Chris Stocks

I tracked down the Aussie family of England’s most controversial bowler Harold Larwood neutered Don Bradman and helped England win a famous Ashes series - then never played for them ever again

In case you missed it, here's my piece from last weekend's @theipaper.com when I tracked down Harold Larwood's grandson. Spoke about the Bodyline series and the family's journey to Australia afterwards. Free to read here with the paywall taken down inews.co.uk/sport/cricke...

The mysterious tale of England's fascist cricket captain Chris Stocks spent six months tracing the story of Arthur Gilligan, who led England on the Ashes tour of Australia in 1924-25. What he found surprised him

This a project I've been working on for a while. Arthur Gilligan, England's captain on the 1924-25 Ashes tour of Australia, was written off as a fascist in the years after his death. The truth may be a little more complicated. Big read for
@ipapersport.bsky.social
inews.co.uk/sport/cricke...

Baz is bored of Bazball - the Aussies will be delighted Brendon McCullum has reiterated his disdain for the 'Bazball' term - but England should learn to love it before this winter's Ashes series

Total Football, Tiki Taka and Bazball? Brendon McCuulum needs to lean into his team’s mythology rather than repudiate it ahead of this winter’s Ashes. For @ipapersport.bsky.social inews.co.uk/sport/cricke...

Jofra Archer delivers the ‘X-factor’ England have sorely missed After an injury-ravaged few years, the right-arm bowler showed he had lost none of the pace that had become his trademark

The day everybody, no one more so than Jofra Archer, had been waiting for. Something from Lord’s today for @ipapersport.bsky.social inews.co.uk/sport/cricke...

The future of English cricket is here - and it's in Hampshire Hampshire are experiencing a once-in-a-generation change at the top - and it could pave the way for a whole new era in English cricket

Here’s a big read for the bank holiday weekend from @ipapersport.bsky.social on what private investment - particularly GMR taking over Hampshire - means for English cricket. inews.co.uk/sport/cricke...

England's natural heir to Jimmy Anderson finally has a chance to show it Essex seam bowler Sam Cook has long been on Brendon McCullum's radar

Picking the brains of Jimmy Anderson and impressing a close friend of Brendon McCullum on the franchise circuit. Why now is the time for Sam Cook’s England chance and why he’s a live contender for this winter’s Ashes. Piece for @ipapersport.bsky.social
inews.co.uk/sport/cricke...

Ben Stokes as England ODI captain? Don't be so absurd Let's hope Rob Key and Brendon McCullum see sense before doing anything stupid

Ben Stokes as England's one-day captain? Somebody seriously needs to get the smelling salts out for Rob Key if he goes for the most bats*** choice available. And if it happens, you can forget the Ashes. Piece for @ipapersport.bsky.social inews.co.uk/sport/cricke...

My bold County Championship predictions for 2025 - and why Surrey won't win it Essex to lift the trophy? Dan Lawrence due for a big summer? The i Paper's cricket correspondent stares into his crystal ball to predict the season ahead...

Essex to win the title? Warwickshire and Worcestershire relegated? Lancashire and Middlesex to go up? All the pre-season predictions plus a full @ipapersport.bsky.social preview ahead of the start of the new County Championship season on Friday inews.co.uk/sport/cricke...

Not a bad shout. Not sure he’ll get the chance though

England’s best XI for Champions Trophy - and the four bowlers vying for one spot The big questions facing England ahead of their Champions Trophy opener

First piece on the ground in Lahore for @TheiPaperSport ahead of England's Champions Trophy opener against Australia on Saturday inews.co.uk/sport/cricke...

England chiefs to meet exiled Afghan women cricketers and won't rule out boycott Pressure is mounting on England to pull out of next month's Champions Trophy fixture in protest at the Taliban's treatment of women

Good story from @stocksycricket.bsky.social

ECB chiefs will meet with exiled Afghanistan women players in comings weeks

Among discussions will be issue of whether to boycott Champions Trophy fixture next month in protest at the Taliban's erosion of women's rights

inews.co.uk/sport/cricke...

Merry Christmas from Pepper! 😻

Looking good in Wellington

Christchurch is so beautiful

England have found a solution to Ollie Pope's form after Pakistan nightmare Previous England regimes would have dropped the Surrey batter

Something on Ollie Pope from the Hagley Oval today via @ipapersport.bsky.social inews.co.uk/sport/cricke...

Cold!

2/2: England coach Brendon McCullum: "I’m gutted for Jordan. He's been shaping up nicely, both with the bat and gloves, since we got to NZ. We will get around him and look after him. He is resilient, and his time will come at some point in the future."

1/2: BREAKING: Big news overnight. Jordan Cox has been ruled out of England's series in NZ with fractured right thumb. Sustained in nets Sunday am in Queenstown.
Replacement not yet named but understood Durham's Ollie Robinson in the frame. Bairstow/Foakes not considered.

News on Jordan Cox seems more serious now. Blow in the nets from a dog stick on his right hand. Off to hospital now for an X-ray. Means England are worried and likes of Michael Pepper, Ollie Robinson, James Rew could well be called up as cover for this series

Jimmy Anderson is on the field for England in this warm-up game in Queenstown. Injury to Jordan Cox in the nets means Pope keeping and Stokes now captaining having sat out day 1. Brook and Crawley netting so England were down to 10. Hence Jimmy making his comeback

Just a heads up I’ll be landing in New Zealand at the end of the week to cover England’s last Test series of the year (and last overseas until next winter’s Ashes). Privilege again to be sent on tour by @theipaper.bsky.social
Updates, stories and some other random stuff on here throughout

That first one seemed to go well so here’s one of Pepper when she was a (tiny) kitten

I might as well start with a cat picture