Nick Friend

Nick Friend Category Archive

Jamie Overton opts out of Ashes with indefinite red-ball break

The Surrey and England allrounder played in the fifth Test against India this summer, but has decided to step back from red-ball cricket with immediate effect

Meet Daniel Lategan, the South African teenager signed on an overseas deal by Worcestershire

NICK FRIEND - INTERVIEW: Worcestershire picked up Lategan via an unusual route, and the 19-year-old has started impressively in the One Day Cup, with his county facing Hampshire in the final in mid-September

Ali Orr makes Radlett a home away from home as Hampshire prevail in unusual knockout tie

NICK FRIEND AT RADLETT: This became a curious arrangement when Middlesex and Hampshire emerged from the group stage, and quite whose home tie this was never felt entirely clear, as Orr and Liam Dawson guided the nominal home side into the semi-finals

Gloucestershire recognise need for new director of cricket

NICK FRIEND: The last person to hold such a role at the county was Steve Snell, during his time as performance director, but recent events have highlighted the need for the appointment of a strategic lead

Late One Day Cup drama causes chaos for playoff hosts

NICK FRIEND: Until 6.30pm on Tuesday, Middlesex thought they were out of the One Day Cup; before then, they'd accepted that a home playoff was unlikely; but other results mean that Radlett is being prepared effectively at a day's notice

Leicestershire keen on South Africa spinner

NICK FRIEND: Keshav Maharaj has previously played county cricket for Lancashire and Yorkshire, while injury prevented him from playing for Middlesex in 2023

Dani Gibson's year in limbo

NICK FRIEND - INTERVIEW: This time last year, Gibson was considered a dynamic allrounder to enhance England's chances at the T20 World Cup and beyond; since then, injuries have stalled her career, though she has returned this month only as a batter

Andrew Neal: From club seamer three years ago to Hampshire's One Day Cup spinner

NICK FRIEND - INTERVIEW: A little-known seamer from Hertfordshire until injuries in 2022 encouraged a change of tack, Neal used the next three years to teach himself to bowl left-arm spin, culminating in a deal with Hampshire

After the dark days, Matt Milnes makes up for lost time

NICK FRIEND AT HOVE: Milnes has lost the vast majority of his three-year spell at Yorkshire to stress fractures but has been desperate to prove himself to the county before his departure at the end of the season to Kent

Courtney Walsh "would jump at" Gloucestershire coaching role

NICK FRIEND: Walsh, a legend of the county back to his playing days, suggested that he'd be thrilled to help out former teammate Mark Alleyne at Bristol

No surprises in World Cup squad as England pin hopes on spin

NICK FRIEND: A couple of surprises – the new energy of a teen spinner or a batting bolter – might just have freshened up a side in need of positivity and a successful World Cup, but this is a squad that could have been predicted a month ago

Ben Geddes blows Kent away, with Corey Flintoff among teenage debutants

NICK FRIEND AT RADLETT: Flintoff, 19, made his first professional appearance in a game filled with talented teenagers, but Geddes' unbeaten, maiden List A century took the result away from Kent

County cricket's streaming question: "I would like to see a consolidated approach"

NICK FRIEND: Simon Storey and Sean Jarvis, chief executives at Kent and Leicestershire, respectively, have told The Cricketer this summer that they would be in favour of centralising the product

No seamers, no problem: One Day Cup provides perfect boost for Gloucestershire plight

NICK FRIEND AT BRISTOL: The One Day Cup's placement in August has given counties the opportunity to change the narrative of their season; Gloucestershire – amid an endless exodus of seamers – are four wins from four, the country's only perfect record

Fourth grade to Warwickshire in 18 months: How Vansh Jani reached county cricket

NICK FRIEND - INTERVIEW: Jani, the 11th graduate of the South Asian Cricket Academy, came through Middlesex's age-group system before a stint in Australia, followed by endless second-team runs, opened the doors to a deal at Edgbaston