Struck for a duck

Tag: cricket

  • Nepal: The nation climbing towards cricket’s peak

    I stumbled across a statistic the other day that said every decade since 1980 a new country has been granted Test status, and it asked the question, who will it be this decade? At first, I thought the question was simple and quickly dismissed the idea of a new Full member this decade. However, I decided to take another look. I wondered whether it could be the Netherlands, USA, Oman, Namibia, Scotland or maybe Canada but then I thought, what about Nepal? Whilst they disappointed at the World Cup as many thought, they could make the Super 8s, I looked back to their historic series win over the West Indies and did a bit of research and realised maybe there was a chance. So, here’s why Nepal may be the next Test nation.   

    What is needed to become a Full Member

    The road to becoming a Test nation is very difficult, complicated and long winded hence why it’s so rare for nations to be given Test status. Due to this, I will only outline some of the key requirements to be granted Test status. However, it is also important to note that it takes more than just this as many countries have still been denied, with a notable example being Kenya.

    . Consistently competitive against Test nations

    . Wins against Full Members

    . Regular qualification to ICC events

    . Good domestic structure (T20, 50 over and First-Class leagues)

    . Youth pathways

    . Facilities (Stadiums and training grounds with adequate facilities)

    . Must have a decent amount of own funds

    . A board with professional staff and no government interference

    Whilst, Nepal does not currently meet all of this yet, if they continue to develop how they have recently you can’t help but think it won’t be long until they are ready to make the next step but let’s get into that now.

    Nepal’s love for cricket

    Associate nations often struggle to build up a fanbase, let alone one that travels across the world. This is due to many reasons but usually because the sport is not very popular within Associate nations and there are only small groups who are very passionate about cricket. However, this is not the case for Nepal. Cricket is one of, if not the main, sport in the country and has such a proud and enthusiastic fanbase. They are even in the question for the nation with the most passionate fans and has a following most Test nations would be proud of. Their fans turn every game into a home game and to have this support behind the players can be the real difference between losing and winning. Consequently, a large fanbase also means more revenue is generated in ticket and shirt sales, broadcast rights and sponsorships.

    Young and talented squad

    Many Associate nations have a golden generation full of quality experienced players but struggle to find young players to fill in the gaps when they retire. The team then often struggles as the younger players aren’t at the same level. However, Nepal is different. In their fifteen-man 2026 T20 World Cup squad they only had one player over thirty and their average age was twenty-five.

    What Nepal lacks in experience they make up in talent and potential. With a few more years experience under their belt, they could be one of the best sides in cricket. Their squad is driven by players such as Sandeep Lamichhane, Singh Airee and Rohit Paudel.

    Sandeep Lamichhane has played in franchise leagues all over the world and has even played in the IPL. He is a very skilful spinner who has very low economy, bowling average and strike rate. This means he is the best of both sides, taking quick wickets but for little runs.  

    Singh Airee is one of Nepal’s most complete players. He is a power hitting batsman in the middle-order and he can also bowl medium-pace and spin. Currently, he holds the record the fastest T20I fifty off just nine balls in a match against Mongolia.

    Rohit Paudel is Nepal’s captain. When he was appointed in 2022, he became the second youngest ODI captain. Paudel acts as a batting allrounder in the Nepal side. He broke the record of youngest player to score and ODI fifty, aged 16 and 146 days. However, his record was later broken by his teammate Kushal Malla.

    Current domestic structure

    Nepal has a solid domestic structure for an Associate. They have three tournaments the Nepalese Premier League, the PM Cup and the Jay Trophy. They don’t have a First-Class system at the moment. However, the Jay Trophy has potential to be one in the future. The NPL brings in big name overseas, whilst the PM Cup and Jay Trophy is exclusively Nepali players.

    The Nepalese Premier League was founded in 2024 and is a rising T20 tournament. Currently, the tournament consists of eight teams and attracts many of the best Associate nation players. However, many big players from Test playing nations have also participated. In the last edition players such as Dawid Malan, Ravi Bopara, Martin Guptill, James Neesham, Chris Lynn, Matthew Short, Faf Du Plessis and Jason Roy all played for franchises. This is very good for the development of Nepal’s cricket as better players means a higher standard so they can improve faster. It also creates more interest around the tournament.  

    The PM cup is Nepal’s one day competition. It has ten teams and has two round-robin groups with the top two from each group progressing and qualifying for the Jay Trophy. At the moment, no overseas players are allowed, and it is heavily focused on developing Nepali talent. Crucially, this means no places are taken by foreign players so players get more opportunities and talent can be fed into the national team. It is also more cost effective and players can be given more responsibilities. One setback to this is that the standard is lower.

    Nepal’s longest format is the Jay Trophy. It is a two-day competition with the final being three days. Each side has two innings each and there is no fixed number of overs per innings, so it is a time-based format. Again, it is a domestic only tournament and aims to feed players into the national team.  This is quite an interesting competition as it is a sort of mini red ball competition. Sides can bat slower however still need to bat at a moderate pace due to the fact it is only two days. This is very valuable as it gives players a chance to play longer forms of cricket. Eventually Nepal could make all games three days to qualify it as first-class and give themselves a better shot at being a Test nation.  

    Why the Asia Cup will be crucial for their development

    Currently, the tournament is rotated between the ODI and T20I format, giving sides a chance to improve in both formats. In the most recent Asia Cup, the number of teams was increased to eight. This gives more opportunities to rising Associates, and if Nepal can consistently qualify it could be crucial for their development.

     In recent years many Associate nations have struggled to improve as much as they would hope (especially teams from Europe, Africa and the Americas). Consequently, some of this could be put down to the fact that they don’t get regular opportunities to play against Test nations. However, Asia has had slightly less of this issue. Whilst the Asia Cup only happens every two years these are still valuable opportunities to play against big nations that countries from other continents aren’t getting.

    If Nepal can qualify to the Asia Cups they will be exposed to a much higher level of players. In turn, these experiences of playing at a higher standard will mean they can improve faster and gives them more of a claim to be that next Test nation.

    Series success against the West Indies

    On the 29th of September 2025 Nepal became the first Associate nation to beat a Full member other than Zimbabwe in a series. They won the series 2-1 and this included a record breaking 90-run victory. This is very significant, as whilst it is impressive and rare to beat any Full member in a series, Zimbabwe has had long periods of instability, and their sides have often suffered from a lack of quality. The fact it was the West Indies makes it even more impressive as this is a team that has produced many great superstars over the years and is a staple of Test cricket. Furthermore, they have also been very good on the white ball scene winning two ODI and two T20 World Cups. Despite a decline in recent years, this is the same side that just beat England in the World Cup. This shows Nepal is a very competitive side and can beat the best. If they continue like this, they will surely deserve Test status.  

    How do they compare to other Associates

    Whilst Nepal’s fanbase might not be the most passionate in the world, compared to other Associates their fans are top by miles. Stadiums home and away sell out instantly when Nepal are playing. However, other nations often struggle to get people to even show an interest, let alone come to games. The Netherlands can find it hard to grow cricket as their main sport is football. The USA has a similar issue with baseball being the dominant sport. Nepal has found it easier to expand the game as there is no overwhelmingly dominant sport.  

    Over the years nations such as Kenya, Ireland (when they were an Associate) and Netherlands have all produced massive World Cup upsets. While Nepal may have come close, they have no underdog World Cup victories. However, unlike Nepal they have no series wins against Full members. To win one game is one thing but to maintain consistent performances over a series is much harder.  

    Nepal’s infrastructure is not as good as other top Associates like the UAE and Namibia. In general, their infrastructure is decent, but their rise is not due to this. Nepal has a great domestic system with the NPL bringing in established overseas which raise the standard and the PM Cup and Jay Trophy allowing homegrown talent to be developed. While many nations rely on players from bigger cricketing countries qualifying for them, Nepal grows its own talent.   

    Challenges they face

    To become a Test nation the requirements are very high, and nations require a lot of money creating the feeling of Test cricket being an elite societies club. In the modern era, it is harder than ever to get status as everything about cricket has improved so much since its beginnings. The level needed to become a Test nation these days is scary and teams are now expected to meet so many more requirements as the sport has become much more professional.

    The gap between Associate nations and Full members is massive, this is evidenced in the fact that it took Bangladesh over four years to get their first Test win. The ICC does not want uncompetitive matches so will only give a country status if they believe they are 100% ready. This creates improved competitiveness but means Associates take longer to improve. The main reason why it is so hard to make the jump is because players have no experience in playing long format matches, at an international level.

    Even though Nepal has won a series against a Full member, to become a Test nation they need more. To prove they are ready they will have to get ODI wins and win at ICC events against Full members. At present, Nepal has only two wins against Test nations.

    Nepal doesn’t currently have a first-class system. However, if they want to make the jump this will be the key way to give them a chance. Without a first-class system they would likely be denied by the ICC as they would deem, they have no way to improve their long format game. The Jay Trophy could be converted to a first-class format. However, this would be expensive.

    Can Nepal gain Test status this decade

    Currently, Nepal may not be the best Associate nation, nevertheless they do have a lot going for them. Nepal has a good domestic system, passionate fans and series success behind them. While this is not enough at the moment it will aid their challenge for status in the future. Their potential is real but the climb ahead will be long and difficult. To get to the peak the key things they must do are qualify for World Cups and Asia Cups. Nepal must also introduce a first-class system. They may not be ready yet or within this decade, but few countries are climbing faster.

  • The downfall of the Slazenger cricket bat

    The bat made for greats, now the cheap beginner’s favourite

    Slazenger is a brand etched into sporting history, once known for its high-quality sporting equipment across a diverse range of sports. During their long prestigious history, they have been one of the leading brands at many world events. These include: the official Wimbledon tennis ball supplier since 1902 and 1966 FIFA World Cup ball manufacturer. Slazenger has also sponsored many high-profile cricketers, golfers and hockey players. However, in recent years they have been seen on television less and less with big names choosing other bat brands. Why is this? Well in this article all will be uncovered.

    The history of the Slazenger cricket bat (The rise and peak)

    Slazenger was established in 1881 by Ralph and Albert Slazenger and made cricket equipment from the very start. However, in the late 1920s and early 30s the brand really took off cricket wise and became recognisable on the cricketing world stage. The driving force for this rise was smart sponsorship deals specifically, Sir Donald Bradman. The publicity he brought was game changing. As a result, many began choosing Slazenger bats for their quality.  During its peak, Sir Garfield Sobers, Geoffry Boycott, Rohan Kanhai, Sir Viv Richards and Sir Len Hutton all used Slazenger. The brand stayed popular throughout the 20th Century.

    The silent disappearance from the professional scene

    In the 2000s and early 2010s Slazenger still had some big names such as Ian Bell, Eoin Morgan, Jimmy Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, Jason Roy, Steve Smith and Jacques Kallis. However, in this period Slazenger was bought by Mike Ashley in 2003 and the brand was soon dumped on the shelves of Sports Direct and left to lose relevance. Jason Roy cut ties with Slazenger in 2018 and since then they have made no deals with quality talents.

    Reasons for the downfall

    Firstly, I would not like to try not to pin the downfall all on Mike Ashley and Sports Direct. However, it is undeniable that many of the reasons for the demise of the Slazenger cricket bat could have easily been avoided with a little more attention towards the brand.

    Change of direction

    In recent years, Slazenger has moved towards making cheaper lower quality bats. They haven’t made any bats fit for top professionals since about 2019 and have instead made bats for beginners and low-level village cricketers. Currently, Slazenger’s bats are popular among beginners because of the price, with some as cheap as about £15. Whilst it is sad to see such a historic brand being so neglected, I cannot be too frustrated as it gets people into cricket. My first bat was a bargain blade Slazenger from Sports Direct and whilst it was terrible it was what started my cricketing journey, and I know this is the same for many others. 

    Lack of big-name partnerships

    Considering Slazenger rose to the top due to smart sponsorship deals, it baffles me how they have not signed any professionals let alone big names. I always remember watching players like Ben Stokes with his GM and thinking he’s incredible, I wish I could have a bat like him. However, Slazenger do not have any ambassadors for their bats and without this people don’t desire to use them. Due to this, the bats have become lesser known.

    Mike Ashley’s priorities and the little room allocated for Slazenger bats in Sports Direct  

    The simple matter of the fact is big companies will priorities what makes them more money and Mike Ashley is no exception with how he runs Sports Direct. Football is bigger than cricket so obviously makes Sports Direct more money. When you walk into the shop their focuses are clear. Depending on the size of the store the size of the section can differ but there are often hundreds of different football boots, but you will be lucky to find three different types of Slazenger bat. The football section typically has a large wall for boots at the front of the upstairs and plenty of other space for balls, kits and other football related things. The cricket section can take some finding though and is often tucked away in a corner and can often only be two meters wide and mixed in with other sports such as golf and hockey. The same tactics for manufacturing are applied meaning cricket bats are ignored, resulting in poor quality and cheap goods.

    The rise of modern cricket brands

    For some to rise others must fall and this would be correct in the case of Slazenger cricket. Many more modern bats brands are fully fledged to making cricket bats. This means they can afford to spend all their time, energy and resources on developing new technologies, designs and making bats whereas, Slazenger often has to split this between clothing and lots of other sports. These brands are also seen as elite and high quality, which in truth they are, compared to Slazenger.

    Lower quality Willow

    Slazenger claims “Handmade using the highest quality willow to ensure each bat sold in the UK has been carefully crafted to create the best possible performance, used by some of the world’s best players.” However, many of Slazenger’s bats are made from cheaper lower performance Kashmir willow. Whilst they do make some more expensive English willow bats, in my experience they are typically never found in Sports Direct stores and can only be found online.  Their bats are usually made from Grade 3 or Grade 4 with the odd Grade 2 willow bat, providing a less aesthetic look. We also know from earlier in the article Slazenger is currently not used by any superstar cricketers.

    Can they make a recovery   

    Overall, I think they could get back to the top of the sport if they wanted to. However, Slazenger cricket bats are clearly not in Mike Ashley’s personal interests. This can be especially seen by the lack of area allocated in his Sports Direct stores and the continued underdevelopment of the bats. To make a recovery Slazenger needs big changes but these are unlikely to happen.

  • Test cricket is broken, time to get out of your comfort zone and accept the necessary change

    Why a tiered Test system is right

    Reconnect the fans

    Test cricket is getting less popular each year. It is only facts that younger fans are hooked by floodlit white ball games with sixes flying to all parts of the ground. They consider leaves, blocks and singles boring, but this is the true identity of the sport. In an era of BazBall we should be grateful considering some had to watch a 10-day timeless Test end in a draw. However, lower interest in the format is not just younger people perceiving Test cricket as less exciting and entertaining. It stems from the fact the Test format makes no sense not just for younger people but for casual fans as well. The current ICC Test World Championship system is very hard to understand. What do you mean some teams play more matches than other?, How come there is 12 test nation but only 9 in the world test championship?, How is a team with 4 wins lower than a team with 1?, Why don’t all Tests count? and How do some teams play against some regularly but have barley played against others?

    This confusion creates a lack of interest as it is hard to get into and follow. However, a tiered Test system like the English football pyramid would be much easier to understand. Each team plays everyone a certain number of times, 6 in the first division, 6 in the second and promotion and relegation, a simple concept but it could make all the difference. Everyone can support their country, egging them on to win.

    Increased competitiveness

    A tiered system means nations can play against other countries their level. If you’re not good enough you go down, if your too good you go up. This means there is no demolition jobs on smaller nations because that isn’t helpful for anyone. As shown in the World Cup many associate nations are holding their own against the big boys and it would be a missed opportunity not to include them in this. The best associates could make up a third division this would allow them to improve at a much faster rate. Currently they are good, but they will never get to the next level without playing against test nations. This has been shown in Asia with the Asia Cup allowing Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Bangladesh to get exposure against Full member nations which helped them to improve and gain Test status. The top one or two teams not in the system could also get promoted.     

    More revenue

    Everyone having a chance to become a Test nation means more people from around the world would want to get involved in cricket. This surge of increased interest would draw views from countries not considered cricket playing Scotland, Netherlands and Namibia and therefore make the most prestigious format hit heights never seen before. These heights would then generate more revenue reinvigorating the format.  

    Why many fans disagree?

    Even considering these benefits many are thoroughly against this because of the history behind some series and teams. Classic Test cricket fans are often against this as they wouldn’t like to see a country like the West Indies in a low division because of their terrifying pace throughout the 80s and the history behind them. Many cricket fans also cannot accept the possibility of the big three being in division 2 or 3 because it is embarrassing and goes against tradition. People also would not be happy if Australia, India or England lost power as it would lose money, power and influence and other fans worry smaller nations will not have the funds to cope. Finally, the fear of losing historic series such as the Ashes outweighs the excitement of new rivalries. In my opinion, cricket fans need to take a good look at themselves and realise we are hanging on to the unsustainable past and need to move on. We shouldn’t be looking at teams and going they can’t be in division 2 because they were good in the 80s and start thinking they’re good now so they should be at the top. We shouldn’t worry about losing big series either as it could work both ways and they could occur more often. Relegation scraps and promotion races can create even better rivalries like the Arsenal V Man City title race rivalry. And that is why if the tiered test system is implemented correctly, it could be amazing for reinvigorating the Test format