It now appears that a key demographic which Cricket Ireland has been courting faces an extra hurdle in order to travel to the games.

RICHARD GIBSON: After being axed 13 months ago ahead of the Champions Trophy, Surrey all-rounder Curran made a bold move in calling for a meeting with England head coach Brendon McCullum.

Ben Stokes has had his target of featuring in half of Durham's opening six County Championship fixtures eradicated by specialists while the club have 'no expectations' of fellow international Mark Wood playing for them this season.

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW BY JAMES SHARPE: Chris Woakes, the county pro. Even for the man himself, it's a title he's still getting used to.

David Payne was an anomaly during a doom-laden Ashes winter: an England seamer departing Australia with his reputation enhanced.

A cricket fan was dramatically turned away from the Sheffield Shield final after officials ruled his clothing crossed the line into political territory

LAWRENCE BOOTH: Both and Zak Crawley face pressure for their places after disappointing tours of Australia in which they averaged 20 and 27 respectively in a 4-1 defeat.

For a moment, the startled look on Darren Lehmann's face suggests he has just spotted an England selector lurking in the shadows at Wantage Road.

Steve Harmison, the pace ace who once coached his home town Ashington in the lower tiers of English football, reaches for a familiar frame of reference as he discusses Brendon McCullum.

Lloyd and Paul Allott, both ex-England stars who played for Lancashire and held coaching positions, say they have been seeking discussions on the direction in which their club is heading.

RICHARD GIBSON: Bairstow, 36, was the godfather of Bazball with his swashbuckling batting performances in 2022, scoring four hundreds and averaging in excess of 75.