England v Australia: first T20 international – live!

This is the ECB’s statement on Azzem Rafiq’s accusations of institutionalised racism at Yorkshire.

“We are deeply troubled to hear of Azeem Rafiq’s experiences and recognise the courage it has taken for him to speak out.

“The ECB welcomes Yorkshire County Cricket Club’s commitment to thoroughly and urgently investigate this case and the wider review of club policies and culture. We will follow these closely and are in contact with the club and with Azeem. We will consider any further ECB steps which may be appropriate.

“Azeem’s story is similar to some of the experiences we have heard about during the Black Lives Matter movement and demonstrates how much work is needed across the game, sport and society as a whole to eradicate racism.

“The ECB is opposed to discrimination of any form and remains committed to making the changes needed to make cricket a game for everyone.’’

England will wear black armbands today in memory of former Northants and England allrounder David Capel, who died yesterday. I’ve got happy memories of watching him on the BBC, a member of those crazy 80’s and early 90s England sides. RIP.

England play four quicks, Bairstow opens with Buttler, both Banton and Malan get a go, but no place for Billings.

England: Bairstow, Buttler, Malan, Banton, Morgan, Ali, Jordan, T Curran, Archer, Wood, Rashid

Australia: Finch, Warner, Smith, Maxwell, Carey, Stoinis, Agar, Cummins, Starc, Richardson, Zampa

England, of course, come into this game fresh from defeat by Pakistan at Old Trafford just a few days ago, despite Moeen Ali rediscovering his most delicious form.

Aaron Finch and Eoin Morgan make their way to the middle….

I know I’m not the target audience for Sky’s Transfer Centre, but it all seemed to get unnecessarily heated over whether it was Messi 1, Barcelona 0, or the other way round. (He’s staying, by the way.) Maybe this is how it will be at The Hundred draft one day?

And some fascinating insights into the Australian psyche in this piece from Adam Collins.

As far as meaningless white-ball series are concerned, Australia’s 2018 trip to England lives long in the memory. The first time the national side convened since the sandpaper fiasco four months earlier, they were duly annihilated by the world’s top-ranked ODI team – whitewashed five-nil, coughing up a world-record 481 in Nottingham, and then hammered in the sole T20. But more significant than the results was the fact that it was Justin Langer’s first series in charge.

It’s a Friday evening in early September so it must be… the first in a six match white-ball series against Australia. The ultimate digestif from the strange 2020 themed restaurant, where the service starts infinitesimally slow but then arrives at breakneck speed.

The cards have been shuffled and England are strengthened by the return of four multi-format players from the Test bubble: Mark Wood, Jos Buttler, Jofra Archer, and Sam Curran, though Jason Roy (injury) and Ben Stokes (compassionate leave) are not available to pull on the new red and wine kit. Joe Root, of course, didn’t make the cut for the T20s. Yesterday, Eoin Morgan called Jonny Bairstow, Roy and Buttler three of England’s greatest white-ball players and said he would continue opening with Buttler “until we feel it’s not working.” Once Roy is back, those knocking heavily on the dressing-room door, including young Tom Banton, and the more grizzled Dawid Malan, may be in for a long wait. This is a chance to impress.

The Aussies are at full strength, ranked No. 1 in the world in T20s – who could resist a spot of Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, David Warner, Glenn Maxwell, Aaron Finch, and Steve Smith, and on National fish and chip Friday as well.

Did you ask when the two sides last met in white-ball cricket? the World Cup semi final.

Tonight, we’re at Rose Bowl, for the first of three T20 games; later in the month, the whole circus moves to Old Trafford for three ODIs. Grab your vessel of choice – this should be fun.