Hector Vickers

I am a digital sports journalist, with experience in writing, podcasting, TV and Radio commentary, and production.

Cricket Writing

Guerilla Cricket •

England claim comfortable series win as Cox continues Hundred form - Guerilla Cricket

A player of the tournament award in last month’s Hundred was enough to earn the explosive top-order batter a late call-up for the Ireland tour. Having scored 367 runs at an average of 61.16, striking at 173 for the Oval Invincibles, it was a mystery as to why he was not included in England’s side for the first T20, earlier this week. With Sam Curran away for personal reasons, Cox finally got his chance - and there was only one way that he was going to play.
TheCricketer •

Stunning Karun Nair century pushes selection case as sorry Lions take punishment | The Cricketer

Welcome to www.thecricketer.com - the online home of the world’s oldest cricket magazine. Breaking news, interviews, opinion and cricket goodness from every corner of our beautiful sport, from village green to national arena.

Welcome to www.thecricketer.com - the online home of the world’s oldest cricket magazine. Breaking news, interviews, opinion and cricket goodness from every corner of our beautiful sport, from village green to national arena.
Guerilla Cricket •

England enjoy a dream start to Brook era, as West Indies show a saddening gulf in class - Guerilla Cricket

Ruthless. A word that England’s red ball captain shakes his head at, and yet at first examination, a word that befits England’s 50-over side under their new captain, Harry Brook. A 238-run margin of victory against the West Indies – ruthless. Scoring 400 runs having been put into bat on a cloudy day – ruthless. Taking 10 wickets inside of 26 overs – ruthless. Speaking for the first time as a fully-fledged England captain back at the beginning of April, Brook stated that “I just want us to play w...
Guerilla Cricket •

Bethell shines as dominant England reach the 400-mark at Edgbaston - Guerilla Cricket

England are in control here at Edgbaston after contributions from all of the top order saw them reach 400-8 at the innings break.Fresh off the plane from the IPL, Jacob Bethell starred for the hosts, combining a stylish defense with a fantastic display of hitting in the latter overs to finish with 82 off 53 deliveries. Having been the topic of much discussion over the past few weeks, the Bajan-born allrounder expertly continued his rapid induction into international cricket, clearing the boundar...
Guerilla Cricket •

Bashir takes career-best figures as England claim inevitable victory on Day 3 - Guerilla Cricket

England have begun their Test-match summer as most would’ve expected, with a comprehensive victory against Zimbabwe, by an innings and 45 runs.It was Shoaib Bashir who starred in the third and final day at Trent Bridge, ending with his career best figures of 6-81 in 18 overs.Zimbabwe show fight but not enough on Day 3The overcasts this morning suggested that England would wrap things up without fuss, with Zimbabwe already 2 wickets down heading into the day. Sean Williams continued his onslaught...
Cricket District •

The Cricket District Premier League - Bridging the gap between state and private school Cricket

There is no denying that participation in state-school cricket has declined in recent years. Not only has engagement faltered, but the lack of state-schooled cricketers in the professional game suggests that the standard of the development of these schoolkids, in terms of facilities and coaches, has diminished significantly. A Report by the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket was released in June of 2023, reflecting the enormity of the divide between state and private schools in cricket...
Wisden •

Five Players England Women Could Turn To Following Ashes Defeat

Now 10-0 down in the multi-format series with only the final T20I and one-off Test yet to play, England haven't won an Ashes game in any format in Australia since 2018, and last held the Ashes in 2014. That win down-under over 10 years ago featured several players who part of the current set-up, and who will be in their late thirties by the time England next embark on an away Ashes tour. Over the next four years in between the two series, new faces will transition into a side alongside the young...
Wisden •

England Watch: How Are All 78 English Players Faring In Franchise Cricket So Far This Winter?

The Derbyshire bowler spent the lead-up to Christmas with the Rangpur Riders, in the Global Super League. After an impressive five-for on debut, Chappell failed to defend the Riders' total of 12, bowling in a super over against Hampshire. He went on to take a further two wickets as the Riders beat Victoria by 56 runs to win the GSL. Graham Clark has enjoyed a superb start to 2025, playing for Chittagong Kings in the Bangladesh Premier League. Top scores of 40, 60, and a whirlwind 101 off 50 ball...
Wisden •

2024 In Review: 10 Funniest Cricket Moments Of 2024

Watch: Joe Root laughs after Shoaib Bashir tries to review clean bowled dismissal Strong start for obvious reasons, purely for the look of determination on Bashir’s face as he instantly called for DRS not knowing that he had just been clean bowled by Ravindra Jadeja. Series gone, games gone, but Bashir is on 13, and he’s adamant that he hasn’t hit this one. Read: Virat Kohli and Sam Konstas collide on-field during debutant's eye-catching onslaught Sam Konstas’ breakthrough into the Australia sid...
Wisden •

Five Bonkers Things That Happened To England In 2024

England vice-captain, Ollie Pope, is the epitome of a ‘team player’. Throughout 2024, Pope has opened the batting, batted No.3, No.6, kept wicket, vice-captained, and captained England. He assumed the captaincy for the Sri Lanka series over the summer after Ben Stokes was sidelined with yet another hamstring injury, leading England to a 2-1 series win. What the scorecards won’t tell you though, is that Pope opted to use the DRS system 13 times that series... and failed 13 times. He didn’t even h...
Guerilla Cricket •

England trampled on Day 4, but there are many positives to take away from a busy 2024 - Guerilla Cricket

England could not muster any form of a comeback on Day 4 at Seddon Park, capitulating to a 423-run loss, having been bowled out for 234 – recording their 4th heaviest ever defeat by runs, and providing New Zealand with a record margin of victory.Jacob Bethell and Joe Root began the day in dependable fashion, combining for a 104-run stand, before Root was trapped LBW by man of the match, Mitchell Santner. Root’s 54 was perhaps one of his less convincing half-centuries – dropped on 20, surviving 2...
Guerilla Cricket •

Stokes hobbles off injured as embarrassing England put to the sword by Williamson - Guerilla Cricket

England end an embarrassing day of cricket on 18-2, trailing New Zealand by a staggering 640 runs. Kane Williamson’s effortless knock of 156 will be overshadowed by a worrying injury to the English captain.Ben Stokes limped off the field midway through the third over of his first spell of the day, causing considerable concern for English fans.The England captain bowled a shorter delivery to Rachin Ravindra in the 56th over of the innings, and had already begun his journey back to the dugout befo...
Guerilla Cricket •

England left stunned as New Zealand overwhelmingly dominant on Day 2 - Guerilla Cricket

Very few people would have predicted the events of Day 2 at Seddon Park, as England will be left in complete shock, having been dominated by New Zealand with both bat and ball.Matthew Potts claimed his fourth wicket straight after drinks, as England finally wrapped up the New Zealand innings, after a tiresome hour in the antipodean morning sun – an hour which saw Mitchell Santner (ably accompanied by Will O’Rourke), add a further 32 runs to their overnight total – ending the 1st innings on 347.B...
Guerilla Cricket •

“Phenomenal” England claim series victory, despite brilliant hundred from Blundell - Guerilla Cricket

England claimed yet another crushing victory against New Zealand, winnings by 323
runs at the Basin Reserve, and consummating a comfortable series win – their first in
New Zealand since 2008.Joe Root began the day for the visitors in emphatic fashion, bringing up his 36th Test
Match hundred with his (now) trademark ‘Root-scoop’. His partnership of 100 of just 81
balls with skipper Ben Stokes (49 not out) propelled England to declare just 30 minutes
into the day, finishing on 427/6, with an unass...
Guerilla Cricket •

Both sides unchanged as Bethell looks to make his case for the summer - Guerilla Cricket

Both England and New Zealand remain unchanged ahead of the second Test Match of the Crowe-Thorpe series, getting underway tomorrow, at the Basin Reserve in Wellington.England comfortably took the first Test in Christchurch, surpassing New Zealand (who were left to rue their sloppy display in the field) by 8 wickets, with debutant, Jacob Bethell, hitting the winning runs, whilst simultaneously bringing up his maiden test match fifty. Over the last three weeks, Bethell has taken unimaginable leaps...
Guerilla Cricket •

Test Match, Sailing, Netball and now a World Cup! A magic 24 hours for New Zealand - Guerilla Cricket

Here is Hector’s report directly from Dubai.The New Zealand women’s cricket team have claimed their first ever T20 World Cup trophy, having beaten South Africa convincingly by 32 runs. The victory for the White Ferns marks the first World Cup silverware for both the women’s and the men’s sides, a feat that caps off a remarkable day for New Zealand sport.In the space of 24 hours, the New Zealand sailing team coasted to victory in the America’s Cup, comfortably sidestepping the force of INEOS Brit...