Official confirmation that Kirstie Gordon WILL be representing Scotland in 2026! She is still recovering from injury, so won’t feature in January’s qualifier, but hopefully there will be a “home” World Cup for her next summer. I’m delighted for her and for Scotland! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 🏏

Unpopular view: Moaning about Snickometer is just a distraction from more fundamental issues. Move on guys. I'll get back in my women's cricket lane now.

This is quite an interesting little news piece about the Kent Women’s team & a good insight into Megan Belt’s day-to-day. Perhaps the saddest bit was the brief glimpse of the named cubbyholes at Beckenham, which all appear to belong to Surrey Women. That’s just not right!

Thanks to @pvelija.bsky.social for her work in convening our webinar series, which continues to feature brilliant, cutting-edge research. In our latest webinar, Ross Ensor from @lborouniversity.bsky.social discusses his research into the use of the Rooney Rule within English cricket:

🏏 A reminder that our latest webinar is TODAY at 2pm. 🏏 Ross Ensor (Loughborough University) will be speaking on 'A retreat from the radical: An analysis of the existence, implementation, and effectiveness of the Rooney Rule within English cricket’. 🏏 DM us for the Teams link.

All this hyper-blokiness coming out of the England camp when their backs are against the wall - “Bee’s d*ck”, “real men” - makes me really uncomfortable. Am I the problem? #Ashes

BREAKING: London Spirit Women to tour Bondi as part of their pre-season. They will be VERY inspiring and entertaining in 2026.

Dad’s take on the Men’s Ashes: “If they are having dinner in the day-night Test match, could they make Mitchell Starc eat two helpings of pie and chips? That would slow him down a bit.” 🥧 🍟

Quite exciting to see The Women in Whites as one of Pitch Publishing's "Big hitting cricket titles for 2026". It's due out in May, just in time for the World Cup. I just have to finish the manuscript now! 😬😂

Full programme for our 2026 conference now available! Hughes Hall, Cambridge, 26 Feb 9am to 5pm Register here: www.cricketsociety.org.uk/events/crick...

I've just clocked that there is an entire day of women's Blast fixtures scheduled on the day of the World Cup final. Surely that's utter madness? In 2017 everyone from Alice Capsey to Lauren Bell went to Lord's. Now we're effectively saying that no young players can go & be inspired??

We’ve opened registration for our annual conference! 🥳 📅 26 Feb 2026 ⏰ 9.30am to 5pm 🏫 Hughes Hall, Cambridge 🏏 We’re looking forward to a day of presentations & discussion, plus a Q&A on the 2026 ICC World Cup. Book your place now:

I’m a few weeks behind in The Archers but how much did the ICC pay for a mention of the 2026 World Cup on air?! 😁 It sounds like we might be building up to a full on “characters attend a match” storyline next year…!

Trouble is that no one will want to come because of our terrible weather. (Sorry… couldn’t resist 😬)

I think they're referring to different allegations, the ones described as "baseless" ones are against Joty, while the ones they're "investigating" are against a former selector. Jahanara also talked about them in separate interviews.

Two days ago they said Jahanara’s allegations were “baseless and devoid of truth”. Now the BCB are “investigating” them. That’s quite the turnaround in 48 hours… www.espncricinfo.com/story/bcb-to...

Here’s the recording of our latest webinar panel - The Men’s Ashes and the Future of Test Cricket. Tim Wigmore and @jarrodkimber.bsky.social covered a LOT of ground - and the event was expertly chaired by @russinthezone.bsky.social 👏 www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtt6...

CfP open for @cricketacademic.bsky.social Conference @hugheshall.bsky.social @cam.ac.uk! @rafnicholson.bsky.social @drcricket.bsky.social @bayfirth.bsky.social @bssh.bsky.social @sportinhistorypod.bsky.social @jeremylonsdale.bsky.social @russinthezone.bsky.social idrottsforum.org/call-for-pap...

Hopes and dreams from India's World Cup victory. Me for The Guardian:

What a day! Congratulations India 🏆

Laura Wolvaardt at the post-match, speaking about Kapp: “She’s been absolutely phenomenal for so many editions of this tournament. I’m really sad that it’s possibly her last one.” 👀

Not keen on everyone banging on about Sachin Tendulkar. Pretty sure he wasn't banging down the BCCI's door demanding contracts for the Indian women's team. Today couldn't be more NOT about him if it tried.

“Weeping endures for a night, but joy comes in the morning.” My preview of tomorrow’s #CWC25 final between India and South Africa:

“Weeping endures for a night, but joy comes in the morning.” My preview of tomorrow’s #CWC25 final between India and South Africa:

The Ashes is nearly here, but what’s next for Test cricket? 🏏 Join @jarrodkimber.bsky.social & Tim Wigmore as they talk the Ashes, historic rivalries & future pressures. Chaired by @russinthezone.bsky.social 💻 Free Zoom panel | 4 Nov, 7pm GMT | 🔗DM for the link

Hilarious that there are Indian fans below the line in The Guardian telling me that I OBVIOUSLY wanted Australia to win yesterday. A mark of how little they have previously engaged with my work is that many of them are referring to Raf Nicholson as "he".

"Stagnation and complacency were the dual enemies on which the Ashes whitewash was built – time for Edwards to signal that she is serious about preventing their return." My #CWC25 post-mortem:

I think Jemimah Rodrigues just got fed up with the headline, "Can anyone beat Australia?" #CWC25

This feels like the World Cup final we should have had... #CWC25

FWIW, here was my takeaway from what Charlotte Edwards said on Sky last night - she IS looking to move on: www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/o...

Lottie in the post-match presser: "We’ve got a number of left-handers in our Performance Squad back home who we will be looking at and working very hard with over the next 6 months.” @syd-e13.bsky.social 👀

History made. Laura Wolvaardt, take a bow. #CWC25

I think South Africa are going to win this now. I simply don't think England have the batting depth, or the confidence in their middle-order, to chase over 300 in a semi-final. #CWC25

Is Jon Lewis secretly coaching South Africa? Why else would you play such reckless shots in a SEMI-FINAL? #CWC25

Not long to go now... My preview of tomorrow's England v South Africa #CWC25 semi-final:

So great to see Sarah Taylor happy and thriving. However I am always slightly uncomfortable with the suggestion female coaches should be seeking out roles in the men's game. We need to be careful we're not accidentally creating a hierarchy where men's cricket is the ultimate "career progression".

WORLD CUP: England v New Zealand - Guwahati Here We Come (Right Back Where We Started From)

Sophie Devine 🫶

Pretty sure Sophia Dunkley hasn't bowled in domestic cricket this year, so this is... not ideal. #CWC2025

Featuring Sophie Devine and some thoughts on the Great Post-Ashes Rebuild. Me for @theguardian.com:

PANEL: Cricket, Gambling and Match-Fixing 29 October 2025 5pm-6pm (London time - GMT) Chair: @stevemenary.bsky.social Panelists: Dr Minhyeok Tak – Loughborough University, Anca-Maria Ghergel – Sheffield Hallam University, Will Gunn – Sporting Solutions Open to all. DM us for the Teams link!

It’s deja vu all over again, as my Dad would say #CWC25

Am struck this World Cup by the way that Nasser Hussain actually asks intelligent questions in the post-match interviews. So often these are just brief cliche soundbites, but he seems to think a bit harder about interesting things to ask. #CWC25

Danni Wyatt-Hodge now twirling a rugby ball in the dug-out. It worked to get Georgia Voll off the bench so maybe it could work its magic for DWH too? #CWC25

A few thoughts ahead of England v Australia tomorrow #CWC25 www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/o...

England into the semi-finals thanks to a strong bowling display. I remain unconvinced by the batting, but that conversation is for another day! #CWC25

Bringing Capsey into the attack is NOT a sign that England have "multiple options", Anjum Chopra! It's the opposite! Honestly think this game is ultimately gonna expose their decision to play a batter-heavy XI. NSB probably can't bowl much more - they will have to lean on Capsey - far from ideal.

Great innings from Heather Knight but I think it was wrong to chance that second run. She needed to be there for the last 5 overs to make sure England post 300. #CWC25

England lurch from one disaster to another, yet somehow are top of the table. Make it make sense 🤯

England are about to be bailed out by the rain in Colombo after a shocking display of batting ineptitude. Jon Lewis said it was all about the weather. Not sure this is quite what he meant. #CWC25