Sheffield Cricket Lovers' Society Year Book 2016

35 Sheffield Cricket Lovers’ Society www.sheffieldcricketlovers.org.uk After the New Zealand Tour in early March 2015 each of the players got a month off to recharge and see their families before starting lengthy preparations for what promised to be a tough Ashes campaign starting in July 2015 against the 50 over and T20I World champions, Australia. Although we didn’t manage to hold onto the Ashes the series was a hard fought, exciting contest with two very good teams playing some good cricket with record crowds turning out to watch each game. Having every game broadcast live on Sky and on the radio too for the first time was fantastic. A measure of how things have changed in the last few years! Australia won the ODI series 2-1 and the one -off test match. England won the T20I series 2-1 and we were disappointed not to win the T20I series 3-0. Losing the second T20I at Hove meant that the Australians regained the Ashes. Congratulations to Australia who were slightly more consistent than we were across all three formats. Having worked with the England Team as Head of Performance for almost three years and with the team ranked number two in the world in all formats of the game, I have decided to step down at the end of 2015. I have had some fantastic times with the team winning two Ashes, reaching a World Cup final, gaining many series’ wins across the world and of course managing the transition from amateur to professional for the England programme. It is now time for me to spend a little more time with my incredibly understanding wife, Jacqui and our two boys Matthew and Adam and to look forward to taking on my next challenge. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Sheffield Cricket Lovers’ Society and its members for the positive difference you make across South Yorkshire and wish you every success in 2016. I look forward to seeing you all again very soon.