Nik Anand

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Mancunian Matters •

Watch: Belle Vue Aces prepare for the speedway season

Ahead of the start of the British Speedway season Belle Vue Aces are finalising their preparations.

After success last year winning the Premiership Grand Final against Sheffield Tigers, the Manchester-based team will be looking to get off to another flying start.

For those who are not aware, speedway is a form of motor racing where riders race bikes capable of reaching 80 mph, with fixed gears and no brakes.

The Premiership has teams all over the country, with each meeting involving 15 heats

South Africa v West Indies Test series 2023 - key battles | The Cricketer

Will Tagenarine Chanderpaul come good again? Key battles as South Africa face West Indies

NIK ANAND takes a look at the areas where the series could be decided, as Dean Elgar's misfiring Proteas come up against a West Indies team on the up in red-ball cricket

Test cricket returns to South Africa with a two-match series against West Indies starting on February 28.

South Africa returned from the three-match tour of Australia with just one draw and two losses to their name, while West Indies hav

Bangladesh v England ODI series 2023 key battles | The Cricketer

NIK ANAND takes a look at the upcoming Bangladesh-England ODI series, and identifies crucial areas where the three-match campaign could be decided...

A much-changed white-ball England squad is in Bangladesh for a three-match ODI series in March.

The first two ODIs will take place at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur, with the third at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram.

Here, NIK ANAND looks at the areas of the contest that could prove crucial in determining th

County cricket: Yorkshire sign Australian seamer Mickey Edwards | The Cricketer

The 28-year-old right-arm fast bowler has a British passport and therefore qualifies as a local player. He becomes the latest new face to arrive at Headingley during a winter of upheaval

Yorkshire have announced the signing of Australian Mickey Edwards ahead of the upcoming county season.

The 28-year-old right-arm fast bowler has a British passport and therefore qualifies as a local player.

Edwards plays domestic cricket for New South Wales and has represented Sydney Sixers in the Big Bash Le

Women's Premier League: Australia opener Alyssa Healy to lead UP Warriorz | The Cricketer

Alyssa Healy to lead UP Warriorz in WPL

The Australia opener becomes the latest captain confirmed for the five-team competition which gets underway on March 4

UP Warriorz have announced Australian opener Alyssa Healy as their captain for the inaugural Women's Premier League.

Healy was signed for 70 lakh (£70,000) in the auction.

It means leading signing Deepti Sharma, acquired for 2.6 crore, will not lead her hometown side.

"The WPL is a tournament we have all been keenly waiting on, and th

James Anderson: England seamer becomes oldest Test No.1 bowler in 87 years | The Cricketer

Not since Clarrie Grimmett in 1936 has an older man sat at the summit of the ICC rankings, after the Lancashire seamer took seven wickets in England's 267-run first Test win over New Zealand

James Anderson is back at the top of the ICC Test bowling rankings at the ripe old age of 40.

England's all-time leading wicket-taker has replaced Australia captain Pat Cummins at the summit following the first Test victory over New Zealand at Mount Maunganui.

The Lancashire seamer took match figures of 7

PSL 2023 team of the week: Mohammad Rizwan and Rilee Rossouw headline week one | The Cricketer

PSL 2023 team of the week: Mohammad Rizwan and Rilee Rossouw get in… who else completes the XI?

The Cricketer picks out the standout performers from the opening week of the eighth edition of the Pakistan Super League

There is little surprise that the Multan Sultans skipper makes the cut. Rizwan is currently the leading run-scorer in the tournament with 219. With three half-centuries so far and also claiming six catches behind the stumps, the Pakistan opener has picked up from where he left off

New Zealand v England: Test cricket is the pinnacle of the game, says Tim Southee | The Cricketer

Test cricket is "the pinnacle" of the game, says Tim Southee

Southee also confirmed bowler Blair Tickner will make his debut in the first Test against England

New Zealand captain, Tim Southee, believes Test cricket is "the pinnacle" of the game despite the distractions available with short-form franchise competitions.

Over the past 12 months a number of New Zealand players have stepped away from Test cricket, or the international stage all together, in order to focus on their franchise career
Wisden •

Southee's Start, The Birth Of Broaderson And A KP Classic: Revisiting The Last Time England Won A Test In New Zealand

The birth of Stuart Broad and Jimmy Anderson’s partnership, the emergence of Tim Southee, and Kevin Pietersen doing what he does best – a look back at England’s victorious Test series in New Zealand in 2008.

The series was the last time England won a Test match in New Zealand and came after a slightly disappointing home summer in which England had won 3-0 to West Indies but lost 2-0 to India. Led by Michael Vaughan, they headed to New Zealand aiming to turn their fortunes around. They did that
Wisden •

Dual International: Why Has PJ Moor Switched From Zimbabwe To Play Test Cricket For Ireland?

Former Zimbabwe international PJ Moor has been called up to the Ireland Test squad ahead of their tours to Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

The wicketkeeper-batter made his Test debut for Zimbabwe against New Zealand in August 2016, and last played Test cricket when Zimbabwe toured Bangladesh in 2018.

In his most recent Test performance, he put in a solid knock in the middle order, scoring 83 off 114 in the first innings. However, a collapse around Brendan Taylor’s undefeated 106 meant that Zimbabwe
Wisden •

The 2018 Nasser Hussain Prediction About Rohit Sharma In Tests That Has Been Proved Right In Style

In 2018 when Rohit Sharma was dropped by India for the final Test in South Africa, Nasser Hussain made a prediction about Rohit’s future, for which he has since been proved right.

After the second Test in their three-match series against South Africa, Rohit was left out of the final Test which India went on to win by 62 runs. India had lost the first two Tests, with Rohit having scored 10 and 11 in the first and his only notable score of 47 off 74 in the second innings of the second. Batting in
Wisden •

From Warne To Warner: Six Great Australia Test Cricketers Who Never Conquered India

After Australia collapsed to 177 all-out in the first match of the 2023 Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Nagpur, Nick Anand looks back at some of the great Australian players who never quite conquered India.

The fact that there are so many legendary names on this list, names that would ordinarily appear on an all-time great Australian players list, shows how difficult it is to succeed in India – particularly in the era of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy where India boasted had some of the best Test players
Wisden •

'A F***ing Disgrace' - Aussie Pundits Stunned By Travis Head Axe For First India Test

Australia’s decision to drop Travis Head for the opening Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India has been met with shock by Australia’s media and ex-players, with one labelling it a “f***ing disgrace”.

Former Australian bowler Chadd Sayers took to Twitter to voice his concerns around the selection decision. “Head being dropped is a fu**ing disgrace,” he tweeted.

With Cameron Green deemed unfit to bowl prior to the opening match there was a big decision to be made in the middle order.
Wisden •

Pat Cummins: It Really Doesn't Bother Us If The India Tests Are Fiery

Australia will be “ready for whatever is thrown” at them ahead of the opening Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, according to their captain Pat Cummins.

The lead-up to the series has been dominated by concerns over the pitches which will be used for the four-Test encounter, with sections of the Australian media accusing India of “pitch doctoring”. Cummins remained resolute in his team’s confidence to face any challenge that might come their way.

“We are just coming here really open-minded,” h
Wisden •

Duds And Studs: How Visiting Australian Spinners Have Fared In India

Ahead of the start of the 2023 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, the most pressing Australia selection dilemma revolves around the makeup of their spin attack.

With injuries to Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc, Australia look set to play a four-bowler attack with two spinners. Ashton Agar, Todd Murphy and Mitchell Swepson are all vying to partner Nathan Lyon in the side.

With this in mind, here’s a look back at how Australia’s spinners have fared in Australia since 1998. Absent from this list, shocking
Wisden •

Injured Fast-Bowlers And Spin Dilemmas, Australia Face Tough Selection Decisions Ahead Of The First Test Against India

With the Border-Gavaskar Trophy set to begin on 9 February, Australia have some tough decisions to make with regards to their bowling options ahead of the first Test match.

With Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc injured and Cam Green being deemed unfit to bowl, there are questions that need answers for Pat Cummins’ side.

In place of Hazlewood, Scott Boland will more than likely play his first Test outside of Australia. At 33, he has played just six Test matches, but has proved himself crucial
Stretford Paddock NEWS •

Manchester United 2-0 Burnley: Rashford racing ahead

Marcus Rashford scored a brilliant solo goal as Manchester United beat Burnley 2-0 in the fourth round of the EFL Cup.

Christian Eriksen opened in the first half after a great assist from Aaron Wan-Bissaka, before Rashford doubled the lead after the break at Old Trafford.

The Clarets looked strong at points and had late chances to get back in the game, but United’s defence stood strong.

Erik Ten Hag went for a rotated side, particularly in defence, with Casemiro starting at centre back and Wa
Mancunian Matters •

Steve Borthwick to turn around England's win ratio, data suggests

Steve Borthwick could turn around England’s win ratio after poor form under Eddie Jones, according to data.

In just his second full season in charge at Leicester Tigers, the head coach achieved an 83% win ratio in the Premiership – a huge increase on the two seasons directly before his appointment, when they won around 30% of their matches.

If he were to carry this form over from club level to the international stage then England should be set for vast improvements.

This came after the RFU an
Mancunian Matters •

Andy Burnham calls for boost in women's football in Greater Manchester schools

Andy Burnham has called for a boost in women’s and girl’s football in schools across Greater Manchester.

The Greater Manchester mayor has partnered with former England and Manchester City goalkeeper Karen Bardsley as well as the Manchester Football Association.

Together they have called for schoolgirls across Greater Manchester to have the right to play two hours of football a week in timetabled PE lessons.

This comes off the back of a similar call made by the Lionesses after their triumphant
Mancunian Matters •

Harry Maguire and John Stones will be vital for England against Wales

England’s key to victory against Wales tonight lies in the partnership of Harry Maguire and John Stones, suggests statistics.

The passing ability of the centre-back pairing has proved invaluable for the Three Lions in their first two games of the World Cup against Iran and USA.

Gareth Southgate will be hoping that this duo comes good for him again as his team looks to top Group B by beating Wales at the Ahmed bin Ali Stadium.

In England’s emphatic opening 6-2 victory against Iran, Stones had
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