telegraph on 26 August 2019 and can be accessed here.

The Telegraph: With no James Anderson, a subtler Stuart Broad stands up to lead England’s Ashes attack

Features, Match Reports, Print, Sport, The Telegraph

Twenty-something Stuart Broad was all about the headlines. The eight-for at Trent Bridge, five-for-one at Newlands or dismantling India in Manchester. He formed a partnership with James Anderson that beat all that had gone before. There was always a sense, however, of Anderson as the reliable performer, Broad the young upstart, blowing hot, but occasionally cold.

The full version of this article was printed in The Telegraph on 17 August 2019 and can be accessed here.

The Telegraph: Joel Wilson is the unfortunate face of cricket’s umpiring problem after Ashes review debacle

Features, Match Reports, Print, Sport, The Telegraph

The instinctive reaction was one of pity. A man doing his job, not particularly well, but doing it nonetheless. Umpire Joel Wilson struck a lonely figure in the middle of the vast expanse of Edgbaston, surrounded by a crowd known for its intensity and a press box notorious for its unforgiving nature. The less said about social media the better.

The full version of this article was printed in The Telegraph on 4 August 2019 and can be accessed here.

The Telegraph: Steve Smith looks every bit Australia’s captain in waiting – but should not be

Features, Match Reports, Print, Sport, The Telegraph, The Telegraph

About halfway through the afternoon session on day three, England’s ninth-wicket stand tilted from the vaguely irritating to the deeply frustrating phase for Australia. The interactive scoreboard had just flashed up a 50, the partnership neatly compiled between Chris Woakes and Stuart Broad, before the television cameras quickly panned to Steve Smith.

Continue reading →

The Cricketer: The Big Bash – Archer and Denly take Australia by storm

Features, Print, Sport, The Cricketer

Isabelle Westbury reports on how the ‘British’ duo were signed as replacements with great success

There is something about defying expectations that suits the English. Label them favourites and they self-destruct. Make it clear from the outset that they are very much second best, however, and the English thrive.

Continue reading →

The Grade Cricketer: Don’t Touch It! with Steve O’Keefe

Podcasts, Radio, Sport

The Grade Cricketer: Don’t Touch It! with Steve O’Keefe
Fox Sports Australia
Episode 34
19 January 2018

There may be a post-Ashes lull in the Australian summer, but that doesn’t stop us recording the longest show of all time. Stick with it though, as Steve O’Keefe walks us through everything from under 10s rejection to a 12-for in Pune, and everything in between. Isabelle Westbury goes a few more rounds with us and explains the Stokes affray thing, and Andrew Walton from MyCricket joins to celebrate 10 years and explain why he killed the art (science?) of lying in cricket