World Cup woes cast shadow over England’s year
The IndependentSign up to our free sport newsletter for all the latest news on everything from cycling to boxing Sign up to our free sport email for all the latest news Sign up to our free sport email for all the latest news SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Matthew Mott was sacked as men’s white-ball coach after a deeply disappointing reign, his job eventually swallowed by Test guru Brendon McCullum, who begins his all-format role in the new year. Alex Hartley, former World Cup winner turned pundit, put Lewis’ side on notice with a coruscating critique of their fitness and athletic rigour that will hang over their heads for some time to come. At domestic level Surrey continued their dominance of the first-class game with a third County Championship title in a row and Gloucestershire won an emotional T20 Blast in front of former England quick David ‘Syd’ Lawrence, who had recently revealed his battle with motor neurone disease. Sweeping changes to the women’s game, culminating in the creation of a new ‘tier one’ county competition, were announced and the England Physical Disability team returned to competitive action after four years without a fixture.