Jeremy Blackmore

Freelance journalist | Editor | Copywriter | Public relations

Freelance cricket writer

I have excellent contacts across the county and international game. Over the past 27 years, I have contributed to a range of titles and websites including The Cricketer, The Cricket Paper, Cricbuzz, WomensCricZone.com, Wisden Cricket Monthly, ESPNCricinfo and GiveMeSport.com. As well as match reports, news stories, player reviews and retrospectives, I also write in-depth features covering the key issues facing the sport.

I'm always open to commissions for cricket writing. If I can help, please get in touch.

Northamptonshire CCC •

Steelbacks Downed By Derbyshire In One-Day Cup Opener - Northamptonshire CCC

Zak Chappell smashed a List A career best unbeaten 94 to propel Derbyshire to an unlikely two wicket victory over Northamptonshire in this Metro Bank One-Day Cup clash at Wantage Road.

Chappell came together with his skipper Ross Whiteley with Derbyshire in tatters at 79 for seven chasing 236 to win, but they turned the game on its head with a record eighth wicket partnership of 131 (23.4 overs) for the visitors against any opposition and the 22nd highest in the history of List A cricket worldwide.
ESPNcricinfo •

Zak Chappell's allround masterpiece seals stunning Derbyshire comeback

Zak Chappell smashed a List A career-best unbeaten 94 to propel Derbyshire to an unlikely two-wicket victory over Northamptonshire in their Metro Bank One-Day Cup clash at Wantage Road.

Chappell came together with his skipper Ross Whiteley with Derbyshire in tatters at 79 for seven chasing 236 to win, but they turned the game on its head with a record eighth-wicket partnership of 131 (23.4 overs) for the visitors against any opposition.

Despite Northamptonshire's teenage pacer Raphy Weatherall sparking the initial collapse and finishing with figures of four for 50 on his List A debut, the momentum was all with Derbyshire as Chappell and Whiteley made hay.

Earlier Emilio Gay (59) and George Bartlett (50) each struck half-centuries in a partnership of 79 in 15 overs. Saif Zaib and Lewis McManus then picked up the mantle and looked set to propel Northamptonshire towards a competitive total during a stand of 69 in exactly 11 overs.

But their departure precipitated a Steelbacks collapse, five wickets falling for 22 in 33 balls. On a day to remember for Chappell, the quick bowler finished with career-best bowling figures of 4 for 39, while veteran all-rounder Samit Patel took 3 for 41 as the hosts were bowled out for 235 in 47 overs, which looked well below par.
ECB •

Metro Bank One-Day Cup county-by-county preview - Northamptonshire

NORTHAMPTONSHIRE

Preview by Jeremy Blackmore - ECB Reporters Network

Captain: Lewis McManus

Overseas player: Prithvi Shaw (India)

2023 finish: Sixth (Group B)

2023 leading run scorer: Prithvi Shaw (429)

2023 leading wicket taker: Rob Keogh (12)

Key player: Shaw vowed to return after a knee injury cut short an incredible maiden stint for the Steelbacks last year, which included a record-breaking 244 against Somerset – the sixth highest individual score in List A history. If he gets remotely close to that form this year, Northamptonshire will be strong challengers.

Keep an eye on: At 19, Raphy Weatherall broke into Northamptonshire’s first team this season, making his first-class and T20 debuts. Able to bowl with real pace, his grit and maturity were evident when he was trusted with key overs in this year’s Vitality Blast. The Metro Bank One-Day Cup offers him another opportunity to impress.

Final thought: Northamptonshire carry momentum from a successful Vitality Blast campaign into the Metro-Bank One-Day Cup and, with almost a full squad available, should be favourites to reach the knockout stages. Saif Zaib is in the form of his life and will play a key role until Caribbean League commitments in mid-August.
The Cricket Paper •

African Caribbean Cricket Festival celebrates heritage in Northampton

We need to show the kids that cricket is in our DNA,” says former England pace bowler Devon Malcolm who spearheaded a celebration of the legacy and influence of Black communities in cricket at Northamptonshire’s County Ground last Sunday.

Steel drums rang out bringing the sounds of the Caribbean to Wantage Road creating a carnival atmosphere as more than a thousand people from all over the country enjoyed live cricket soundtracked by a live DJ, surrounded by authentic African Caribbean food and culture.
ESPNcricinfo •

Saif Zaib's blistering 86 sets up win as Steelbacks seal quarter-final spot

Saif Zaib hit a blistering 86 off just 41 balls with eight fours and six sixes to set up a thrilling Northamptonshire Steelbacks victory over Birmingham Bears by 11 runs and secure their first Vitality Blast quarter-final spot in four years.

Zaib shared a partnership of 72 in almost seven overs with Ravi Bopara (19) to propel Northamptonshire to a formidable total of 197 for 6.

Steelbacks skipper David Willey struck immediately in the run chase taking two wickets in the opening over, including Moeen Ali first ball, as the Bears slumped to 11 for 3.

But a magnificent 93 from Sam Hain off just 60 balls with 10 fours and three sixes took the match into the final over with the Bears still very much in the hunt.

Hain shared a partnership of 92 in nearly 10 overs with Jacob Bethell, who hit 50 off 31 balls as the visitors bounced back from the early fall of wickets.

Despite some more big hitting from Hain and George Garton at the close, they fell short, although they can draw consolation from having already booked their quarter-final spot.
ESPNcricinfo •

Northants leave it late to best Durham after Ben Sanderson's career-best

Lewis McManus and Ashton Agar held their nerve to take Northamptonshire Steelbacks to victory in the last over of this Vitality T20 Blast thriller at Wantage Road.

Northamptonshire needed 10 runs an over in the last five after falling behind the rate chasing 141 to win, but McManus showed just how much his batting has improved this season, hitting 25 off 16 balls. The hosts went into the last over needing eight to win, but a huge six from Agar, playing his first game for the Steelbacks, took his side to the brink of victory.

Earlier, Ben Sanderson returned career-best T20 bowling figures of 4 for 15, including two in just three balls, as Durham slumped to four for three in the opening three overs. The top three batters all fell without scoring.
Northampton Chronicle and Echo •

Steelbacks up to third as McManus and Agar seal last-over win against Durham

Lewis McManus and Ashton Agar held their nerve to take Northamptonshire Steelbacks to victory in the last over of this Vitality T20 Blast thriller at Wantage Road.

Northants needed 10 runs an over in the last five after falling behind the rate chasing 141 to win, but McManus showed just how much his batting has improved this season, hitting 25 off 16 balls.

The hosts went into the last over needing eight to win, but a huge six from Agar, playing his first game for the Steelbacks, took his side to the brink of victory.

Earlier Ben Sanderson returned career best T20 bowling figures of four for 15, including two in just three balls as Durham slumped to four for three in the opening three overs, the top three batters all falling without scoring.
Northampton Chronicle and Echo •

Winless Northants fall short again as they collapse to defeat against league leaders Sussex

Sussex quick bowler Nathan McAndrew took five wickets, including two in three balls, to power his county to victory over struggling Northamptonshire and cement their place at the top of the Vitality County Championship Division Two.

Robinson found plenty of bounce and carry to remove both not out Northants batters, Matthew Breetzke and Rob Keogh inside the first 20 minutes of this third morning at Wantage Road.
ESPNcricinfo •

Nathan McAndrew five-for wraps up spoils for Sussex

Australian overseas signing McAndrew, who removed both openers on day two, finished with figures of 5 for 73 as Northamptonshire were bowled out for 220, Sussex winning by 63 runs.

A short, fiery spell from overlooked England seamer Ollie Robinson did the early damage in gloomy, drizzly conditions. Robinson found plenty of bounce and carry to remove both not out Northamptonshire batters, Matthew Breetzke and Rob Keogh, inside the first 20 minutes of this third morning at Wantage Road.
BBC Sport •

County Championship: Division Two leaders Sussex beat Northants

Sussex quick bowler Nathan McAndrew took five wickets, including two in three balls, to power his side to victory over Northamptonshire and cement their place at the top of Division Two in the County Championship.

Australian overseas signing McAndrew, who removed both openers on Monday, finished with figures of 5-73 as Northamptonshire were bowled out for 220, Sussex winning by 63 runs.

A short, fiery spell from overlooked England seamer Ollie Robinson did the early damage in gloomy, drizzly conditions.

Robinson found plenty of bounce and carry to remove Matthew Breetzke and Rob Keogh inside the first 20 minutes of the third morning at Wantage Road.

It was a spell which effectively dashed the hosts’ remaining hopes of chasing 284 to win.
ESPNcricinfo •

Ollie Robinson sends England reminder as Northants routed for 97

Sussex seamer Ollie Robinson, overlooked for England's Test squad, bounced back to equal his season's best tally of four wickets for 42 as Northamptonshire were skittled for 97 on an eventful opening day of this Vitality County Championship match at Wantage Road.

Robinson, who claimed identical stats against Yorkshire at Hove, took some stick in his opening overs, but found more control and a better line as he switched ends amid a Steelbacks collapse. This after the hosts had raced to 43 without loss inside six overs before Nathan McAndrew started the slump with two wickets in two balls.

On a day which saw 22 wickets fall, Sussex had themselves been bowled out earlier for 143, Northamptonshire seamer Jack White striking with four wickets for 23 runs, his first scalps of the summer since returning from injury. The visitors were undone by some testing seam bowling on a green top with bare ends, the bowlers finding plenty of movement to beat the bat consistently with Sussex losing six wickets for 47 in 19 overs after lunch, despite a series of dropped catches from the hosts.

The clatter of wickets meant Sussex were batting again at 5.20pm when, with the sun putting in a late appearance, conditions started to ease. Tom Haines took advantage, hitting 45 as Sussex closed on 83 for 2, 129 ahead.
ESPNcricinfo •

Saif Zaib stars with bat and ball as Northants hold nerve against Worcestershire

Northamptonshire all-rounder Saif Zaib starred in front of the TV cameras, plundering an unbeaten 44 off just 21 balls and bagging three wickets for 20 runs as the Steelbacks won out by just six runs against over Worcestershire Rapids in a Vitality Blast thriller at Wantage Road.

Zaib smashed six fours and two sixes, to propel Steelbacks to 169 for four, sharing an unbeaten stand of 79 in six overs with Sikandar Raza (42*) to help his side recover from a mini collapse.

England off-spinner Shoaib Bashir, playing the first of five T20 loan games for Worcestershire, took two for 38.

In the chase, the visitors slumped to 120 for eight in the 16th over before an extraordinary cameo from Gareth Roderick almost won the game. Blasting 39 off just 22 balls (1x4, 3x6), his highest T20 score, Roderick took the game to the wire with Worcestershire needing 11 off the final six balls. But Raphy Weatherall, bowling a brilliant final over, held his nerve, conceding just four runs and ending Roderick's resistance.

Amidst the action, Steelbacks captain and former England all-rounder David Willey took his 300th career T20 wicket.
Northampton Chronicle and Echo •

Steelbacks' winning T20 start ends as Vikings sail to comfortable success

Northamptonshire Steelbacks saw their winning start to the Vitality Blast come to an end as Yorkshire Vikings claimed a 29-run victory at Wantage Road.

Ravi Bopara had kept the hosts in the hunt with 35 to follow bowling figures of four for 34, and Ricardo Vasconcelos made 37, but with wickets falling regularly, the momentum was all with the Vikings.

Former England T20 team-mates Joe Root (35) and Dawid Malan (41) got Yorkshire off to an explosive start, putting on 67 in 8.1 overs before the Vikings faltered to 100 for four in the 13th over.
ESPNcricinfo •

Scrivens plays lone hand to seal final-ball win

Grace Scrivens played a captain's knock of 64 not out to power Sunrisers to a final-ball victory over Northern Diamonds in this Charlotte Edwards Cup clash at Wantage Road.

Chasing just 124 to win on a slow surface, Sunrisers were behind the run rate from the start, losing six wickets along the way, leaving Scrivens to play a lone hand.

She went into the final over, bowled by Erin Burns, needing 11 to win and took two boundaries off the first five deliveries, one a reverse sweep and the other a heave through backward square leg. It left Sunrisers needing two off the last ball to win which Scrivens cooly smashed down the ground for four.
ESPNcricinfo •

Jordan Thompson shines with ball and bat as Yorkshire defeat Northants

Jordan Thompson claimed three wickets for just 18 runs and hit a crucial quickfire 20 as Yorkshire Vikings inflicted a comprehensive win over Northamptonshire Steelbacks in this Vitality Blast clash at Wantage Road.

Dom Bess and Matt Revis also shared two wickets apiece as the Vikings restricted the Steelbacks to 157 for 8 chasing 187 to win, coming out victors by 29 runs.

Ravi Bopara had kept the hosts in the hunt with 35 off 21 balls to follow bowling figures of 4 for 34 and Ricardo Vasconcelos made 37, but with wickets falling regularly, the momentum was all with the Vikings.

Joe Root (35) and Dawid Malan (41) got Yorkshire to an explosive start, putting on 67 in 8.1 overs before Yorkshire faltered to 100 for 4 in the 13th over.

But a record fifth-wicket partnership for Yorkshire against Northamptonshire of 64 between Shan Masood and Dom Bess and some power hitting in the final over from Thomspon helped them up to 186 for 6.
Northampton Chronicle and Echo •

Brilliant Ricardo Vasconcelos century secures dramatic draw for Northants against Yorkshire

Ricardo Vasconcelos hit a valiant 129 not out as he attempted to power Northants to an unlikely victory over Yorkshire in Monday's Vitality County Championship match which ended in high drama on a see-saw final evening at Wantage Road.
Yorkshire had set up a tantalising run chase of challenging 326 to win in a little over two sessions, and when Vasconcelos warmed up for the T20 Blast campaign with 17 boundaries all around the ground, a home win looked a possibility.

But a dramatic clatter of wickets as Yorkshire’s attack staged a late fightback set nerves jangling in the home dressing room, Vasconcelos had to switch gears to ensure his side held out for the draw, eight wickets down for 250, in an innings full of character and maturity.

“It was a bit of a weird innings," said Vasconcelos. "Firstly, going for it and really trying to put our foot down, to have to then scale back was quite tough. All my instincts were telling me to take it on, but sometimes you've just got to do it."
Northamptonshire CCC •

Vasconcelos Heroics Force Draw

Ricardo Vasconcelos hit a valiant 129 not out as he attempted to power Northamptonshire to an unlikely victory over Yorkshire in this Vitality County Championship match which ended in high drama on a see-saw final evening at Wantage Road.

Yorkshire had set up a tantalising run chase of challenging 326 to win in a little over two sessions, and when Vasconcelos warmed up for the T20 Blast campaign with 17 boundaries all around the ground, a home win looked a possibility.

But a dramatic clatter of wickets as Yorkshire’s attack staged a late fightback set nerves jangling in the home dressing room, Vasconcelos had to switch gears to ensure his side held out for the draw, eight wickets down for 250, in an innings full of character and maturity.
ESPNcricinfo •

Ricardo Vasconcelos single-handedly resists Yorkshire with valiant 129*

Ricardo Vasconcelos hit a valiant 129 not out as he attempted to power Northamptonshire to an unlikely victory over Yorkshire in this Vitality County Championship match which ended in high drama on a see-saw final evening at Wantage Road.

Yorkshire had set up a tantalising run chase of challenging 326 to win in a little over two sessions, and when Vasconcelos warmed up for the T20 Blast game with 17 boundaries all around the ground, a home win looked a possibility.

But a dramatic clatter of wickets as Yorkshire's attack staged a late fightback set nerves jangling in the home dressing room, Vasconcelos had to switch gears to ensure his side held out for the draw, eight wickets down, in an innings full of character and maturity.
ESPNcricinfo •

Shan Masood the mainstay as Yorkshire build lead against Northants

Yorkshire captain Shan Masood struck a combative, unbeaten 82 to put Yorkshire firmly in the driving seat at the end of a frustrating, rain-shortened third day of this Vitality County Championship match at Wantage Road.

Pressing the accelerator, the Yorkshire captain helped the White Rose extend their advantage over Northamptonshire to 217 runs as they closed on 156 for five in their second innings when play was finally called off for the day.

With rain clouds circling throughout the day, Masood seemed intent on building a sizable lead as quickly as possible, clubbing three sixes and eight boundaries to set up an intriguing final day tomorrow.

For Northamptonshire, while overseas bowler Siddarth Kaul (2 for 71) was punished when he erred in width, Masood cutting him crisply for three fours, he claimed two scalps including the key wicket of first innings centurion Adam Lyth, lbw for 33.
ESPNcricinfo •

Adam Lyth makes third century of season to drive Yorkshire

Adam Lyth celebrated his 200th Championship match for Yorkshire by scoring his third century of the season on day one of this Vitality County Championship game against Northamptonshire at Wantage Road.

In-form Lyth, who made his White Rose debut against Durham in 2008, looked in command throughout his innings of 109 (205 balls), playing his trademark cover drive and tucking the ball sweetly off his legs. His 35th first-class century follows scores of 101 and 113 against Leicestershire and Gloucestershire this spring, and a 97 against Derbyshire.

While he was again unable to press home the advantage and post a big more emphatic total, his partnership of 116 in 33.4 overs with Shan Masood (60) provided Yorkshire with a solid platform.

Northamptonshire failed to capitalise in the afternoon session despite winning the toss and sticking Yorkshire in on green top under lights. But the tide turned after tea as the hosts fought back, skipper Luke Procter (3 for 63) and former Indian international Siddharth Kaul (2 for 81) sharing the spoils as Yorkshire lost five wickets for 52, before rallying to finish on 312 for seven.
The Cricket Paper •

Building a Spitfire

Kent's new Director of Cricket Simon Cook has developed a fresh, bold approach to bring success to Canterbury, setting out exactly what it takes to ‘build a Spitfire’.
Former county bowler Cook is drawing inspiration from the years he played under Rob Key’s captaincy in the late 2000s when the club’s successes were forged from a strong sense of identity.
Fast forward 15 years and Key is steering the identity of England’s men cricket, while Cook is building on his former captain’s approach by identifying what it takes to win games at Canterbury and forging a strong identity and purpose for the club around that – from the junior age groups right the way through to the first team.
ECB •

Bravo to Emilio Gay, inspiring the next generation

Northamptonshire batter Emilio Gay knows all about the power of inspiring young players after a meeting with his hero, West Indies superstar Dwayne Bravo, fuelled his cricketing passions as a teenager.

Bravo took time out from preparations for the 2007 World Cup in the Caribbean to sign a shirt for an awestruck Gay and it is a memory that has stayed with the 24-year-old ever since.

Now Gay, whose father’s family are Grenadian, is hoping he can in turn help inspire a new generation of Black British cricketers and is serving as an ambassador for Chance to Shine and for the ACE Programme to widen participation in cricket.
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