Not long to go until The Ashes are upon us. Here, Huw Turbervill, editor of "The Cricketer" magazine looks forward to one of cricket's big occasions - how are England's preparations going and what does he think the outcome will be?
As the 2025 season draws to a close, Nick Browne has called time on his first class career with Essex Cricket. Here we chat about where it all began for him st South Woodford CC and how he progressed through the ranks to open the batting for Essex alongside Sir Alastair Cook and winning the County Championship, not once but twice!
It's also been Nick's Testimonial Year and we look back at some of the events and look forward to his final dinner at Greenwoods Hotel & Spa on Saturday, 29th. November.
Get your tickets now and support Nick's charities The Professional Cricketers Trust and The Ruth Strauss Foundation:
As the 2025 season draws to a close, Nick Browne has called time on his first class career with Essex Cricket. Here we chat about where it all began for him st South Woodford CC and how he progressed through the ranks to open the batting for Essex alongside Sir Alastair Cook and winning the County Championship, not once but twice!
It's also been Nick's Testimonial Year and we look back at some of the events and look forward to his final dinner at Greenwaoods Hotel & Spa on Saturday, 29th. November.
Get your tickets now and support Nick's charities The Professional Cricketers Trust and The Ruth Strauss Foundation:
The CEO of Essex Cricket Dan Feist joins me for a catch up, as the 2025 season winds to a close on the field, but activity continues a-pace off it, as the club is already starting preparations for its 150th anniversary in 2026.
2025 was a challenging year for the club, but it has emerged better and stronger with the emergence of exciting young talent with much to look forward to next season.
among both the Men's and Women's sides plus a mention of club legend Graham Gooch, who was given a special recognition award at the recent PCA Awards Dinner.
Last night, the Leonardo City Hotel in the bustling heart of London hosted the 2025 Essex Cricket Annual Awards Dinner.
A glitzy occasion where players from both the Men's and the Women's teams were recognised for their efforts this season. Hosted by Victoria Polley from BBC Essex, it was a particularly good night for the women.
I caught up with Victoria and multi award winners Esmae MacGregor and Grace Scriven, as well club legend Kelly Castle, who was awarded the first-ever women's cap by the cub, ahead of her departure pastures new.
A year on from the release of his third album "Always Somewhere", former Surrey and England batter, now better know as a commentator on Sky Sports Cricket, Mark Butcher talks about his successful side hustle writing and recording music and gives us an exclusive preview of his next release.
Of course, we also talk cricket and with the domestic season now concluded, we look forward to the winter and England's tour of Australia. Mark gives us his insight into why exactly he thinks there was logic in selecting Will Jacks ahead of Rehan Ahmed and Liam Dawson for the Ashes squad.
A year on from the release of his third album "Always Somewhere", former Surrey and England batter, now better know as a commentator on Sky Sports Cricket, Mark Butcher talks about his successful side hustle writing and recording music and gives us an exclusive preview of his next release.
Of course, we also talk cricket and with the domestic season now concluded, we look forward to the winter and England's tour of Australia. Mark gives us his insight into why exactly he thinks there was logic in selecting Will Jacks ahead of Rehan Ahmed and Liam Dawson for the Ashes squad.
Leicestershire has won the Division Two title and thus return to the top flight of the County Championship after a twenty-two year hiatus. I caught up with superman Oliver Hawke to celebrate his county's achievement and asked what it meant to the die-hard supporters of the club.
If you are not familiar with Oliver, I suggest you join the "County Cricket Matters" page on Facebook, where he provides daily updates during the season of his exploits following Leicestershire up and down the country, even detailing his chosen outfits for each occasion. To quote his favourite phrase, "Let's do it folks!".
It's been a busy few days at Essex Cricket. On the field as the County Championship returned, the team was fighting hard to ensure its survival in the top flight and as it stands, Division One cricket looks likely to continue at Chelmsford next year.
Off the field, at a Members Forum last week the club outlined its stance on proposed changes to the County Championship and has called an SGM for members to endorse the club's position.
However, a shadow has been cast over the club with the forced departure of Chair Anu Mohindru after he was disbarred from his day job in the legal profession - nothing to do with cricket - but this has made his position at the club untenable. Very unfortunate, but the club has announced his successor and members should support the new-look board.
Richard Clarke AKA "The Grumbler" helps me pick through the detail.
Make sure you subscribe to Richard's excellent
"County Cricket Newsletter" for free on Substack:
It's been a busy few days at Essex Cricket. On the field as the County Championship returned, the team was fighting hard to ensure its survival in the top flight and as it stands, Division One cricket looks likely to continue at Chelmsford next year.
Off the field, at a Members Forum last week the club outlined its stance on proposed changes to the County Championship and has called an SGM for members to endorse the club's position.
However, a shadow has been cast over the club with the forced departure of Chair Anu Mohindru after he was disbarred from his day job in the legal profession - nothing to do with cricket - but this has made his position at the club untenable. Very unfortunate, but the club has announced his successor and members should support the new-look board.
Richard Clarke AKA "The Grumbler" helps me pick through the detail.
Make sure you subscribe to Richard's excellent
"County Cricket Newsletter" for free on Substack:
With the successful conclusion of the 2025 Minor Counties Cricket Festival, special guest Don Topley joins me to talk about his involvement with this long-running event and why it is so important in helping develop enthusiasm for the game among young players.
Don also tells us about a kit collection he is organising to help rural club North Stars in Barbados. If you want to get involved and donate any unwanted clothing, bats or equipment, please email Don at:
topperscricket@gmail.com
#Cricket
With the successful conclusion of the 2025 Minor Counties Cricket Festival, DON TOPLEY talks about his involvement with this long-running event and why it is so important in helping develop enthusiasm for the game among young players.
Don also tells us about a kit collection he is organising to help rural club North Stars in Barbados. If you want to get involved and donate any unwanted clothing, bats or equipment, please email Don at:
topperscricket@gmail.com
#Cricket
HUW TURBERVILL, editor of "The Cricketer" Joins me to discuss a perceived shift in attitudes toward the much-maligned Hundred. Is it finally getting acceptance among the cricketing fraternity?
HUW TURBERVILL, editor of "The Cricketer" Joins me to discuss a perceived shift in attitudes toward the much-maligned Hundred. Is it finally getting acceptance among the cricketing fraternity?
"The Cricketer" magazine, led by writer Nick Friend, has long been campaigning for change in the T20 Blast, viewing the current format as outdated. Well, maybe the ECB has listened, as change is indeed coming in 2026. Here Nick and I take a deep dive into why these changes were needed and what the domestic cricketing landscape could look like next year.
"The Cricketer" magazine, led by writer Nick Friend, has long been campaigning for change in the T20 Blast, viewing the current format as outdated. Well, maybe the ECB has listened, as change is indeed coming in 2026. Here Nick and I take a deep dive into why these changes were needed and what the domestic cricketing landscape could look like next year.
Essex coach Tom Huggins reflects on a great week for the club in the Metro Bank One Day Cup - can they go all the way?
Essex coach Tom Huggins reflects on a great week for the club in the Metro Bank One Day Cup - can they go all the way?
Life-long cricket lover turned county campaigner Alan Higham joins me to talk about his crusade to ensure a brighter future for the domestic game. After Andrew Strauss's "High Performance Review" of 2022 was described as "an almost perfect model in how to bungle change", Higham has been galvanised into action, demanding more accountability to county members. Compromise is required, but everyone's voice needs to be heard...
#cricket #county cricket
Life-long cricket lover turned county campaigner Alan Higham joins me to talk about his crusade to ensure a brighter future for the domestic game. After Andrew Strauss's "High Performance Review" of 2022 was described as "an almost perfect model in how to bungle change", Higham has been galvanised into action, demanding more accountability to county members. Compromise is required, but everyone's voice needs to be heard...
#cricket #countycricket
