You do not need to be a county number one to be England’s first choice. This, perhaps, is the theme of the first Test squad of the summer, detectable both in England’s preference of Jamie Smith to Ben Foakes as wicketkeeper and their endorsement of Shoaib Bashir, rather than Jack Leach, as spin bowler.
WITH England’s dismal performances in the recent World Cup, question marks are already been sent in the direction of skipper Jos Buttler and coach Matthew Mott and, although I have always had reservations about Mott, the same surely can't be said of Buttler.
Tonge inflicted a first defeat of the season on Anthony Axford North West Cricket League high-flyers Blackrod on Sunday to hand the initiative in the Premiership title race to champions Little Lever.