Surrey's Tom Maynard dies age 23

Surrey and England Lions batsman Tom Maynard has died at the age of 23. Maynard's body was found on the rails near Wimbledon Park tube station early yesterday morning.

Maynard had reportedly been pulled over by police for "driving erratically" just an hour before his death. Police said he abandoned his black Mercedes and fled the scene.

Maynard, whose father Matthew Maynard played four Test matches for England, was tipped by many to one day represent his country after an impressive start to his county career.

Surrey Chairman Richard Thompson told the ECB: "Our thoughts at this awful time are with Tom's family and friends and all those that were close to him.

"Tom Maynard was a prodigiously talented young batsman who had made an incredible start to his career and was clearly destined for far greater things. The impact Tom made in such a short period of time for Surrey CCC spoke for itself.

"There is a profound sense of loss at the passing of Tom. To lose anybody at such a young age is an utterly senseless tragedy."

ECB Chairman Giles Clarke said: "This is a very sad day for everyone connected with Surrey County Cricket Club and for Glamorgan County Cricket Club where Tom spent the early part of his career.

“Tom was a player of enormous potential who had already represented England Lions and had an exciting future ahead of him. Our hearts go out to the Maynard family for their tragic loss and we send them and all Tom's many friends and colleagues within the game our deepest sympathies."

Bremner to front comedy festival

One of the nation's favourite comedians and impressionists, Rory Bremner, today announced he will be teaming up with the England and Wales Cricket Board and fronting a festival which will see a host of comedians visiting Friends Life t20 games across the country.

Rory Bremner's 'Stand Up for Friends Life t20' tour will spearhead a wider marketing campaign by the ECB entitled 'Something Completely Different' which will see the Friends Life t20 competition launched in a fun, fresh and exciting way to bring even more fans to the tournament - which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year.

Taking place from June 21 to July 8, the tour will bring together two of the nation's favourite pastimes - cricket and comedy - with every first-class county receiving a visit from a comedian at a t20 match.

Comedians Jimmy McGhie, Paul Sinha, Rob Beckett, Stu Goldsmith and Chris Martin will each attend a game over the two-week period where they will interact with the crowd via the tannoy, pose for pictures with fans and inject fun and laughter into the match-day experience.

The 'Stand Up for Friends Life t20' tour will culminate in Cardiff on August 25 when keen cricket fan Bremner will attend t20 Finals Day and perform a selection of his legendary impressions of some of the nation’s best-loved cricketing names.

Going to any one of the 18 counties for a Friends Life t20 game is a fun, social and exciting experience and for two weeks there's going to be even more of a spectacle on your doorstep. So make sure you don't miss it and 'Stand Up for Friends Life t20'.

Bremner said: “Cricket and comedy go well together, as anyone who has seen me play will testify!

“Twenty20 cricket has been one of the game’s great success stories in the last few years and I hope this campaign will continue the great work of bringing cricket to a wider audience.

“The comedians will bring yet more entertainment to the games and I can't wait for the campaign to get under way.”

Steve Elworthy, ECB spokesperson, said: “The 'Something Completely Different' theme aims to put the fun of being with your friends and family and leaving with some great memories at the heart of your summer.

“We cannot think of a better way to do this than to bring comedy to cricket to enhance what is already a fantastically unique matchday experience, and we have some great comedic names on board touring the grounds.

“We are extremely excited to have Rory on board and are thoroughly looking forward to his 'Stand Up for t20 Tour' kicking off.”

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Bell returns for NatWest Series

The England selectors today named a 14-man squad for England's three-match NatWest ODI Series against West Indies, beginning on Saturday 16 June at the Ageas Bowl. A 13-man squad for the NatWest International T20 at Trent Bridge on Sunday 24 June has also been named.

Warwickshire batsman Ian Bell is the only player included in the NatWest Series squad who was not involved in England's most recent 4-0 series win against Pakistan in February.

National selector Geoff Miller said: "We are anticipating a very competitive NatWest Series against West Indies and are looking to continue to build on the progress we made in limited-overs cricket earlier this year against Pakistan.

“Kevin Pietersen's recent decision to retire from one-day cricket means we now start looking at other options available to us as we prepare to defend our ICC World Twenty20 title and look towards next year's ICC Champions Trophy and the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup."

England NatWest Series squad:

Alastair Cook (Essex, captain)
James Anderson (Lancashire)
Jonny Bairstow (Yorkshire)
Ian Bell (Warwickshire)
Ravi Bopara (Essex)
Tim Bresnan (Yorkshire)
Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire)
Jade Dernbach (Surrey)
Steven Finn (Middlesex)
Craig Kieswetter (Somerset)
Eoin Morgan (Middlesex)
Samit Patel (Nottinghamshire)
Graeme Swann (Nottinghamshire)
Jonathan Trott (Warwickshire)

England NatWest Int T20 squad:

Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire, captain)
Jonny Bairstow (Yorkshire)
Ravi Bopara (Essex)
Tim Bresnan (Yorkshire)
Danny Briggs (Hampshire)
Jos Buttler (Somerset
Jade Dernbach (Surrey)
Steven Finn (Middlesex)
Alex Hales (Nottinghamshire)
Craig Kieswetter (Somerset)
Eoin Morgan (Middlesex)
Samit Patel (Nottinghamshire)
Graeme Swann (Nottinghamshire)

NatWest Series: England vs West Indies

Saturday 16 June - Ageas Bowl, 10:45am
Tuesday 19 June - Kia Oval, 10:45am
Friday 22 June - Headingley Carnegie, 10:45am

NatWest International T20: England vs West Indies

Sunday 24 June - Trent Bridge, 2:30pm

ecb.co.uk

Park and Muchall penalised

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) today confirmed that Derbyshire’s Garry Park and Gloucestershire’s Paul Muchall have received penalties under the ECB’s discipline code.

During the Second XI Championship match between Derbyshire and Worcestershire on May 23-25 2012, Park was reported by umpires Ben Debenham and George Wood for a Level One breach of the code (abuse of cricket ground, equipment or fixtures/fittings).

During the Second XI Trophy match between Gloucestershire and Glamorgan on May 25 2012, Muchall was reported by Peter Hartley and Paul Pollard for a Level One breach of the code (bowling a fast short pitched ball and/or accidental high full pitched ball that results in the bowler being disallowed from bowling any further in that innings).

Both players have received reprimands. These penalties will remain on their records for a period of two years and the accumulation of nine or more penalty points in any two-year period will result in an automatic suspension.

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ECB agrees new deal with ESPN STAR Sports

ECB today announced a new seven-year deal with ESPN STAR Sports (ESS) for the exclusive multi-platform rights to broadcast ECB's domestic and home international programme across all the broadcaster's territories in Asia, the Middle East and North Africa.

ESS are the ECB's current broadcast partner in the region, having held the contract for the past five years.

The new agreement, which runs from 2013 to 2019, will encompass more than 300 days of live international cricket, including India's next two tours to England in 2014 and 2018 and three home Ashes series scheduled for 2013, 2015 and 2019.

As well as covering all England's home Investec Tests, NatWest Series and NatWest International T20 fixtures, the deal will also give ESS the right to transmit 60 days' coverage every season from all ECB's key domestic competitions: the LV=County Championship, Clydesdale Bank 40 and Friends Life t20 competitions plus selected England Lions, England Under-19s and England women's matches.

ECB Chief Executive David Collier said: "This new agreement demonstrates the enormous appetite for cricket worldwide and the global pulling power of a successful England team and a vibrant county game.

"In a challenging economic climate with all sports facing tough competition for funding streams, it will also provide an important source of additional revenue for funding the development of our game at all levels.

"TV audiences for cricket are expanding rapidly in Asia and the Middle East and we look forward to working closely with ESS to give both our international and county teams the widest possible TV exposure over the next seven years."

Manu Sawhney, Managing Director, ESPN STAR Sports, said: "We are delighted to further extend our partnership with ECB with whom we have shared a very strong relationship over the past two decades.

“Over the years, we have continued to showcase the best cricket action from around the world to fans from the India sub-continent and this acquisition further re-affirms our position as the leader in cricket broadcasting."

ecb.co.uk 

Anderson misses Edgbaston finale

The England selectors today named a 12-man squad for the third Investec Test against West Indies commencing Thursday 7 June at Edgbaston.

Paceman James Anderson is the only omission from the squad selected for the two previous encounters of the series.

Anderson received treatment during the course of the second Test for a minor quad problem and it has been decided missing the final clash will give the 29-year-old an opportunity to overcome several minor injuries.

England won the second Test by nine wickets at Trent Bridge to move into an unassailable lead, having emerged victorious in the first game at Lord’s by five wickets. Preparations for the series finale will begin at Edgbaston on Tuesday.

National Selector Geoff Miller said: “We have been made to work hard for our two victories so far and are delighted to have secured the series, but we know that we will need to continue to play some good cricket if we want a third win against West Indies this week.

“James Anderson will miss this Investec Test as we look to manage his workload ahead of a busy period of cricket this summer and beyond, a decision which is in the best interests of the team and James himself.”

England squad for the third Investec Test:

Andrew Strauss (Middlesex, captain)
Jonny Bairstow (Yorkshire)
Ian Bell (Warwickshire)
Tim Bresnan (Yorkshire)
Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire)
Alastair Cook (Essex)
Steven Finn (Middlesex)
Graham Onions (Durham)
Kevin Pietersen (Surrey)
Matt Prior (Sussex, wicketkeeper)
Graeme Swann (Nottinghamshire)
Jonathan Trott (Warwickshire)

ecb.co.uk