Am told he pipped Nikola Zigic and Scott Dann to the deal.

Great scoop from @georgedobell.bsky.social

The Knight-Stokes Cup: The answer, a catalyst or just another competition? | The Cricketer This week sees the opening matches of the secondary state school competition, following entries from 1,084 boys and girls’ teams

"I do see this competition being a catalyst, I think, for a brighter future in the state secondary school community."

The Knight-Stokes Cup: The answer, a catalyst or just another competition? | ✒️ @nickhowson.bsky.social

Ed Smith: There's no single blueprint to being an effective England national selector | The Cricketer The current MCC President served as national selector between 2018 and 2021, during which time England won the Cricket World Cup

Spoke to Ed Smith about what makes a good England national selector, ahead of the window to apply for the role closing tonight (wish me luck).

At a quite pleasant Hilton Hotel Bowl where Somerset have had two balls and removed two of Toby Albert's partners. Albert opening in the Championship for the first time since the end of the 2024 season.

Was initially hoped Wayne Madsen would return against Lancashire. And while that remains possible, it seems more likely that his return will be delayed until the end of the month.

Luis Reece is quite the guy. We spoke after he complete his century yesterday, and you won’t read many interviews this summer with more raw emotion.

Very strange day at Derby. Caleb Jewell left a ball through cover for four. It rained the second the final ball was bowled. OHD’s 19 overs were an ordeal. My report from day one 👇

I encourage the craziness - Meet Emma White, the only female chief executive in county cricket | The Cricketer Leicestershire's CEO discusses the lack of representation in positions of power, her early impressions of the sport, spending The Hundred money and what she wants to achieve

"I bring no baggage, no cricket baggage whatsoever, and especially for this role, I think that is a really positive thing."

Meet Emma White, the only female chief executive in county cricket | @nickhowson.bsky.social

Hopeful rather than bullish, Somerset's path to their holy grail is laden with obstacles | The Cricketer Head coach Jason Kerr, Craig Overton and Tom Lammonby speak about the challenge which hangs over Taunton

Hopeful rather than bullish, Somerset's path to their holy grail is laden with obstacles | 🖊️ @nickhowson.bsky.social

Yorkshire's mentality shift raises hopes of ending trophy drought | The Cricketer Anthony McGrath, Jonny Bairstow and Dom Bess outline why 2026 will be the beginning of the club's latest trophy era

"It's not about being a Yorkshire player. It's about being a successful Yorkshire player. That's the kind of shift we wanted in terms of mentality."

Yorkshire's mentality shift raises hopes of ending trophy drought | 🖊️ @nickhowson.bsky.social

Adam Lyth: Yorkshire's bright future, FPL and playing into his 40s | The Cricketer The former England opener discusses the arrival of Moeen Ali, the formation of an exciting squad at Headingley and the next landmark on his radar

"I've got this year and one more, which will take me up to 40 years old. But I don't see myself stopping anytime soon."

Adam Lyth on Yorkshire's bright future and FPL forfeits | @nickhowson.bsky.social

After some cruel World Cup final defeats in the recent past, this definitely wasn't one of them for New Zealand. Ricky Martin had a better day.

The year is 2026, and we’re still getting Born in the USA wrong.

"There is a painful irony that, only months after the future of the first-class counties was seemingly safeguarded for a generation, two of them have slipped into serious trouble" | @georgedobell.bsky.social

READ HERE → tinyurl.com/m5y29w4x

I was in the best form of my life - The county cricket cast-off eyeing West Indies Released by Essex at the end of last season, Jamal Richards has moved to the Caribbean with an eye on enhancing his senior international career

"I was in the best form of my life" 💬

The county cricket cast-off eyeing West Indies | ✍️ @nickhowson.bsky.social

Unlucky 13 for Joe Root as Pat Cummins' stranglehold tightens | The Cricketer Australia's captain dismissed England's all-time leading run-scorer in both innings of a Test for the second time, and continues to prevail in a key battle which sits at the core of the Ashes rivalry

"No sooner has Joe Root conquered one personal mountain than he's been confronted by another" | ✍️ @nickhowson.bsky.social

Joe Root satisfies a curiosity of the minority | The Cricketer A long-awaited Test hundred in Australia illuminated day one of the second Test and will end up, somewhat curiously, satisfying a certain group

A long-awaited Test hundred in Australia illuminated day one of the second Test and will end up, somewhat curiously, satisfying a certain group | ✍️ @nickhowson.bsky.social

Piece on TNT Sports’s Ashes coverage. Must do better.

Maybe viewers need convincing - Rob Hatch's Ashes gig is not a leap into the unknown | The Cricketer NICK HOWSON: TNT Sports have taken a gamble, of sorts, with their lead commentators for the Men's Ashes, but there is no reason why they can't pull it off

"Maybe viewers need convincing, but there's plenty of cricket there. There's much more cricket than cycling, let's say, in my background."

Rob Hatch's Ashes gig is not a leap into the unknown | @nickhowson.bsky.social

Reports men's domestic structure vote faces delay torched as timetable is explained | The Cricketer The Professional Game Committee (PGC) have refuted reports that a vote on the future domestic schedule has been deferred.

Suggestions that the vote on the men's domestic structure has been delayed are inaccurate.

@georgedobell.bsky.social has the latest 👇

Shambles doping case, One Day Cup final glories and England misgivings... the ups and downs of Chris Wright | The Cricketer The 40-year-old reflects on his long, decorated and at times controversial career, which could yet end with two special landmarks in his concluding appearances for Leicestershire

"Shambles" doping case, One Day Cup final glories and England misgivings... the ups and downs of Chris Wright | 🖊️ @nickhowson.bsky.social

Warwickshire, needing another 285 runs for victory, shake hands with Surrey on a draw. Just one point between the top two, who meet at the Kia Oval from Monday.

We're off at the Kia Oval with rain, thunder and lightning around with Surrey needing nine more wickets to win and re-establish their nine-point lead over Notts.

At the Kia Oval Invincibles Arena, where Rory Burns spent much of his 52 trying to get out, before picking out Zen Malik. Surrey four down after being inserted, but Warwickshire have been a bit wasteful.

Menacing Worcestershire dominate as Hampshire take a wrong turn | The Cricketer Adam Finch did the bruising before Ben Allison did the beating in a One Day Cup match, of which nearly a fifth wasn't required

"After finding all the answers to maintain their unbeaten start to the competition, it remains to be seen how much of a menace Worcestershire are in their pursuit of a first List A trophy since 2007" | ✍️ @nickhowson.bsky.social

Matt Parkinson helps demoralised Kent regain their early-season lustre | The Cricketer he last leg-spinner to play a home Test for England provides a reminder of his majesty on an eventful opening day of this top v bottom Division Two fixture

Those comments followed a weird day when he was twice on a hat-trick and three times penalised for negative bowling. The laws were being applied, but context is key. Spoke well about it afterwards.

Had a really interesting chat with Matt Parkinson after play. Here he talks about Kent's discipline after that eight-point penalty in the County Championship ⬇️

Jack Leach: What next for England's Mr Resilient? | The Cricketer England's most productive Test spinner since his 2018 debut hasn't played a home Test for over two years. What does Liam Dawson's return do to his future prospects?

What next for Jack Leach, England's Mr Resilient? | 🖊️ @nickhowson.bsky.social

At Taunton, where with rain expected, West Indies are playing their part, falling to 4 for 3 in the first 21 balls.

If this is cricket's FA Cup, then let's embrace its full potential | The Cricketer The three-week soft-launch of the all-knockout competition was exactly that, a starting point; there is plenty of room to develop the concept

"If you're going to lean into the way the competition mimics football's FA Cup, don't stop with the language" | @nickhowson.bsky.social