Matt Roller's Avatar

Matt Roller

@mattrollercricket.bsky.social

Sports journalist at ESPNcricinfo

1,048 Followers  |  180 Following  |  41 Posts  |  Joined: 18.11.2024  |  1.9583

Latest posts by mattrollercricket.bsky.social on Bluesky

Preview
How 'Happy Hampshire' came to be part of a multi-million dollar international cricket franchise The debt-ridden club now has Indian owners and is at the forefront of a revolution in England

Long piece on Hampshire’s modern history - culminating in the club’s sale to the GMR Group

www.thecricketmonthly.com/story/147749...

31.03.2025 08:18 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Is it still too early to start using the β€˜Q’ word?

16.03.2025 20:09 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
Hundred teams lean on new IPL partners in recruitment for 2025 season Rashid Khan and Nicholas Pooran set to move teams to align with other global franchise ties

Hundred teams already using new ownership links to recruit talent for 2025 season.

Expecting Rashid Khan, Nicholas Pooran, Steve Smith and Faf du Plessis to be among the men’s direct signings

Full story on some of the ramifications of private investment:

www.espncricinfo.com/story/the-hu...

19.02.2025 15:31 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
Ends justify the means for ECB as Hundred's millions prepare to roll in Sale will hasten march of global franchise circuit, but should also safeguard county finances despite divisive process

The windfall from the Hundred sales process presents English cricket with a series of opportunities that it must not squander

www.espncricinfo.com/story/ends-j...

06.02.2025 14:38 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
Sam Curran on England omission: 'I've got to keep banging the door down' Allrounder reveals details of phone call with Brendon McCullum as he plots international recall

Barely two years on from his starring role at the T20 World Cup, Sam Curran finds himself out of Brendon McCullum's England squads across all three formats. He reflects on a mid-career blip in this interview for @espncricinfo.com

www.espncricinfo.com/story/sam-cu...

05.02.2025 11:21 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
Silicon Valley consortium values London Spirit at Β£295 million in Hundred coup Deal is set to make London-based club the most valuable in the Hundred

A wild day in English cricket: dropped catches and controversy on the pitch and seismic investment from the US off it.

Stories on the sales of stakes in London Spirit (www.espncricinfo.com/story/silico...) and Welsh Fire (www.espncricinfo.com/story/welsh-...)

31.01.2025 19:49 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 1
Preview
BBL watches Hundred sales process amid 'shifting' landscape With English cricket heading down a new path, it leaves Australia as the outlier in terms of private investment in their domestic league

Australian cricket is watching the 'fascinating' sales process in the Hundred with interest. ECB's move leaves BBL as the only major league without private investment

"The global landscape is moving fast," BBL chief Alistair Dobson tells @espncricinfo.com

www.espncricinfo.com/story/bbl-wa...

31.01.2025 09:12 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
Hundred investors express frustration at ECB's 'pure financial' motives ECB defend 'thorough and rigorous' process as sale prepares to get underway this week

Prospective Hundred investors fear the sales process is coming down to "pure financial factors" after building relationships with host venues over last five months

But ECB defend their "thorough and rigorous" process ahead of imminent final round

www.espncricinfo.com/story/hundre...

28.01.2025 13:19 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 2

England bowled out for 132 in their 20 overs at Eden Gardens

Jos Buttler – 68 off 44 (8x4, 2x6)
The rest – 53 off 76 (5x4, 1x6)
Extras – 11

22.01.2025 15:11 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
James Vince: Why I quit red-ball cricket - and others will follow Hampshire captain on the playing and personal reasons for his decision to turn back on Championship

James Vince interview with @espncricinfo.com: Why I quit red-ball cricket - and ECB's NOC policy means others will follow

www.espncricinfo.com/story/james-...

20.01.2025 15:11 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 1

Was widely publicised last year including prominent interview in Telegraph

15.01.2025 13:54 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
James Vince quits first-class cricket to take up PSL deal Hampshire batter steps down as club captain in move that will rock county game

James Vince has confirmed he has quit first-class cricket for 2025 - allows him to play in the PSL despite ECB's new NOC policy

Has stepped down as Hampshire club captain but will lead in the Blast. Family moving to Dubai after attacks on home last year

Story: www.espncricinfo.com/story/psl-20...

15.01.2025 11:05 β€” πŸ‘ 8    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 3    πŸ“Œ 6

Four spare paperback copies of White Hot dropped off at the book exchange at Oval station β€” first come, first serve

13.01.2025 18:39 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
English players want NOC clarity after signing PSL deals Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Sam Billings and Tom Curran were picked up in Monday's draft

Only six English players have been signed for PSL 2025 with two of them - Tom Kohler-Cadmore and James Vince - both caught in the crossfire of ECB's new NOC policy

www.espncricinfo.com/story/psl-20...

13.01.2025 17:56 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 3

An epic BBL game at Optus which provides a reminder of an obvious - but all too often forgotten - truth in the era of T20 saturation: cricket is so much better in front of a big crowd that genuinely cares who wins

03.01.2025 14:34 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Big moment in Bloemfontein: England debutant Ryana MacDonald-Gay nips one back to hit Marizanne Kapp's off stump. Five balls later, the threat of lightning holds play up

They've spent three seasons together at Oval Invincibles in the Hundred - where MacDonald-Gay made her real breakthrough

16.12.2024 13:33 β€” πŸ‘ 5    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

No DRS for England's Test in South Africa due to its high cost. Cue Laura Wolvaardt given out lbw for 65 after smashing one into her padπŸ€¦β€β™‚οΈ

16.12.2024 11:17 β€” πŸ‘ 6    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
PCA criticises ECB for lack of consultation on Hundred pay increases Players voice frustration at move that will largely benefit overseas signings in men's competition

Scathing response from PCA to new pay structure in the Hundred, accusing ECB of a "lack of respect" to players who have grown the tournament's value

Relations between union and board increasingly fractious amid player anger over new NOC restrictions

www.espncricinfo.com/story/pca-cr...

12.12.2024 17:24 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 2
Post image Post image

Anyone for the finest cricket magazine known to humanity? New one out today. Can't help thinking a subscription makes for quite the xmas present

www.wisden.com/shop/wisden-...

12.12.2024 11:03 β€” πŸ‘ 33    πŸ” 11    πŸ’¬ 6    πŸ“Œ 1

~ 'If there's an offer from an investor we like with a great track record that is worth 5% less than one from an investor we don't like with no track record, we'll happily take the slightly lower one'

12.12.2024 10:02 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
ECB rules out 'IPL takeover' of the Hundred As many as eight of the ten IPL franchises are understood to be represented in the process, and have already held extensive talks with counties

ECB say the Hundred's sales process will not result in an "IPL takeover" with significant US interest ahead of Monday's second-round deadline. Full story:

www.espncricinfo.com/story/ecb-ru...

12.12.2024 09:14 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 2
Post image

πŸŽ„πŸŽπŸ“š Get your Christmas shopping done early and order the updated paperback edition of White Hot, my book with Tim Wigmore on England's white-ball revolution

Link: linktr.ee/whitehotbook

09.12.2024 14:45 β€” πŸ‘ 5    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
Disaffected county players discuss Hundred boycott as 'nuclear option' in NOCs row Players incensed by ECB clampdown on permissions to play in overseas leagues

Chaotic week behind the scenes in English cricket as fall-out continues over ECB's new NOCs policy

Revelation of players' nuclear option - boycotting the Hundred - said to be unrelated to Monday's second-round deadline for bids in sales process

www.espncricinfo.com/story/hundre...

06.12.2024 18:58 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 1
Preview
Butterfingered Black Caps Switch Hit Podcast Β· Episode

Today's Switch Hit pod with @millercricket.bsky.social, Alan and Vish - both fashionably late to BlueSky:

open.spotify.com/episode/79MY...

03.12.2024 19:16 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Carse and Brook PUNISH sloppy New Zealand & England's controversial new T20 policy | Wisden Podcast
YouTube video by Wisden Cricket Carse and Brook PUNISH sloppy New Zealand & England's controversial new T20 policy | Wisden Podcast

Always enjoy jumping on the @wisdencricket.bsky.social pod. This week's ep with @philwisden.bsky.social and @yaswisden.bsky.social

www.youtube.com/watch?v=howA...

03.12.2024 19:13 β€” πŸ‘ 12    πŸ” 4    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
London Spirit axe Trevor Bayliss after three wins in last two seasons England's 2019 World Cup-winning coach will not return in 2025

Trevor Bayliss axed as London Spirit men's coach after three wins in the last two seasons - including the 2024 wooden spoon

Recruitment for his successor has already started and likely to finish long before Hundred sales process is complete

www.espncricinfo.com/story/the-hu...

03.12.2024 19:12 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Post image

🚨 NEW PODCAST EPISODE 🚨

πŸŽ™οΈ @philwisden.bsky.social
πŸŽ™οΈ @mattrollercricket.bsky.social
πŸŽ™οΈ @yaswisden.bsky.social
πŸŽ™οΈ Mark Butcher

🟒 bit.ly/WCWPSpotify
🍎 bit.ly/WCWPApplePods
πŸ‘€ bit.ly/WCWPYouTube0...

03.12.2024 15:20 β€” πŸ‘ 14    πŸ” 7    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 1
Preview
Carse and Brook punish sloppy New Zealand & England’s controversial new T20 policy Podcast Episode Β· Wisden Cricket Weekly Β· 03/12/2024 Β· 1h 47m

New one, feat. @mattrollercricket.bsky.social. Tidy graft.

podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/w...

03.12.2024 14:25 β€” πŸ‘ 6    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

I'm sure I saw him hit a career-best 262 from No3 after walking out in the second over a few weeks ago...πŸ˜…

02.12.2024 15:34 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 0

Brydon Carse is the first English seamer to take 10 in a match overseas since Ryan Sidebottom in Hamilton in 2008.

It's something that neither Anderson nor Broad achieved in their careers.

01.12.2024 00:17 β€” πŸ‘ 55    πŸ” 14    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 0

@mattrollercricket is following 20 prominent accounts