Latest news with #AlastairCook
BBC News
3 hours ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Test Match Special England v India: England weather Jasprit storm as game in the balance
Jonathan Agnew is alongside former England captains Michael Vaughan & Sir Alastair Cook, and commentator Prakash Wakankar for reaction of the second day's play at Headingley between England and India. They discuss Jasprit Bumrah's brilliance with the ball and England's temperament with the bat. Ben Duckett gives his thoughts on the day after hitting 62. Plus, TMS superfan and Lord's Taverners Super 1s player Ravi is surprised with a trip to the TMS commentary box.
Daily Mirror
15 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
'I have confession about being knighted by the Queen – and I nearly missed out'
Sir Alastair Cook was knighted by the late Queen Elizabeth II in 2019 for his services to cricket, but the former England captain was close to missing out on the honour altogether Few honours are more prestigious than a knighthood. Three years before the Queen passed away, former England cricket captain Sir Alastair Cook was named in her New Year honours list. And two months later, the former Essex Eagles star travelled to Buckingham Palace to be given his knighthood by the Queen. Despite the uniqueness of the occasion and the honour that comes with it, there is one crucial thing Sir Cook has forgotten. In the brief period of time he spent with Her Majesty the Queen, the legendary batsman admitted he can't actually recall what the monarch said. In addition to that, he was also close to missing out on the honour altogether, as his invitation was sent to the wrong address. While speaking at the launch of The Overlap and Betfair's Stick to Cricket show, Cook, when asked to describe the invitation process, exclusively told Mirror Sport:"Well, I got a text message. "My invitation got sent to the wrong address. So someone had some address for something, whether they opened it or not, I do not know." Looking back on the afternoon itself, he added: "The whole day and the whole experience is very surreal. Certainly one you don't set out for, don't expect and don't necessarily think you deserve. "It's a very special day to be able to receive it and to be called a Sir and to be able to understand the history of the award, I like my history. It's a huge honour and that's all I can really say about it. "I can't actually remember what she said. But it was an honour to have met her on a few occasions. It's certainly one which is up there as a proud thing." Cook retired from international cricket at the age of 33 years old after a historic career as England captain and opening batsman. He departed having amassed 33 test centuries and 12,472 runs, the latter being a national record until Joe Root surpassed him in 2024 on day three of the five-test series in Pakistan. Cook received an MBE in 2011, which was upgraded to a CBE five years later. Only 12 England cricket stars have received knighthoods for services to the sport, with Cook being the first since Sir Ian Botham in 2007 to be heralded with the honour. Now he is no longer competing, Cook has been impressed with Ben Stokes ' leadership since he was named captain in 2022. Mentioning his former team-mate, Cook added: "He'll (Stokes) go down in the history of English cricket as one of the best. "As a leader, you get judged on a couple of things, how your side plays and your results. He's certainly gone in and changed the narrative of how test cricket can be seen." Stokes' leadership will be put to the test this year, with this weekend's five-test series against India providing England with a huge challenge. A matter of months later, England will travel to Australia for the start of the Ashes in November. Betfair are set for a big summer and winter of cricket, launching a new show with The Overlap: Stick to Cricket. Don't miss the first episode next week, where the team will be reviewing the opening test of the series between England and India.
BBC News
17 hours ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Essex County Cricket Club pictures show match 100 years ago
Century-old pictures that show Essex County Cricket Club's first match at their ground in Chelmsford are being shared for the images have been retrieved from the club's archive to mark 100 years since the side took on Oxford University at the County Ground on 20 June to the stadium opening, fixtures were played in Brentwood and later taken on tour across Essex and east executive Dan Feist said the ground gave fans and players alike a "unique feeling of closeness" to the action. The club formed in 1876 as a result of a meeting held at the Shire Hall in Chelmsford on 14 it was not until 49 years later that Essex found a permanent home in the county has gone on to make plenty of history since. Graham Napier rewrote the record books by hitting 16 sixes in a T20 innings in 2008, smashing his way to 152 not out, off just 58 deliveries.A 20-year-old Alastair Cook scored 214 for Essex against Australia in Chelmsford in crowds were able to witness an iconic performance by Simon Harmer in 2017, taking 14 wickets against Middlesex as Essex charged towards winning the County have also been tear-jerking moments, including when legendary run-scorer Graham Gooch retired in 1997. Mr Feist said: "Every club, player, member, spectator and staff member need a focal point."Over the years, Chelmsford has become exactly that for so many."He said those involved with the club could not forget its "nomadic existence" prior to playing at the County Ground. "As many players have said over the years, Chelmsford may not be Lord's, but it is their home," Mr Feist added. "Each section of the ground fosters lasting memories of aspiration, enjoyment and enduring friendships."Quite simply, it is a ground at the very heart of the communities it serves." Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Sir Alastair Cook explains why England should pick Ollie Pope over Jacob Bethell against India
Former England Test captain Sir Alastair Cook has explained why he thinks Ollie Pope should be selected ahead of Jacob Bethell for the upcoming India series. Pope, the current England vice-captain, scored a mammoth 171 as Zimbabwe were soundly beaten at Trent Bridge in the only Test match of the summer so far. Advertisement But he is battling with youngster Bethell for the number three slot ahead of India's five-match series in England. Speaking at the launch of The Overlap and Betfair's Stick to Cricket show, Cook said: 'Ollie Pope's 170 meant a lot to me, he and [Zak] Crawley were under the pump and they delivered.' Cook was speaking with former England captain Michael Vaughan, ex-spinner Phil 'Tuffers' Tufnell and former England player and fan-favourite broadcaster David 'Bumble' Lloyd. Ollie Pope scored a century against Zimbabwe (Action Images via Reuters) 'When I left New Zealand I thought they'll go with Jacob Bethell but if he isn't leaving the IPL to come and play a test match, for whatever reason that it, it's not a punishment, but that's the way the cards have fallen whether it's Bethell's fault or not,' Cook said. 'If he's that desperate to play I would have said he would have come out and played, then he'd have guaranteed his England selection. I don't care what's going on behind the scenes on that.' Advertisement Both Pope and Bethell are named in the 14-man squad for the opening Test, which begins at Headingley on Friday, June 20. Warwickshire's Bethell has played three Tests, and was an important fixture of the ODI and IT20s whitewashes of the West Indies over recent weeks. However, he missed the one-off Test against Zimbabwe. Cook, who is one of only three England captains to win multiple Ashes on home soil, looked ahead to this winter's trip to Australia as the conversation over who to pick at number three between Pope and 21-year-old Bethell rumbles on. He said: 'Will Pope play at number three in Perth? He's in possession at the minute and we'll find out if he's good enough against the likes of Jasprit Bumrah. Sir Alistair Cook on the new Stick to Cricket show (Betfair/Stick to Cricket) 'The issue I've always said about Pope, and I don't think this changes, is his first 20 balls, Tuffers [Phil Tufnell] is more likely to get through his first 20 balls. Advertisement 'Lots of judges of players have said that Bethell is really good, but at Warwickshire he struggled like a year ago, he struggled and was batting six behind [Sam] Hain, [Alex] Davies and guys that were picked ahead of him all the time.' Bethell has an average of 52.00 from his six Test innings to date, high-scoring with a 92 against New Zealand in December. Meanwhile, Pope has an average of 35.49 from the 56 matches he has played for his nation, notching eight hundreds and 15 half-centuries. " width="500"> Betfair are set for a big summer and winter of cricket, launching a new show with The Overlap: Stick to Cricket. Don't miss the first episode next week, where the team will be reviewing the opening test of the series between England and India.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Sir Alastair Cook explains why England should pick Ollie Pope over Jacob Bethell against India
Former England Test captain Sir Alastair Cook has explained why he thinks Ollie Pope should be selected ahead of Jacob Bethell for the upcoming India series. Pope, the current England vice-captain, scored a mammoth 171 as Zimbabwe were soundly beaten at Trent Bridge in the only Test match of the summer so far. Advertisement But he is battling with youngster Bethell for the number three slot ahead of India's five-match series in England. Speaking at the launch of The Overlap and Betfair's Stick to Cricket show, Cook said: 'Ollie Pope's 170 meant a lot to me, he and [Zak] Crawley were under the pump and they delivered.' Cook was speaking with former England captain Michael Vaughan, ex-spinner Phil 'Tuffers' Tufnell and former England player and fan-favourite broadcaster David 'Bumble' Lloyd. Ollie Pope scored a century against Zimbabwe (Action Images via Reuters) 'When I left New Zealand I thought they'll go with Jacob Bethell but if he isn't leaving the IPL to come and play a test match, for whatever reason that it, it's not a punishment, but that's the way the cards have fallen whether it's Bethell's fault or not,' Cook said. 'If he's that desperate to play I would have said he would have come out and played, then he'd have guaranteed his England selection. I don't care what's going on behind the scenes on that.' Advertisement Both Pope and Bethell are named in the 14-man squad for the opening Test, which begins at Headingley on Friday, June 20. Warwickshire's Bethell has played three Tests, and was an important fixture of the ODI and IT20s whitewashes of the West Indies over recent weeks. However, he missed the one-off Test against Zimbabwe. Cook, who is one of only three England captains to win multiple Ashes on home soil, looked ahead to this winter's trip to Australia as the conversation over who to pick at number three between Pope and 21-year-old Bethell rumbles on. He said: 'Will Pope play at number three in Perth? He's in possession at the minute and we'll find out if he's good enough against the likes of Jasprit Bumrah. Sir Alistair Cook on the new Stick to Cricket show (Betfair/Stick to Cricket) 'The issue I've always said about Pope, and I don't think this changes, is his first 20 balls, Tuffers [Phil Tufnell] is more likely to get through his first 20 balls. Advertisement 'Lots of judges of players have said that Bethell is really good, but at Warwickshire he struggled like a year ago, he struggled and was batting six behind [Sam] Hain, [Alex] Davies and guys that were picked ahead of him all the time.' Bethell has an average of 52.00 from his six Test innings to date, high-scoring with a 92 against New Zealand in December. Meanwhile, Pope has an average of 35.49 from the 56 matches he has played for his nation, notching eight hundreds and 15 half-centuries. " width="500"> Betfair are set for a big summer and winter of cricket, launching a new show with The Overlap: Stick to Cricket. Don't miss the first episode next week, where the team will be reviewing the opening test of the series between England and India.
