The Cricketer Magazine – September 2026

Summary

Huw Turbervill's September 2026 editorial for The Cricketer, Vol. 106 No. 7, asks whether the 50-over format can survive the T20 tsunami — with Harry Brook leading England in ODIs and the ECB treating List A cricket as a scheduling afterthought. The issue runs 98 pages with 18 county reports, a Stephen Fleming appointment deep-dive, and contributions from Olympic sailor Ben Ainslie.

The editorial leads with the contradiction: England won the men's 50-over World Cup in 2019 yet has marginalised the format, running the One Day Cup concurrently with The Hundred. Paul Edwards' One Day Cup tour on page 46 celebrates young talent — Rocky Flintoff, Ed Middleton, Noah Thain — and the joy of county grounds like Sedbergh and Lancashire's new Farington ground. Vic Marks contributes "A Full Day of Cricket" on page 36, arguing the format's rhythm still works. Four ODI greats speak out on page 41 in defence of List A cricket. Stephen Fleming's appointment as England Test coach gets the full treatment on page 32, assessed by those who know him. The County Game section on page 62 covers all 18 first-class counties via a Will Luxton interview, Will Smale's player's view, and a monthly county diary. Heather Knight faces questions on page 16.

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Content Guide

▸ Features / ODI Debate

p.5 · Editorial: 50-over and Out?
Turbervill argues the 50-over game is not dying — the ECB is killing it. Cites the 5,000th ODI (Canada v Scotland) as proof of the format's endurance. Points to the 2031 World Cup in India as reason List A cricket will survive.

p.36 · A Full Day of Cricket
Vic Marks on why the 50-over rhythm — morning build, middle-overs consolidation, late-innings explosion — creates a narrative arc T20 cannot match. A romantic but data-informed defence.

p.41 · Batting for ODIs
Four greats of the format speak out. Each explains why List A cricket deserves its own calendar window.

p.46 · One Day Cup: Paul Edwards on Tour
Edwards travels the county circuit, profiling young breakthrough players. Rocky Flintoff, Ed Middleton, Noah Thain and Adam Thomas on the batting side; Ben Cliff, Noah Cornwell, Naavya Sharma and Fateh Singh with the ball.

▸ Coaching / International

p.32 · Stephen Fleming: By Those Who Know Him
The new England Test coach assessed by former colleagues and players. Builds a picture of a coach who thinks about the game differently from the previous regime.

p.16 · Facing Up: Heather Knight
Knight answers questions on the state of England women's cricket, the Hundred's impact, and her own future. Direct and unfiltered.

▸ County Game

p.62 · Will Luxton Interview
Nick Friend interviews the Yorkshire batter about his development and the county season. First-person insight into the Championship grind.

p.64 · Player's View: Will Smale
The Glamorgan batter — emerging from the Welsh academy — writes his own column. His sister Sophia plays for Welsh Fire and Essex. A family perspective on the Welsh pathway.

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Editor's Take

Turbervill's Cricketer is the most intelligent English cricket monthly on the newsstand, and this issue earns that reputation. The ODI survival debate is framed editorially but given space for proper argument and rebuttal — Vic Marks, four ODI greats and Paul Edwards' county tour all get separate platforms. The Stephen Fleming profile is thorough without being sycophantic. Ben Ainslie's "Why I Love Cricket" column on page 28 is an unexpected delight. The weakness is visual: the magazine's design is conservative to the point of dullness, with small type and few standout images. The Hundred review section is too brief for a format that dominated the English summer. Best for: the county member who wants intelligent coverage of the domestic game and cares about the structural future of English cricket.

Strengths
• ODI survival debate is properly multi-sided
• Fleming profile has real sourcing
• All 18 counties covered every month

Weaknesses
• Design is visually flat and dated
• Hundred review section is too short

Verdict: Essential — The best English cricket monthly for readers who think about the game, not just follow it.