Raf Nicholson

a kermit the frog is driving a car with a seat belt on . ALT: a kermit the frog is driving a car with a seat belt on .

Alyssa Healy asked about Mitchell Starc’s “beautiful package” live on air. 😂 #AUSvIND

This equally applies to the Test. India actually made Australia bat again. England… didn’t. #AUSvIND

Healy*
(It’s too early here in the UK)

a man peeking out from behind a lush green field .. ALT: a man peeking out from behind a lush green field ..

Right… everyone on Alyssa Heay watch 👀 #AUSvIND

Oops sorry, misunderstood!

Myrtle was English! (Well, Scottish but represented England 😁)

Brilliant! I suppose we are all vulnerable to error 😁

Are England ready to win another home World Cup? It was only a year ago that they were bageled by Australia in the Ashes, a defeat so damaging it brought down the hierarchy. Head coach Jon Lewis was sacked and Heather Watson lost the captaincy after nine years.

Slightly embarrassing that this was a) written and b) escaped the attention of the sub-editors.

A page of the magazine with Raf’s headshot and the headline Clare Connor: the woman who got things done.

I’ve a column in the latest @wisdencricket.bsky.social magazine paying tribute to Clare Connor.

Available now in all good newsagents 🏏

ECB NEWSROOM For general media inquiries please email media@ecb.co.uk

England appear to be hedging their bets with the wicketkeeping succession issue.

Rhianna Southby & Ellie Threlkeld both included in the intra squad series, which has moved to South Africa. Either could be in line for the reserve keeper spot in the WC squad.

www.mynewsdesk.com/uk/england-a...

The Spin | Going for gold? Why China’s female cricketers may benefit from Olympic aim The Cricket Research Network was told how the sport is perceived in China and why the women’s side is seen as the national team

Thank you Tanya Aldred for a lovely write-up of our Cambridge conference in @theguardian.com

This gives a great taste of what went on last week and what the Network is all about 🏏👏

But in those other gaps a World Cup will take place, no? This gap seems a uniquely England one, plus it’s longer - we will have gone from July 2025 to May 2026 with no bilateral cricket. Almost a year!

You're right, sorry - should have phrased it better.

CONFIRMED: England Women will NOT be going to Abu Dhabi.

ECB say they are working on "alternative options that will enable England Women to achieve the same outcomes".

As previously stated... this is a blow to England's World Cup preparation which they could have done without.

If they did this to their women, some of them could end up on the street 😬

Worth keeping an eye on this, which is the official UK government advice:

“FCDO advises against all but essential travel to United Arab Emirates.”

www.gov.uk/foreign-trav...

Today’s match cancelled, otherwise similar - being monitored.

BREAKING: Due to the political situation, ECB are delaying England Women’s departure to Abu Dhabi for their scheduled training camp. It’s possible it may be called off altogether - that’s TBC.

Another potential blow to England’s WC preparation, given they have no bilateral cricket scheduled.

Fenners cricket ground, with the sun shining.

And that’s a wrap on #CRN2026

I’m shattered but my brain is buzzing with thoughts and ideas after so many great presentations today!

Safe journey home, everyone, and hope to see you all next year 🏏

Powerpoint slide: Cricket, climate justice & South Asian paradox “we can change as per the temperature – our body is wonderful” ”one or two degrees of temperature change doesn’t matter, it is all in the mind. You need to be strong to be in the field all day” extreme heat and erratic monsoons are “tests of resilience”, “badge of honour” and “rite of passage”

@shubhamjain224.bsky.social argues that cricket's "South Asian Paradox" - whereby players do not want to speak out because competition for places is so strong - is having a negative impact on player welfare. Nobody wants to complain about poor air quality or other environmental issues. #CRN2026

Powerpoint slide with a tweet from illegal betting company Babu88, announcing their sponsorship of England's tour of Sri Lanka. Brook is pictured trying to ground his bat, with the betting sponsors visible on the advertising hoardings in the background.

Our final #CRN2026 panel is focused on Governance and Sustainability.

@stevemenary.bsky.social shares worrying findings about illegal betting sponsorship, which doubled between 2021 and 2025.

Harry Brook, Steve argues, is (inadvertently) helping to promote illegal betting in the screenshot below.

TH?

Katy Perry during the 2020 T20 World Cup final, dressed in pink, with dancing pink and purple cricket bats.

Remember this?

Hannah Thompson-Radford at #CRN2026 gives us food for thought about whether Katy Perry performing at the T20 World Cup final was empowering, or whether this kind of 'hyperfeminisation' was actually just reductive / ‘gimmicky’.

a cricket game is being played on a field with a referee wearing a emirates shirt ALT: a cricket game is being played on a field with a referee wearing a emirates shirt

Some quite depressing findings from Richard Jones about cricket’s place in the sports news agenda, showing its decline.

His analysis of regional press, national radio & X posts suggests cricket is disappearing from some commercial media, and is heavily reliant on the BBC for prominence. #CRN2026

Powepoint slide: Why cricket fandom matters - Using Irish cricket to demonstrate the need for a new research agenda in sport fan studies.

And Kieran Holly talks about Irish cricket fandom.

His key conclusion is Irish men's cricket lacks a distinctive fan identity, partly b/c there is no permanent stadium & limited fixtures v major Test nations.

Would be fascinating to see an equivalent study of Irish women's cricket fandom. #CRN2026

Our Keynote panel focused on the #ICC Women's #T20WC2026, involving Laura Entwistle, Laura MacLeod & @rafnicholson.bsky.social moderated by Tanya Aldred. Fantastic conversation touching on legacy, pathways, counties, media, governance and hope for the game! @sportinhistorypod.bsky.social #CRN2026

Powerpoint slide: Volunteering among Ethnically Diverse Communities in English Cricket, with photos of coaches.

Following a delicious lunch, we've moved onto a panel about Inclusion.

Ross Ensor presents data showing that ethnically diverse volunteers face issues with racialised stereotypes ("they don't volunteer"), and cultures which force players to adopt a "white mask" to negotiate inclusion. #CRN2026

The Q&A was recorded and will be made available as a podcast via the @bssh.bsky.social podcast, so keep an eye out for that in the coming days! #CRN2026

Laura Macleod, Raf Nicholson & Laura Entwistle, next to a Hughes Hall podium.

Really enjoyed being part of a Q&A panel at #CRN2026 with Laura Entwistle (ECB) & Laura MacLeod.

We were meant to be discussing the World Cup & its (hopeful) legacies, but got a bit sidetracked into a debate about governance / women's cricket running itself (guess which side I was on)! 😂

No, but we'll be writing a summary of what was discussed and circulating it. DM me your email & I'll add you to our mailing list?