Latest news with #Birmingham
Times
an hour ago
- Sport
- Times
Jofra Archer may have to wait until third Test for England return
Jofra Archer's return to the England team could be delayed until the third Test against India after Rob Key, England's director of cricket, stopped short of confirming the fast bowler would play next week at Edgbaston, hinting his return might be delayed until the week after. Archer, 30, was named in the squad for the match which begins on Wednesday in Birmingham and Key said he was confident the Sussex seam bowler could 'hit the ground running' when he does play. However, he remained non-committal about whether Archer's return to Test cricket for the first time since 2021 is imminent or will be delayed until the third Test at Lord's the following week. 'We've picked him in the squad, and we'll see how the conditions are. We've got a decision to make because these next two Tests are very close together. 'You want to be able to sustain pressure throughout these back-to-back Test matches and the guys [who bowled at Headingley] got better the more they bowled [in the match]' Key said at a Rothesay event in London. 'To see Archer back or when he finally comes back either next week or the week after will be brilliant. He's such an unbelievable talent and it's been such a long road.' Key was not concerned with Archer's lack of first-class cricket even though he has only played only one match — last week against Durham — since May 2021 because of a string of career-threatening injuries, saying his return to Test matches had been meticulously planned for the past two years. 'We have mapped it out for two years now. From T20s and four-over spells into 50-over cricket to build up his robustness to now. He's been doing so much work in the lead-up, even when he's not playing, [to be] building up his resilience,' Key said. Ben Stokes usually names his team two days before the start of a Test match meaning they could announce their XI on Monday and therefore allow for the possibility of Archer or any other spare bowlers (for example, Jamie Overton and Sam Cook if unselected) to play the final two days of the next round of County Championship matches. The ECB's playing regulations allow for England players to be substituted in or out of county matches provided they play in at least two of the four days of the match. This week Paul Farbrace, Archer's head coach at Sussex, expressed doubts over whether the fast bowler should be rushed back in for the second Test, saying he would save him for the third Test at Lord's. Nonetheless, Key said he was not concerned about Archer's lack of cricket and, unlike some bowlers, can hit his straps with not many overs under his belt. 'The spectrum for that is Mark Wood, someone that can just turn up after a bit of bowling in the nets like he did at Headingley in the Ashes [in 2023] and bowls 96 mph, swinging it and hitting a length,' Key said. 'Jofra is close to Wood on that front. He's a pretty pure talent; there's not a lot of moving parts to his action in terms of complications, he's 30 years old now and he knows exactly what he's doing and what he's about. 'Jofra has always been adamant in the time I have been in this job that he's wanted to play Test cricket again. He could have been tempted to go down other routes. I've always had faith in Jofra.' It is that faith that Archer would return and be a vital part of England's Ashes campaign that meant Key decided to keep the fast bowler on a full ECB central contract worth about £750,000 a year, even though he has not been playing Test cricket. The goal has been to ensure the ECB remained his main employer, rather than T20 franchise teams, so it could carefully manage his workloads and rehabilitation. Archer made a successful return to England white-ball cricket in May last year and has played at the past two ICC global tournaments, the T20 World Cup last June and the Champions Trophy in February. He was due to play for the England Lions this month as part of his return to red-ball cricket but had to pull out after breaking the thumb on his non-bowling hand while playing in the IPL in May. Key was impressed with Archer's immediate return to rhythm during his outing for Sussex against Durham. 'He was straight on the money, bowling on a slow pitch with good pace. He isn't going to forget how to bowl, so when we have that call [to pick him], we're not concerned. He will be fit and available for both Tests [Edgbaston and Lord's].'
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Revealed: Why Jofra Archer may NOT play for England against India at Edgbaston despite fast bowler's recall after four-year hiatus
Rob Key has played down concerns England are rushing Jofra Archer back into Test cricket — but admits he may have to wait a game before he is unleashed on India. Archer, who hasn't appeared in a Test since February 2021, is part of England's 15-man squad for Wednesday's second Rothesay Test at Edgbaston, having successfully come through 18 overs for Sussex in their recent championship game against Durham. His inclusion prompted Sussex head coach Paul Farbrace to question the wisdom of pitching him straight into a Test match, and Key admitted Archer may simply train with his team-mates in Birmingham before joining up with his county for the last two days of their championship match against Warwickshire at Hove. He would then be in line to play the third Test against India at Lord's, starting on July 10. Key, England's managing director, stressed the importance of not 'flogging' Archer, now 30, when he does make his return. 'Like for any fast bowler, you want to get to the stage where they're able to impact the game,' he said. 'These are impact players. You don't want them doing other roles. You've got to be smart with how you use them so they can help you win a game? I think he'll get better and better throughout the Test series and in the games he plays, whenever that may be.' And he insisted England had erred on the side of caution during Archer's painstaking rehab from multiple elbow surgery. 'We've gone slower than we could have done,' he said at an event staged by Test sponsors Rothesay. 'The temptation would have been to bring him back sooner. But actually we've gone down this road to make sure we're in this position where we think he'll be able to play.'
BBC News
3 hours ago
- BBC News
Birmingham woman arrested after baby boy's death is bailed
A woman who was arrested after the death of a baby boy in Birmingham has been 37-year-old was held on suspicion of child neglect after officers were called twice to an address in Culford Drive, Bartley Green, on had initially carried out a welfare check in the morning, and were called to reports of a medical emergency hours later. The boy died later in Midlands Police said on Friday the woman had been bailed with strict conditions, with inquiries ongoing. The force also confirmed the matter had been referred to the police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police crews had been called to a baby who was in a critical condition and receiving CPR, West Midlands Ambulance Service said.A spokesman for the service said despite everyone's best efforts, the baby could not be saved and died shortly after arriving at Midlands Police issued a statement confirming details of police statement said: "Officers attended the address earlier in the morning, where they entered the property and carried out a welfare check."We were then called later in the afternoon to reports of a baby having a medical emergency at the address, and he sadly later died." Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
5 hours ago
- General
- BBC News
Birmingham and Fazeley Canal's illegal crayfish traps removed
Several illegal crayfish traps which could have been dangerous to other wildlife have been removed from a canal by Agency Midlands said the seven unauthorised traps were removed from the Birmingham and Fazeley canal after a tip-off and added: "These traps catch not only fish and crayfish but other wildlife such as water voles."The UK's native crayfish, also known as white-clawed crayfish, and water voles are protected UK species is under threat due after the spread of the invasive North American signal crayfish, the BBC has previously reported. Government regulations on crayfish trapping say people must not trap or remove native and non-native crayfish in England without written permission from the Environment agency did not say where on the canal the traps were removed. Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Birmingham film director describes working with Tom Cruise
A British director whose company made the iconic opening teaser for the Super Bowl, starring Tom Cruise, has said the actor was "genuinely the nicest guy".Jake Barrett, founder and production director at BTV in Birmingham, said the Hollywood star introduced himself to the crew individually, shook everybody's hand, and said "let's make this happen".The teaser for one of the biggest sporting events in the world, filmed at Pinewood Studios in partnership with Fox Sports, was in the style of a Mission: Impossible year's Super Bowl LIX saw the Philadelphia Eagles win a 40-22 victory over defending champions the Kansas City Chiefs. Mr Barrett said: "Of course, when you're on the job, you're focused on the job, and it's not until you sort of see him leave afterwards that everyone just looks at each other and goes 'what literally just happened?'"Describing what it was like to work with the actor, he said Cruise was "particular" about his work, but said Cruise always asked why decisions were taken before suggesting another way, and went on to explore different options for microphones and lenses with the team, while they were filming. "The funniest line I've got from the whole thing was that on the set that we've designed, we've got this big plinth, where – it was in the middle of the set," Mr Barrett said."Originally, he was supposed to be sat on that plinth and the lights come up as the camera comes in and he turns and talks to camera."He was looking at that and he says 'I'm not quite sure about this plinth in the middle here. Why is it here?'"Mr Barrett said they explained it was to have some foreground in the shot, but Cruise replied: "I am the foreground."Since then, "I am the foreground" has become a catchphrase in the firm, he said. Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
