Ali Martin

London

Cricket Reporter at The Guardian

Desk Editor at The Christian Science Monitor

Cricket correspondent for @Guardian_sport. SJA Cricket Journalist of the Year 2021. #nffc

Articles

Team GB step closer to playing Olympic cricket in 2028 as new body formed

1 week ago | theguardian.com | Ali Martin

The prospect of Team GB playing cricket at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games has moved a step closer with confirmation that the England and Wales Cricket Board and Cricket Scotland are joining forces for the sport’s long-awaited return. Cricket has not featured at the Olympics since 1900 but two six-team T20 tournaments for men and women are already booked in for the LA Games in three years’ time.
England looking to bring ‘fun and energy’ for ODIs with West Indies

1 week ago | theguardian.com | Ali Martin

A day before the first one-day international against West Indies, England’s players were up and about early on the Colts Ground opposite Aldi. Harry Brook starts as their new permanent white-ball captain in this sold-out day-nighter, a game in which eighth host ninth in the middle aisle of the men’s ODI rankings. Those rankings sometimes elicit a shrug among the major nations but neither side is one at present.
Student loan borrowers face turmoil, as collection push begins

1 week ago | csmonitor.com | Ali Martin

After five years of policy changes that included a payment pause during the pandemic, millions of Americans delinquent on student loans are being directed to pay up. The government is threatening to deduct money from wages or seize tax refunds and Social Security benefits, starting this summer. At the same time, loan holders face reduced repayment options and administrative slowdowns on top of general confusion about navigating a system in flux. Congress may have changes of its own coming soon.
Pope determined to prove he warrants England place and Stokes’ defence

1 week ago | msn.com | Ali Martin

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Pope determined to prove he warrants England place and Stokes’ defence

1 week ago | theguardian.com | Ali Martin

A Test match that began with England saying they wanted to be better at media interactions and show a touch more humility ended with the captain growling about his words being twisted. And they say a week is a long time in politics …It was my question that sparked all this, as it happens.
Shoaib Bashir runs through Zimbabwe to set up Test win in three days for England

1 week ago | theguardian.com | Ali Martin

There were periods of resistance, some wonderful shots, and supporters cheering them on from the stands but in the end Zimbabwe could not prevent the inevitable or even reach the fourth day. England, inspired by six wickets from Shoaib Bashir, wrapped up this one-off Test by an innings and 45 runs. The winning moment came 15 minutes or so before tea on day three when Bashir sent down a grubber that pinned Tanaka Chivanga for the simplest of lbw decisions.
Bennett scores Zimbabwe’s fastest Test century before England regain grip

2 weeks ago | theguardian.com | Ali Martin

There were a few sideways glances during the first day of Zimbabwe’s first Test match in England for 22 years, followed by some renewed calls for cricket’s longest format to adopt a two-division structure. After a flogging like the one their players had just suffered across three sessions, perhaps this was to be expected. But on day two, cheered on by some wonderful pockets of support in the stands, the tourists managed a pushback.
Ollie Pope smashes 169 off Zimbabwe to show England selectors his class

2 weeks ago | theguardian.com | Ali Martin

There were shades of the Thick Of It after Ben Stokes gave his press conference a day out from this one-off Test against Zimbabwe. When the minister – or in this instance the England captain – said Jacob Bethell would be straight back in for the series against India, this apparently referred to the squad and not necessarily the XI. That Stokes sought to make this clarification through the back channels perhaps said more about the task at hand than England’s true thoughts on the subject.
Bazball’s moment of truth arrives in year that will define era of McCullum and Stokes

2 weeks ago | theguardian.com | Ali Martin

So where are we up to right now? Still Bazball 2.0? The start of Bazball 3.0? Given Ben Stokes has knocked the grog on the head this year, perhaps it should be Bazball 0.0% ABV. Although, jokes aside, that recent revelation on one of those man-chat podcasts said a fair bit about Stokes’s nature. Not only has he temporarily paused drinking during his recovery from hamstring surgery but, so taken by this, he has even bought shares in an alcohol-free spirits company.
Middlesex confirm interest in ‘iconic player of his generation’ Virat Kohli

2 weeks ago | theguardian.com | Ali Martin

Virat Kohli could yet be seen batting in England once more with Middlesex confirming they are keen to lure India’s recently retired galactico to Lord’s. The 36-year-old called time on his stellar Test career at the start of the week, ruling himself out of the five-Test series in England that begins at Headingley next month. But notably his statement said nothing about drawing a line through first-class cricket.