T20 cricket

Subterms

    Latest story

    263 Shares30 Views

    I was on books of EFL club’s youth teams… now I’m in England squad for major tournament in completely different sport

    by

    TO most players, a shock promotion to No 3 in the England batting line-up for a crunch match would be a huge change.But perhaps not for Jamie Smith – as he dropped a promising football career to become one of cricket’s most exciting prospects.Jamie Smith has raced up the England batting order to become No 3 for Saturday’s Champions Trophy opener against AustraliaCredit: GettySmith will bat one up from Test legend Joe Root in the ODICredit: GettyEngland are gambling by elevating the powerful hitterCredit: GettyTest legend Joe Root has been moved down to No 4 due to Smith’s rise up the order for Saturday’s Champions Trophy opener against Australia.It will be only the second time the big-hitter has come in first wicket down in professional 50-over cricket.Not only that, the 24-year-old will also take the gloves from Phil Salt, who will continue to open the batting alongside Ben Duckett.But it’s nothing too dramatic for Smith – not compared to the major decision he made aged 15.READ MORE IN SPORTHe was a highly-talented central midfielder for League Two club AFC Wimbledon.And indeed as a kid football dominated his thoughts… until he became the first person in his family to play cricket.Surrey CCC rated Smith so highly at the smaller-ball game that they picked him for their Under-17s when he was just 12.The wicketkeeper-batsman revealed how it all began.Most read in CricketSmith faces a big task behind the stumps and with the batCredit: GettyCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSHe once told the Mail: “No one in my family played cricket. “I was pushed into a holiday camp with my local club, Sutton – something my parents did to keep me busy.”England legend’s son, 16, hits new career milestone with incredible century as dad watches on as his coachHowever, he confessed: “I didn’t really want that to be the case, but I knew with my cricket that I had something a little bit special. “I wasn’t naive. When you’re growing up, people push you for a reason.”They’re putting you in higher teams, because they can see a talent in you.‘It was getting to the point where football and cricket were overlapping too much. “Going on pre-season tours with Surrey in March meant missing things. Doing both wasn’t sustainable.”However, Smith revealed choosing cricket was partly down to a brutal self-assessment of his chances at football.He said: “Walking into a contracts meeting with Wimbledon at the end of the season, knowing how the contracts worked, I was never going to get one. READ MORE SUN STORIES”Everyone had their little percentage score for attendance and mine was 56.”Now, however, that’s a figure he’d love to match for England at cricket, where he averages an impressive 42 in Tests and a modest 22 in ODIs.England cricketer Smith was a youth footballer with AFC WimbledonCredit: Getty More

    More stories

    • 225 Shares139 Views

      in Soccer

      Man Utd and Chelsea owners ‘shortlisted to buy stake in London-based team’ who host matches at iconic stadium

      by

      THE OWNERS of Manchester United and Chelsea could reportedly be set to buy a stake in cricket team London Spirit.The Hundred cricket side currently plays at the iconic Lord’s Stadium in the capital.The London Spirit has a value of £140millionCredit: GettyTodd Boehly is reportedly one interested party in the teamCredit: GettyThe Glazers have also been shortlisted for a stake in the sideCredit: GettyThe Hundred has been running since 2021 and is a spin on the traditional formats of cricket as innings are just 100 balls long.Sky News have claimed that the owners of the Red Devils and the Blues are in the running to purchase a stake.The report has suggested that the two have been shortlisted to secure a stake in London Spirit.The team are one of the most respected in the competition due to playing at the “home of cricket”.READ MORE ON SPORT In 2024, the Mail claimed that the ECB are hoping to entice American investment into the competition.This may have been boosted by the success of Major League Cricket from 2023.However, the likes of Chelsea’s Todd Boehly and United’s Glazers will face stiff competition.It is believed a group of technology company owners and financiers are also interested.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSIPL team Lucknow Super Giants owners RPSG Group are also claimed to be in contention.London Spirit have a reported value of £140million.Gary Neville to make special request to broadcaster over future plans Bids are expected to be finalised at the end of the month and is being overseen by the Raine Group.Elsewhere, Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis has been linked with the Trent Rockets.It has been reported that the Greek businessman is keen on adding the Hundred side to his sporting empire.England cricket fixtures 2025T20 vs India: Jan 22-Feb 2ODI vs India: Feb 6-12Test vs Zimbabwe: May 22-25ODI vs West Indies: May 29-Jun 25T20 vs West Indies: June 6-10Tests vs India: June 20-Aug 3ODI vs South Africa: Sept 2-7T20 vs South Africa: Sept 10-14ODI vs Ireland: Sept 17-21Ashes vs Australia: Nov 21-Jan 8 2026 More

    • 250 Shares99 Views

      in Soccer

      Ex-England star, 58, takes up completely new sport and wins promotion with fellow Three Lions ace convinced to play too

      by

      AFTER sharing the pitch with David Beckham and earning 23 caps for England, a former Three Lions player is shining in a new sport.Former England goalkeeper Nigel Martyn is now a local cricket star, winning promotion to the Yorkshire Premier League North last year.Former England goalkeeper Nigel Martyn has taken up a new sport – village cricketMartyn was capped 23 times by England, playing alongside the likes of David BeckhamMartyn played at Crystal Palace and Leeds during his England spellBilled as a more-than-handy wicketkeeper, Martyn took up cricket alongside fellow former England stopper Paul Robinson at Knaresborough Club, in North Yorkshire.Despite Robinson replacing Martyn as Leed United’s No.1 in 2002, the pair are the best of pals and returned to a different kind of pitch 20 years later.Martyn, 58, told the England and Wales Cricket Board: “I saw him (Robinson) somewhere, and he asked what I was doing.”I told him I was playing cricket at Knaresborough, which is where he lives. His lad, Jack, is actually in the Yorkshire setup – probably around under-12s or 13s.READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWS”I said, ‘Look, you get the camaraderie we had in football dressing rooms, it’s good exercise, come and play a bit yourself’.”But he has a lot of football engagements, like punditry in the Middle East.”He’s not available much, but when he is we like to get him in. We actually played a game at Dringhouses away about two seasons ago. “It was the first game we played together, and there were some Leeds fans in their team. They couldn’t believe it.”Most read in FootballEx-England pro Paul Robinson also plays for Knaresborough Cricket Club from time-to-timeMartyn played football with the current England cricket team in 2017FOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSMartyn came through the Football League with Bristol Rovers, before becoming the first £1million goalkeeper in British football when he signed for Crystal Palace in 1989.He start both games in iconic 1990 FA Cup final, when Palace forced a replay after holding Sir Alex Ferguson’s Man Utd to 3-3 draw at Old Wembley.Tragedy as cricketer dies aged 35 after suffering cardiac arrest and collapsing during televised match United would go on to win the replay 1-0 thanks to Lee Martin’s goal from left-back.Martyn then moved to Leeds and enjoyed their most successful spell in recent memory, before moving to Everton until retirement in 2006.And he was voted as part of Leeds United’s greatest team in 2006 and made the semi-final of the Champions League in the 2000-2001 season.Seven years ago, Martyn played football with the current England cricket team.In 2017, he was invited to join the team in their warm-up ahead of a Test against the West Indies by Jonny Bairstow.He previously told the BBC: “I always preferred cricket, but I was slightly better at football. “But I had to play outfield – though I was allowed to keep wicket for the school cricket team.”Once I turned professional the cricket had to stop. I couldn’t risk breaking a finger. I would get into a bit of trouble if I did that.’It started at school.It was rugby in the winter, then football and cricket. I really enjoyed playing, at 14 joined my local club and went from there.READ MORE SUN STORIES”You get into that changing room as a 14 year old and row up pretty quickly. There was a lot of fun to be had and we loved the competition of it.”He has previously spoken of his hope that more players from Cornwall would go onto play for England.Robinson also played for Leeds More

    • 263 Shares99 Views

      in Soccer

      I scored one of Women’s World Cup’s best goals then went on to become an all-time cricket great and Ashes legend

      by

      ELLYSE PERRY has established herself as one of the greatest athletes of all time.The 32-year-old Australian is the ultimate all-rounder, having represented her country at an elite level in both football and cricket.
      Perry has starred for Australia in both cricket and footballCredit: PA
      The defender scored a world-class goal at the Women’s World Cup in 2011Credit: Getty
      She has enjoyed some unforgettable moments throughout her career, from scoring in a 2011 World Cup quarter-final to scoring a double century in test cricket.
      Perry is one of the unsung heroes of sport.
      Born in the Sydney suburb of Wahroonga, Australia, Perry quickly became immersed in sport as a youngster.
      Throughout her school years, the budding athlete played several sports including: golf, football and cricket as well as athletics.
      READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
      But shortly after she turned 16 in 2007, football and cricket took over when she made her Australia debut in both sports within the space of two weeks.
      Perry was fast-tracked into the Australian cricket team for a series against New Zealand in the summer of that year, making her the youngest-ever cricketer to represent the country.
      Her football debut came in a match against Hong Kong just a matter of days later and she remarkably scored two minutes after entering the pitch.
      In 2011, she was named in the Australia squad for the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Germany, making her first appearance in a group game against Norway and becoming the first-ever player to appear in both ICC and FIFA World Cups.
      Most read in Football
      BETTING SPECIAL – BEST NO DEPOSIT CASINO OFFERS
      Perry helped Australia to the quarter-finals of the 2011 Women’s World CupCredit: Getty
      To cap off her impressive tournament, she scored a world-class goal against Sweden at the quarter-final stage, firing the ball into the top corner from 25-yards out.
      Many people questioned if Perry would be able to continue juggling two sports, including the chief executive of her football club, Canberra United.
      Heather Reid gave her an ultimatum – football or cricket.
      However, Perry immediately took matters into her own hands by seeking a transfer to Sydney FC, where head coach Alen Stajcic allowed her to continue playing cricket alongside football.
      But with women’s sport continuing to evolve, one eventually had to give as in 2018 the defender stopped playing professional football to pursue a full-time career in cricket.
      In an interview with The Roar, she said: “Essentially, both sports have grown so much and developed so much in the last couple of years that they really demand people to be full-time professional athletes.
      “I ended up in cricket and haven’t played any football recently. I truly enjoyed my time playing football.”
      She has since enjoyed a successful five years solely in cricket, winning six T20 World Cup titles and two Cricket World Cup titles.
      Perry still represents Australia in cricketCredit: Alamy More