2021 English cricket season

The 2021 English cricket season began on 4 April and finished on 3 October 2021.[1] It was the 121st season in which the County Championship[2] has been an official competition and featured First-Class, List-A and Twenty20 cricket competitions throughout England and Wales.[3][4][5][6]

2021 (2021) English cricket season
County Championship
ChampionsWarwickshire
Runners-upLancashire
Most runsTom Haines (1,176)
Most wicketsLuke Fletcher (66)
Royal London One-Day Cup
ChampionsGlamorgan
Runners-upDurham
Most runsGraham Clark (646)
Most wicketsJoe Cooke (19)
T20 Blast
ChampionsKent Spitfires
Runners-upSomerset
Most runsJosh Inglis (531)
Most wicketsNaveen-ul-Haq (26)
Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy
ChampionsSouthern Vipers
Runners-upNorthern Diamonds
Most runsSophie Luff (417)
Most wicketsKirstie Gordon (16)
Charlotte Edwards Cup
ChampionsSouth East Stars
Runners-upNorthern Diamonds
Most runsEvelyn Jones (276)
Most wicketsBryony Smith (14)
Bob Willis Trophy
ChampionsWarwickshire
Runners-upLancashire
Most runsWill Rhodes (156)
Most wicketsCraig Miles (6)
The Hundred
ChampionsOval Invincibles (Women's)
Southern Brave (Men's)
Runners-upSouthern Brave (Women's)
Birmingham Phoenix (Men's)
Most runsDane van Niekerk (Women's) (259)
Liam Livingstone (Men's) (348)
Most wicketsTash Farrant (Women's) (18)
Adam Milne (Men's) (12)
PCA Player of the Year
Joe Root (Men's)
Evelyn Jones (Women's)
Wisden Cricketers of the Year
Zak Crawley, Darren Stevens, Jason Holder, Dom Sibley, Mohammad Rizwan
2020
2022

The 18 first-class counties competed in the 2021 County Championship,[7] One-Day Cup[8] and T20 Blast[9] competitions, whilst the women's regional teams competed for the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy and the inaugural Charlotte Edwards Cup.[10][11][6] The season also saw the inaugural season of The Hundred,[12] which was not held due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.[13]

The season also had the 2021 Bob Willis Trophy, which was played as a five-day final between the teams that finished first and second in County Championship Division One.[14]

International Tours

Four international men's sides toured the country this season: New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and India.[15] New Zealand and India's women's sides also toured this season to play limited overs series and multi-format series matches, respectively.

New Zealand tour

In June 2021, New Zealand toured England to play two Test matches,[16] prior to playing the inaugural final of 2019–2021 ICC World Test Championship which was held at Southampton.[17]

New Zealand played two test matches against England at Lord's and Edgbaston.[15] The first test ended in a draw[18] and New Zealand won the second test by 8 wickets to win the series 1–0.[19] Prior to the Test series, New Zealand was scheduled to play a tour match against Somerset which was cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic.[20] Thus, New Zealand played an intra-squad match for preparation.[21]

Sri Lanka tour

During the end of the June and July, Sri Lanka played three ODIs and three T20Is against England.[22]

England won all the three T20I matches to win the series 3–0.[23][24][25]

England won the first two ODI matches to win the series 2–0,[26][27] and the third ODI ended as No result being washed out by the rain after Sri Lanka's first innings.[28]

Before the start of the series, Sri Lanka were scheduled to play two one-day tour matches against Kent and Sussex, which were cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic.[20] Thus, Sri Lanka played a 50-over and also a 20-over intra-squad match at Manchester.[29][30]

Pakistan tour

In July 2021, Pakistan toured England to play three ODIs and three T20Is.[15]

England won all the three ODIs to win the series 3–0.[31][32][33]

Pakistan won the first T20I at Nottingham.[34] England won the last two T20Is to win the series 2–1.[35][36] Prior to the ODI series, Pakistan were scheduled to play two one-day matches against Northamptonshire and Worcestershire, which were cancelled due to safety concerns.[37] Instead, they were due to had two 50-over intra-squad matches,[38] with the second match was cancelled due to rain.[39]

India tour

India toured England to play a five-match test series during August.[15] Prior to the England series, India were scheduled to play the inaugural final of 2019–2021 ICC World Test Championship from 18 to 22 June at Southampton.[40]

The first Test at Trent Bridge was affected by rain and was ended in a draw.[41] India won the second Test match at Lord's,[42] with England winning the third Test at Headingley.[43] India won the fourth Test at The Oval to lead the series 2–1.[44] The fifth and final Test match at Manchester was cancelled[45][46] due to COVID-19 cases in the Indian team's coaching and support staff,[47] with the result of the series yet to be decided officially.[48]

Before the start of the series, India were scheduled to play two intra-squad warm-up matches against India A at Northampton and Leicester,[49] which were called off following the cancellation of India A tour of England due to COVID-19 pandemic.[50] Later, India were planned to play two first-class matches against counties,[51] which was replaced by intra-squad warm-up matches at Durham.[52] Finally, India were played a three-day warm-up match against a County Select XI at Durham.[53]

India women's tour

In June and July 2021, the India women's cricket team toured England, playing one WTest, three WODIs and three WT20Is.[54] The Test match was the first such match that India had played since 2014.[55] The Test match was drawn, whilst England won both the WODI and WT20I series 2–1.[56]

New Zealand women's tour

In September 2021, the New Zealand women's cricket team toured England to play three WT20Is and five WODIs.[57] England won the WT20I series 2–1, and the WODI series 4–1.[58]

Domestic cricket

County Championship

The men's County Championship began on 8 April and ended on 24 September. In the first stage on the competition, the eighteen counties were divided into three groups of six, playing each team in their group twice, playing ten matches overall. The top two teams from each group progressed to Division One for the second phase of the competition, with the next two teams in each group progressing to Division Two and the bottom two teams in each group moving to Division Three. Teams then played a further four matches in the division stage, with the winner of Division One becoming the county champions.[59] Warwickshire won the County Championship.[60]

Following the end of the County Championship season, the top two sides in Division One competed for the Bob Willis Trophy in a five-day final at Lord's. Warwickshire beat Lancashire by an innings and 199 runs.[61]

Royal London One-Day Cup

The Royal London One-Day Cup took place in July and August, with the eighteen counties divided into two groups of nine. The final, which took place at Trent Bridge, was won by Glamorgan, who beat Durham by 58 runs.[62]

T20 Blast

The T20 Blast began on 9 June, with the eighteen counties divided into two regional groups of nine. Finals Day took place on 18 September at Edgbaston Cricket Ground, with Kent beating Somerset in the final by 25 runs.[63]

The Hundred

The inaugural season of The Hundred took place in 2021, having been delayed for a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Eight men's and eight women's teams competed in the tournament, which took place in July and August. Oval Invincibles won the women's competition, whilst Southern Brave won the men's competition.[64][65]

Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy

The Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy began on 29 May, with eight regional teams competing in a round-robin group. The final took place on 25 September at the County Ground, Northampton, a repeat of the previous year's final between Southern Vipers and Northern Diamonds. Southern Vipers once again won the tournament.[66]

Charlotte Edwards Cup

The inaugural season of the Charlotte Edwards Cup (initially named the Women's Regional T20) took place in 2021, running from June to September. The eight teams were divided into two groups, with South East Stars, Northern Diamonds and Southern Vipers progressing to Finals Day at the Rose Bowl. South East Stars beat Northern Diamonds by 5 wickets in the final.[67]

Women's County Cricket

The Women's Twenty20 Cup returned in 2021, having been cancelled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The tournament had no overall winner, instead having six regional winners.[68] Various regional county competitions also took place: the East of England Women's County Championship, the Women's London Championship and the Women's London Cup.[69][70][71]

National Counties Cricket

The National Counties Championship took place between July and September, with the final won by Oxfordshire over Suffolk.[72] The NCCA Knockout Trophy took place between May and September, with Berkshire beating Cumbria in the final.[73]

References

  1. "England announce busy 2021 home schedule". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
  2. "County Championship: Revamped competition to return in 2021". BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
  3. "Vitality Blast and Royal London Cup 2021 fixtures announced". England and Wales Cricket Board. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
  4. "2021 Men's County Championship Group Stage fixtures announced". England and Wales Cricket Board. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
  5. "County Championship: Revamped competition to return in 2021". BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
  6. "Women's domestic fixtures announced: Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy returns alongside new Regional T20 competition". England and Wales Cricket Board. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
  7. "All you need to know about the 2021 LV= Insurance County Championship". England and Wales Cricket Board. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
  8. "All you need to know about the 2021 Royal London Cup". England and Wales Cricket Board. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
  9. "All you need to know about the 2021 Vitality Blast". England and Wales Cricket Board. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
  10. "Women's cricket: Domestic 50-over competition named Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy". BBC Sport. 11 August 2020. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
  11. "Women's Regional T20 Competition is named Charlotte Edwards Cup". England and Wales Cricket Board. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
  12. "The Hundred 2021 Schedule: Full List Of Men's & Women's Fixtures". Wisden. 23 February 2021. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
  13. "The launch of The Hundred moved to 2021". England and Wales Cricket Board. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
  14. "Three-league county structure confirmed for 2021, with separate Lord's final". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
  15. "England Men to begin summer with LV= Insurance Test Series against top-ranked New Zealand". England and Wales Cricket Board. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  16. "England confirm two-Test series against New Zealand for June". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  17. "Three potential debutants in Black Caps' Test squad against England". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  18. "England v New Zealand: Dom Sibley fifty secures first-Test draw at Lord's". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  19. "New Zealand romp to series victory as Tom Latham seals 38-run chase". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  20. "Covid-19: India A tour of England postponed, India Test team to travel with larger squad instead". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  21. "Rain disrupts New Zealand's prep plans in the UK". CricBuzz. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  22. "ECB unveils plans to host full summer of international cricket in 2021". England and Wales Cricket Board. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  23. "England v Sri Lanka: Jos Buttler leads hosts to eight-wicket win in first T20". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  24. "England v Sri Lanka: Hosts win second Twenty20 to seal series". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  25. "England v Sri Lanka: Dawid Malan hits 76 as hosts complete 3-0 series win". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  26. "England v Sri Lanka: Joe Root and Chris Woakes help hosts win in Chester-le-Street". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  27. "England v Sri Lanka: Sam Curran takes 5-48 as hosts seal series at The Oval". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  28. "England v Sri Lanka: Rain wipes out third ODI in Bristol after tourists collapse again". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  29. "Ramesh, Avishka, Akila, Asitha & Chamika shine in practice game". The Papare. 17 June 2021. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  30. "Kusal Perera and Danushka Gunathilaka hit blistering knocks in T20 practice game". The Papare. 19 June 2021. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  31. "England v Pakistan: New-look hosts show strength in depth to thrash tourists". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  32. "England v Pakistan: Hosts win by 52 runs at Lord's to clinch series with game to spare". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  33. "England v Pakistan: James Vince's 102 sees hosts chase 332 to claim ODI series clean sweep". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  34. "England v Pakistan: Liam Livingstone hundred not enough in first T20". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  35. "England v Pakistan: Adil Rashid & Matt Parkinson set up 45-run win in second T20". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  36. "England v Pakistan: Hosts win pulsating T20 series decider". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  37. "International tour matches pulled as English summer is reduced". The Cricketer. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  38. "Pakistan men's national cricket team will travel to Birmingham on Friday". Pakistan Cricket Board. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  39. "Pakistan Tour of England: Pakistan cancel 2nd intra-squad match, resort to scenario-based practice sessions for warm-up". Inside Sport. 3 July 2021. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  40. "India set to name squads for England Tests, WTC final over the weekend". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  41. "Trent Bridge Test ends in a draw after day-five washout". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  42. "England v India: Tourists win thrilling second Test in final hour at Lord's". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  43. "England v India: Ollie Robinson takes 5-65 to seal huge Headingley win". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  44. "England v India: Jasprit Bumrah sets up tourists' win at The Oval". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  45. "Official Statement: Fifth Test between England and India cancelled". England and Wales Cricket Board. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  46. "Fifth Test at Manchester called off". Board of Control for Cricket in India. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  47. "England-India fifth Test at Old Trafford cancelled over Covid-19 fears in tourists' camp". The Cricketer. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  48. "Abandoned, forfeited or postponed? Official result of Manchester Test to have big repercussions for ECB". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  49. "India to play warm-up matches at Northamptonshire and Leicestershire before England Test series". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  50. "India A tour to England postponed, Kohli and Co to play intra-squad games with expanded squad". Scroll. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  51. "Team India to play intra-squad games in Durham before England Tests: Reports". Hindustan Times. 25 June 2021. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  52. "Virat Kohli & Co. to play intra-squad matches in Durham before England Tests: Report". Times Now News. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  53. "India to play three-day warm-up against County Select XI in Durham before Test series". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  54. "England to play India Test & host New Zealand during summer". BBC Sport. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
  55. "India Women to play a Test against England in 2021, confirms Jay Shah". CricBuzz. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
  56. "India Women tour of England 2021". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
  57. "White Ferns get eight-game series with England in September as World Cup looms". Stuff. 13 April 2021. Retrieved 2 October 2021.
  58. "New Zealand Women tour of England 2021". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
  59. "Three-group County Championship fixtures unveiled by ECB". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  60. "County Championship: Warwickshire beat Somerset to win first title since 2012". BBC Sport. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  61. "Bob Willis Trophy final: Warwickshire finish off Lancashire to secure innings win". BBC Sport. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  62. "Royal London One-Day Cup 2021". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  63. "Vitality Blast 2021". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  64. "The Hundred Women's Competition 2021". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  65. "The Hundred Men's Competition 2021". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  66. "Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy 2021". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  67. "Charlotte Edwards Cup 2021". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  68. "ECB Women's Twenty20 Cup Fixtures & Results". Play-Cricket. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  69. "Women's 1st XI Championship - 2021/Table". Play-Cricket. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  70. "Women's London Championship (50 Overs) – 2021/Table". Play-Cricket. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  71. "Middlesex Women v Surrey Women, 23 June 2021 at Radlett". NV Play. 23 June 2021. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  72. "National Counties Championship 2021". CricketArchive. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  73. "National Counties Trophy 2021". CricketArchive. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.