Six reasons to pick up the September issue of The Cricketer!

With the England Test team struggling this summer, The Cricketer launches its Red Alert campaign in the September issue

You can buy a copy of the issue online HERE or SUBSCRIBE HERE! Here's what's in the mag...

1. It's time to ensure more red-ball domestic cricket is played again in the heart of summer

"The ECB favour The Hundred, the counties prefer the Blast, but the English cricketing public craves the Test game. Championship matches in spring and autumn are about as much use as a chocolate fireguard. Our eyes are very much on what fixtures, and when, will be going on our legendary wallchart next spring."

2. George Dobell devotes his column to the subject

"If you don’t allow time for your players to prepare properly, if you prioritise white-ball cricket at the expense of the first-class game and cram the schedule with so much cricket that players break, England will lose home Test series."

^{Red Alert}

3. "Root exudes purpose at the crease. He is always busy. His cover driving is sublime. He has no major weakness. He has all the shots"

At least England still have Joe Root. Simon Hughes says he will go down as England’s greatest modern batsman.

4. Mike Brearley has advice for Root on how to avoid a repeat of the final day of the second Test at Lord’s, when India took the game away from England

"More than half of Wood’s deliveries were bouncers, and this total was supplemented by several from other bowlers. The Indian tail-enders swished and ducked, slogged and carved. They were courageous, but could have got out any ball; could have been hit almost any ball."

^{Simon Hughes on Joe Root}

5. Barney Ronay discusses the news that Tom Harrison and his top team are in line to receive bonuses

"Is it possible to talk about the startlingly tin-eared £2.1m bonus awarded to Tom Harrison and his fellow ECB executives without also having to talk about The Hundred a bit? Sadly not. Whatever the truth, ‘the optics’ on this absolutely stink."

6. Nasser Hussain hits at over-rates in Test cricket

"As a parent and broadcaster I feel more strongly about it. The situation is a joke. Even with the extra half an hour the overs are still not being bowled."

^{Mike Brearley's words of wisdom for the England Test captain}

Elsewhere... Former Essex off-spinner and ECB administrator David Acfield reveals how T20 nearly didn’t happen; Alice Capsey is profiled by Nick Friend alongside Kate Cross’ latest column; James Coyne interviews Enid Bakewell, possibly England’s greatest all-round women’s cricketer and still playing at 80; Paul Parker explains the cameo he played in the 1981 Ashes and how he was introduced to the game Wibbly Wobbly during The Oval Test; Tanya Aldred announces the winner of our UK’s Greenest Ground award; Nick Owen pays tribute to Mike Hendrick; and Gideon Haigh peers through his Window in his popular monthly feature: it’s an issue not to be missed…

You can buy a copy of the issue online HERE or SUBSCRIBE HERE!