EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW BY LAWRENCE BOOTH: Among the crowd of 30,000 at Lord's this week for the first Test between England and New Zealand will be a face many thought would never fit.

In the five months since England lost in Australia, the chat has centred on one question: will Brendon McCullum change as he enters the final phase of his stint as head coach?

Travis Head's wife Jess had to remind cricket 'fans' that 'there are real people and families behind the game'.

Rew, the spare batsman in England's 15-man squad, has averaged nearly 48 for Somerset in Division One of the Championship this season

RICHARD GIBSON: The Vitality Blast launches on Friday with a full round of nine matches. Here, Daily Mail Sport pinpoints the things to look out for in the revamped Twenty20 competition.

Lancashire chief executive Daniel Gidney is being investigated by the Cricket Regulator for dismissing those who have called a vote of no confidence in the club's board: 'Old, entitled white men'.

The opening fixtures threw up multiple contentious incidents, including angst that bowling attacks could be freshened up in second innings and fears the system could be 'played'.

Even now, months later, England's lack of preparation for the Ashes induces a grimace. The bad news is that Australia are unlikely to make the same mistake ahead of their return trip in 2027.

'People talk a lot about the lack of red ball cricket we play. Winning those three tests in a row showed the world that we are able to compete on the Test stage.

Tickets for the third Test at the scenic Newlands ground in Cape Town, nestled under Table Mountain, sold out within five minutes of being made available online on Monday, sparking fury.

LAWRENCE BOOTH: Mike Smith, known to the cricketing world as MJK, has died at the age of 92. He had been England's second-oldest Test cricketer, behind Micky Stewart.