Mark Butcher Archives - The Cricket Paper

Mark Butcher

This is where you will find all The Cricket Paper’s Mark Butcher columns, opinion and content.

Mark Butcher: Ben Stokes uncertainty creates England dilemma

6 October 2024 0 comments

As England prepared for the first match of their three-Test series in Pakistan, they were faced with a familiar conundrum.

Mark Butcher: Glib Harry Brook receives lesson in leadership

29 September 2024 0 comments

It has been an eventful week for Harry Brook, who came under fire for his comments after England’s defeat to Australia at Trent Bridge.

Mark Butcher: Gloucestershire show T20 Blast retains magic

22 September 2024 0 comments

Gloucestershire went into Finals Day as the rank outsiders but delivered a stunning performance to win their first T20 trophy.

Nissanka exposes England’s naivety

15 September 2024 0 comments

By Mark Butcher Pathum Nissanka’s century to inflict a first Test defeat of the summer on England was fabulous to […]

Mark Butcher on Gus Atkinson: A new star with old-fashioned virtues

8 September 2024 0 comments

An incredible start to Gus Atkinson’s Test career. His century at Lord’s was outrageous, it will be fascinating to see how he develops.

Mark Butcher: England star Jamie Smith is a natural-born thriller

1 September 2024 0 comments

What a start Jamie Smith has made to his England Test career. The most extraordinary thing is how comfortable he’s looked since arriving in the Test arena – in all aspects.

T20 DIET LEAVES NO ROOM FOR MANOEUVRE

25 August 2024 0 comments

Mark Butcher Oval Invincibles ran out convincing winners in the Men’s Hundred Final at Lord’s, defending 147 thanks to a […]

Mark Butcher: Make Baz an offer he can’t refuse

18 August 2024 0 comments

Mark Butcher discusses the candidates talked about to replace Matthew Mott as England’s white-ball coach – and gives his view on who he would approach.

England bowler Chris Woakes

Irreplaceable Woakes leaves England with real dilemma

4 August 2024 0 comments

The quality of the opposition wasn’t the highest by any means, but there was a maturity in the way England went about their business in their 3-0 whitewash of the West Indies.

England’s Harry Brook and Shoaib Bashir show their class

28 July 2024 0 comments

England’s win at Trent Bridge featured some of the best Test cricket I’ve seen for a long time. West Indies did well to stay in the match after England threw everything at them but in the end Ben Stokes’ side were just too strong.

Undercooked West Indies need support from ‘Big three’

21 July 2024 0 comments

MARK BUTCHER It was evident from the Lord’s Test that West Indies are massively undercooked for this series. If it […]

THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES, JIMMY

14 July 2024 0 comments

MARK BUTCHER Mark Butcher looks back on one of the all-time great careers Stuart Broad’s hot streaks are the stuff […]

BRILLIANT BUMRAH HAS MAGIC IN HIS FINGERS

7 July 2024 0 comments

MARK BUTCHER It was a fabulous performance from India to end their 13-year wait to win a World Cup title. […]

RED-HOT ROBINSON PILES PRESSURE ON BAIRSTOW

30 June 2024 0 comments

MARK BUTCHER Not for the first time, England face a wicketkeeping conundrum as they prepare for the start of the […]

Selection mis-steps hamper England’s World Cup bid

16 June 2024 0 comments

MARK BUTCHER As I write this, England’s hopes of qualifying for the Super 8s of the T20 World Cup hang […]

Key had unfinished business…

9 June 2024 0 comments

MARK BUTCHER This week, our columnist answers questions from Wisden Cricket Weekly podcast listeners If you could change one rule […]

England favourites in an open field

2 June 2024 0 comments

MARK BUTCHER I’m expecting an unpredictable T20 World Cup. The way the tournament is structured this time – with four […]

World Cup offers welcome break from franchise diet

26 May 2024 0 comments

MARK BUTCHER With the ICC holding global tournaments every year for the foreseeable future, it doesn’t leave long for the […]

Anderson’s retirement in England’s best interests

19 May 2024 0 comments

MARK BUTCHER It was a brave call from the England management to signal the end of Jimmy Anderson’s career. It […]

Archer brings venom to England’s World Cup bid

5 May 2024 0 comments

MARK BUTCHER The headline news from England’s T20 World Cup squad was Jofra Archer’s return and, fingers crossed, if he […]

Is 18 first-class counties too many?

28 April 2024 0 comments

MARK BUTCHER The 18 first-class county model we have in this country is unique, and one of its main benefits […]

Cook proves he has the ingredients for test cricket

21 April 2024 0 comments

Mark Butcher The decision to use the Kookaburra ball, as opposed to the Dukes, for the opening two rounds of […]

Stokes withdrawal paves way for England’s young guns

14 April 2024 0 comments

MARK BUTCHER NEW COLUMNIST! Ben Stokes’ decision to opt out of England’s T20 World Cup defence came as no great […]