Will Somerset and Worcestershire be relegated to Division 2?

In the Rothesay County Championship, the bottom performers of Division 1 will be relegated to Division 2, while Division 2’s top performers will be promoted to Division 1. As of writing, Somerset and Worcestershire are at the bottom of the table. Because of that, fans are asking: Are they going to be relegated?

Worcestershire is the highly likely team to be relegated

Currently, Worcestershire is the lowest-performing cricket team in the Rothesay County Championships’ Division 1. Their statistics sit at three losses out of four games played—the other is a draw. If this continues, Worcestershire will be relegated to Division 2.

They only have ten more games left out of 12, so more losses mean fewer chances of standing back up. Their championship points are currently at 18, which makes them the only team with fewer than 20 points.

Somerset can still catch up

Just on top of Worcestershire is Somerset. They are the second-lowest-ranking cricket team in the championship table. However, their two draws created a slight edge over the current bottom. As of writing, they are at two losses and two draws out of four games played.

Like Worcestershire, Somerset also has ten remaining games. With their current performance, the results aren’t clear. Moreover, if they get more wins, they can catch up to Yorkshire in the rankings. They are also way above Worcestershire because of the 33 points they secured.

Straight wins and draws will help them up

If the two of them secure wins and draws, it will greatly increase their chances of moving up the ranks. These two teams did great during the 2024 County Championship Division 1, ending in third (Somerset) and sixth (Worcestershire) places. This means that they have the potential to climb up the ranks again this year.

Yorkshire and Hampshire might also be in danger

Even though these two teams are above Somerset and Worcestershire, they are still in danger of relegation. Yorkshire has 40 points while Hampshire has 43—just around 10 points away from Somerset.

Their performances are not as terrific as well, with each only securing one win. However, their edge over the bottom two can’t be ignored. Yorkshire and Hampshire have only played three games so far, meaning if they win their next matches, they can leave Somerset and Worcestershire behind.

Will the two bottom teams be relegated?

The County Championship Division began earlier this year, so predicting the relegation of the two teams can be difficult. However, by looking at the current table, we can see that they are the likely teams to be dropped to Division 2.

Both teams have 10 games left, and they must win most of those to stay in Division 1.

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Nottinghamshire vs Sussex: Who will dominate the pitch on April 25?

As excitement builds for the upcoming clash, fans eagerly await the face-off between the two top teams of the 2025 County Championship Division One. Each of them brings unique strengths and strategies, making the outcome unpredictable. Delve deep into their past performances and other aspects to uncover who has the edge against the other.

Nottinghamshire’s home ground advantage

The April 25 matchup between Nottinghamshire and Sussex will be held at Trent Bridge Cricket Ground—the home of Nottinghamshire. Being the team’s home ground, they have the advantage over Sussex.

However, Sussex won’t go down without a fight. Their previous away match versus Warwickshire ended in a draw. This means that even if Notts have the home ground advantage, Sussex doesn’t give up easily.

Sussex’s recent performances are astounding

In both Division One and Division Two, Sussex has shown great promise. With most of their games ending in either a win or a draw, their undying spirit and morale might give them the edge over Notts in the next matchup. As for Nottinghamshire, their stats board is also filled with wins and draws.

Both teams have their fair share of wins, but a notable difference is that Sussex mostly wins by runs, while Nottinghamshire takes it by wickets. A popular argument with this difference in wins is that one team has a strong batting lineup while the other excels at fielding and bowling. This will be proven on April 25.

Nottingham’s batting line is no joke

As mentioned earlier, Nottinghamshire’s wins are dictated mainly by wickets, which means their batting line is no joke. During their game with Essex, Jack Haynes showed incredible promise by surpassing the previous best of 77 and bringing it to a century. He also exceeded it and secured 142 runs.

The lineup doesn’t end with Jack Haynes, as Brett Hutton can also significantly impact this upcoming game. Their partnership brought the game to a draw, making it easier for them to hold their current leaderboard standings.

Who has the edge?

Both teams are currently at the top of the leaderboards, but Notts has a slight edge over Sussex. Their home ground advantage and elite batting team can secure their victory, but this game will be more challenging for them since Sussex is also a top-notch team.

Enjoy this upcoming game!

Now that you know what can happen in this April 25 match-up, take a moment to relax and root for your favourite team! Despite Nottinghamshire’s edge, cricket is unpredictable, so Sussex might pull this one through and edge out Nottingham in a close contest.

There is no guarantee that Notts will be victorious, so the only surefire way to know who will win is to enjoy the upcoming game.

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Why Harry Brook has his work cut out for him as the new captain

After Jos Buttler left his captaincy for England’s white-ball cricket team, Harry Brook has taken over as the new skipper for One-Day International and T20I cricket. He has big responsibilities now, which he needs to perform well on, as he has to live up to being captain.

Brook has experience as the vice-captain for England’s ODI and T20 teams, so this is a natural step up for him. However, people within the English cricket system thought Test captain Ben Stokes was the best candidate.

Succeeding Buttler is a tough task

Now that Brook has taken over as the white-ball captain, he is under pressure to perform. Buttler had a rollercoaster run during his time as the skipper, but the successes were superb, leading England to an ICC Men’s T20 World Cup victory in 2022.

Unfortunately, that was their peak given that they struggled in the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup (ODI format). The same went for their Champions Trophy run in 2025, as they lost to Afghanistan. This led to his prompt resignation, leading to Brook’s rise.

Now that Brook is the captain, he has the task of succeeding Buttler. While Jos disappointed fans due to the era after the ‘22 T20 World Cup, he still won a significant trophy. Brook has to match that success and even surpass that with his new role.

Brook must lead by example

The T20 World Cup will be played in India and Sri Lanka in 2026, which can be Brook’s golden opportunity. He will be the vocal leader, but also a strong batsman. He has a history of performing well, as proven by his match-winning century against Australia in 2024.

Not only that, but he was on the team that won the ‘22 T20 World Cup, so he has a pedigree as a champion. Even though he is only 26, he is ready to be the leader of England’s white-ball cricket team, given that he exited franchise leagues to focus on his new role.

Brook said, ‘It's a real honour to be named England's white-ball captain. Ever since I was a kid playing cricket at Burley in Wharfedale, I dreamed of representing Yorkshire, playing for England, and maybe one day leading the team’.

Brook must prove he is the better choice over Stokes

Aside from handling the pressure of succeeding Buttler, Brook must prove that he is the better choice over Stokes. Many people within the England system wanted Stokes to take over as the captain, but Brook was the choice. As long as Brook performs well, he won’t need to hear about Stokes deserving the nod.

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Gary Stead announced stepping down from NZ white-ball cricket

Gary Stead is the head coach of the New Zealand men’s national team across all formats and has contributed to many of the country’s successful campaigns since taking over from Mike Hesson in 2018. However, New Zealand Cricket reached a turning point when he announced that he would be stepping down from white-ball cricket.

New Zealand Cricket (NZC) has also stated that Stead is undecided if he wishes to renew his coaching contract which is expiring in June 2025. In later interviews, Stead says that he’s ‘looking forward to getting away from touring life for a while’.

Stead’s reason for quitting is his hectic schedule

Gary Stead is upfront about why he wants to quit, and that’s to lessen his activities in the sport. The past six to seven months have been too busy for him with relatively non-stop action, and he wants to have some time to evaluate his options. Coaching is still in the future, but perhaps not for all formats.

Bryan Stronach shares his thoughts on Stead’s decision

The 53-year-old head coach has served the Black Caps with impressive results, and the organisation is comfortable with giving him time to reflect. In fact, NZC Chief High Performance Officer Bryan Stronach has expressed his support for Stead’s decision.

Stronach also shared that the NZC has no strong preference yet regarding how they will handle the position in the future. The options they have are to either push for a split-coaching role or continue with a sole-appointed head coach for all three formats. They are unlikely to be clearer on that until they finalise who’s head coaching for the NZ team.

Possibilities that Stead will not be a head coach

One of the possibilities Stead has proposed is continuing as a coach for the New Zealand national team, but no longer serving as a head coach across all formats. He could reprise that role for one or two formats while acting as an assistant coach for the others. Stead is still pondering if there is still coaching left in him to continue his career.

Throughout his seven-year tenure, Stead has led the Black Caps to the ODI World Cup 2019 final and T20 World Cup 2021 final. He also guided NZ to win the inaugural World Test Championship (WTC), beating India in the red-ball format.

Rob Walter could take over in Stead’s absence

Stead has not finalised his intentions to step away from cricket entirely, but the NZC is preparing for a potential replacement if he chooses not to renew his contract in June 2025. At the top of the shortlist is former South Africa white-ball head coach Rob Walter.

Walter is expected to take over as head coach of New Zealand’s white-ball men’s team once Stead’s contract expires. However, the extent of his involvement with the Black Caps depends on Stead’s intention to continue as head coach in the other formats. Details are not yet finalised so stay tuned for further updates.

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England’s big bet: Harry Brook and the weight of white-ball captaincy

In a bold move, Harry Brook has been named England’s new white-ball captain for both the ODI and T20I formats. This follows Jos Buttler’s resignation after England’s early exit in the 2025 Champions Trophy.

As England seeks a fresh start, Brook’s appointment offers hope. He’s among the best young talents in English cricket. But is he ready to lead a team under pressure and with high expectations?

Young talent, big responsibility

At just 26, Brook’s captaincy experience is limited. He previously led England’s Under-19 team at the 2018 World Cup and the Northern Superchargers in The Hundred. Yet these roles, while valuable, are not quite on the same scale as captaining the senior national team.

Graeme Smith captained South Africa at just 22, leading the team to its first-ever Test win against Australia in 2008. Meanwhile, former Pakistan captain Salman Butt has tainted his leadership with issues after the ICC banned him for spot-fixing along with three others back in 2010.

This shows that Brook’s captaincy can go either way. Right now, Brook’s potential is undeniable, especially after he averaged 78 with the bat during the ODI match with Australia last summer. However, leadership skills don’t always grow as quickly as one’s playing form. Brook may still need time to adapt and mature in this new role.

The cons of an all-rounder: Pressure across formats

Brook’s captaincy also comes at a time when he is a key player in England’s Test team. Ranked second in the ICC world batting rankings in Test cricket, he is now tasked to balance all formats: ODIs, T20Is, and Tests. With a packed schedule for England—three home T20Is and three ODIs against West Indies and the Ashes series with Australia—the pressure on him will only increase.

The physical and mental toll of captaining across formats is no joke. Once, former Test captain Joe Root spoke about the burnout he faced during his time. He shared how the duty affected his personal health and family time, making him feel like a ‘zombie’.

The question now is whether Brook’s duty will affect his form. The role is demanding, and England must manage his workload to avoid the pitfalls of burnout.

Is Brook ready for the captaincy?

This new position marks a bold reset for England’s white-ball cricket. To succeed, the team must guard Brook from burnout and give him room to grow as a leader. They also need to safeguard his physical and mental energy to avoid impacting his performance on the field.

Moreover, Brook needs the backing of senior players like Root, Buttler, and Ben Stokes. Their mentorship will help him ease into the role and find his voice as a captain. If all goes well, the idea of Brook being the Test captain one day won’t seem as doubtful. England might just be shaping its next great captain.

How Jacob Duffy became the top international T20 bowler

Not only is Jacob Duffy a superb bowler for the New Zealand T20 cricket national team, but he is also the best in the world. He is now ranked #1 in the ICC rankings for T20 international cricket over the West Indies’ Akeal Hosein and India’s Varun Chakaravarthy.

This has surprised people because he was ranked #5 in the previous edition of the T20I rankings. Now, the New Zealand pacer has moved up four places and has taken over the #1 spot, with a 723 rating.

Duffy’s performance against Pakistan propelled him to #1

Duffy had a spectacular performance against Pakistan in late March. The Kiwi bowler equalled a New Zealand record for most wickets in a five-match T20I series at 13. That number was the same as what Ish Sodhi did in his career.

Coincidentally, Ish is the last Kiwi bowler to earn the #1 spot in the ICC rankings, which makes Duffy’s performance poetic since his teammate became the number one guy in the T20I format worldwide.

With his new #1 ranking, the 30-year-old Duffy has been in disbelief because of the honour he achieved. He said, ‘It's a bit of a surprise. It's awesome to be amongst the players on that list. Getting that kind of recognition is pretty cool. I honestly don’t know what to say’.

Duffy has a perfect blend of physicality and mentality

As a tall bowler, Duffy has the body to pull off some tremendous bowls. He can throw heavy bowls and put extra bounce from them because he has more of his body to use when he does it.

That is part of what makes him unique and a tough matchup, as he is always prepared to make a difference with his bowls. He also has the right mentality when playing cricket, which is a big part of how he succeeds.

Duffy said, ‘It's about doing what I've been doing to get here. I've got a particular brand of cricket I like to play and sort of things that have worked for me in the last few years’.

That kind of mindset makes him a special player, and he is delivering well on the pitch. That is evidenced by his recent #1 ranking, making him arguably the best in the world due to his standing.

Leadership and longevity make him a better bowler

New Zealand is filled with fantastic players, but Duffy is a standout. He has kept learning and working towards being the version of himself to help the team win matches. Duffy's mentality helps him be a top bowler and a natural leader with a high skill ceiling.

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Rizwan and Azam: Do they deserve punishment for opting out?

Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam have been captains of the Pakistan National Cricket Team at one point in their careers. Thus, they are some of the biggest figures in Pakistan cricket, but their story takes a tragic turn in 2025. Both are now under controversy with a public outcry calling for the termination of their contracts.

Former professional cricketer, Sikander Bakht, is the most vocal figure on this topic. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) have also been stern with both cricketers but have not responded to the request for their termination.

Do Rizwan and Azam deserve to be sacked for recent events? Here are different angles to ponder about the topic:

‘They are employees of the PCB’ - Sikander Bakht

Sikander Bakht is vocal in his distaste for Rizwan and Azam’s decision to opt out of the National T20 Cup. It is the biggest domestic T20 cricket league where all professional cricketers with contracts with the PCB are expected to participate. However, Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam were completely absent from training at their respective clubs.

Therefore, these two star cricketers are disrespecting the PCB, according to Bakht in his interview with Geo Super in March 2025. The former professional cricketer called PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi to be strict about this matter. Bakht stressed that the punishment should be the cancellation of Rizwan and Azam’s contract.

What was going on with Rizwan and Azam?

Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam weren’t always under fire. They were once celebrated athletes in the country, even becoming captains of the national team. However, they performed poorly in the 2025 ICC Champions Cup that they were not included in the T20I squad against New Zealand as of writing.

Azam is in a better situation of the two for his captaincy showcased positive results in the past. He may be blamed for the 2023 ODI World Cup disaster, but he had a good run from 2021 to 2023.

However, Azam had an inconsistent performance in the domestic league in 2024/25. His decision to withdraw was due to his decreasing performance and desire to rest and reserve his strength for more important international appearances. No matter his reason, he is still skipping an important competition where he’s expected to play under the PCB contract.

Mohammad Rizwan, on the other hand, experienced a humiliating season as the T20I captain in 2024/25. He was blamed for Pakistan’s winless campaign at the ICC Champions Trophy, which prompted the PCB to drop him as T20I captain. Following this decision, he announced that he wouldn’t play at the National T20 Cup as well.

Should PCB cancel their contract?

Bakht firmly believes that Mohsin Naqvi should terminate both Rizwan and Azam. In his point of view, these are two employees with significant salaries, so their deliberate absence is disrespectful to the PCB.

Fans are rightfully critical of Rizwan and Azam after their wavering performances. However, these are not grounds for termination. Plus, both players are still in the Pakistan Squad for the ODI Series against New Zealand. Thus, terminating them now is letting go of valuable assets in international events.

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Why Rohit Sharma deserves to keep his role as India captain

Indian cricket is always a big contender for any cricket format, but their Test form has been shaky as of late. Captain Rohit Sharma is often the player discussed in the results as he is the leader who the team will look for.

Rohit’s leadership has come under fire due to the team’s struggles. Of course, he is still a successful captain for the club and country, headlined by the most recent win in the Champions Trophy. Get to know why he deserves to remain as captain and the potential success he can give to the team.

Sharma is the inclusive captain they need

As one of the most respected players in India’s cricket system, Sharma has a big place as a leader. Thankfully, he has done well to incorporate players into the system since some have not received valid chances to stand out as part of the team.

Rohit is smart since he knows that India is always producing talented cricketers. With that pipeline, a captain like Sharma does not want to waste any time, so he looks at these young players and gives them the chance to display their talent. That is huge for Indian cricket as it opens the door for some players to improve and motivates them to become the best version of themselves.

Punjab star player Shashank Singh has talked about what he sees in Sharma that makes him a good leader to follow.

He said, ‘Everyone says that he backs his players to the hilt; gives them plenty of chances. He is a very smart captain. His one-liners on the field are also quite funny. If you ask me one captain I would want to play under, it will be Rohit Sharma’.

Sharma is already experienced as a leader

India has high standards for a captain. Since he is still active as a player, Sharma deserves to be seen as the leader who can propel them to success. He has already done so multiple times, and Sharma is a natural captain that everyone respects.

Though there have been some setbacks amidst his triumphs, the ceiling is always limitless with Rohit as the captain. There are more ways to improve the team than replacing the captain, especially in the Test format. It would be good to have Sharma as the captain as he is always open to suggestions and will work on the mistakes they have made.

Expectations are high, but Sharma consistently rises to meet them. Indian cricket has a high standard, so playing at a high level under a good captain should be a priority.

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Why India vs Pakistan has lost its lustre as a cricket rivalry

Throughout the history of cricket, India and Pakistan have shared a fierce rivalry. They have been passionate about the sport for a long time, and since they are neighbouring countries, it is expected that they will compete at a higher level against each other.

The most recent matchup was in the ICC Champions Trophy on February 23, 2025. It was a fantastic victory for India, winning by six wickets. In recent history, India’s cricket team has been the most successful of the two South Asian countries, and the rivalry has become much more one-sided.

People feel disconnected from the ‘greatest’ rivalry

Due to their status as the best matchup in cricket, people always tune in to watch the passionate rivalry between the two nations. Unfortunately, it has not worked out for them as many are calling their matches ‘snooze fests’.

That is not a good look for the rivalry given that soon, general audiences might follow that notion. Another reason why people are looking down on it is that the actual cricketers who participate in it are also unenthused, like Shubman Gill.

He said, ‘Everyone enjoys watching it. If so many people are happy to watch the match, then who are we to say that it is underhyped or overhyped?’. People considering it overhyped is a big deal as it should serve as an eye-opener for both cricket associations.

The onus falls onto Pakistan more since they have been underperforming. They have a strong history of cricket excellence, but they have not shown that as of late. Pakistan’s cricket team must step up if they want to rekindle this rivalry and improve their standing in the cricket world.

The matchup has been predictable

Pakistan often struggles when facing India. When they get to bat first, they do not ramp up the attack, as they become tentative with their batting. On the opposite end, India's batting first helps them turn up the heat with fast-paced play. That should be how Pakistan takes charge, but they always become slower.

The system must also experience some changes, which fast bowler Hasan Ali has spoken about. He said, ‘For the past four to five years, we have changed around 26 to 27 coaches within the team. It's been true for four years, it's true, it's okay, but when you don’t have stability, these kinds of things happen’.

For Pakistan to defeat their rivals, they must make fundamental changes to their play style. They have talented players, but they should get past the mental block of going against their rivals.

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Steve Smith’s undeniable impact on Australian cricket

After Australia lost in the semi-finals of the 2025 Champions Trophy against India, captain Steve Smith has announced his retirement from One-Day International (ODI) cricket. This comes after his superb performance for the Aussies, scoring a team-leading 73 runs on Tuesday, March 4, 2025.

Unfortunately for the Aussies, their captain and arguably the best player is stepping away from the ODI format. It is a big day as Australia will need to get a valid replacement for a top star.

Smith loved his time playing for Australia’s ODI team

At 35 years of age, Smith has had a storied career with Australia, especially for its ODI team. He made his first ODI debut in February 2010 against the West Indies, and he has not looked back since. Smith rose in the ranks as a promising player and ended up being the team captain for multiple years.

Now, he is bidding farewell to the national team. It was an emotional moment for him, but thankfully, he will still be available to be selected for T20 internationals and test matches.

Smith said, ‘It has been a great ride and I have loved every minute of it. There have been so many amazing times and wonderful memories. Winning two World Cups was a great highlight along with the many fantastic teammates who shared the journey. Now is a great opportunity for people to start preparing for the 2027 World Cup’.

Smith is the gold standard for Australian cricketers

Steve ascended into the captaincy in 2015 and lasted until 2018. He was sacked as part of his punishment for his involvement in the ball-tampering scandal during the test series in South Africa. He returned a year later after serving his ban and continued to play well.

He has been superb as a batter throughout his career, so losing that in the ODI format is a big loss. Steve is not only a consistent performer with his bat, but he is also a valuable leader for the team. He might not have got the full-time captaincy, but he served as an interim captain across many tournaments, including the Champions Trophy.

Cricket Australia supports his decision to step away from ODI, but he will be available for selection in the other two formats. Smith has set the gold standard for ODI cricketers, so Australia must do well with the development of the younger players who will succeed him.

As a two-time World Cup winner in his career, Smith deserves recognition from the Aussie fans and the rest of the cricket world. This is a sad day for the cricket community, especially those who loved Smith in the ODI format.

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