6 h. ago Ashes Fifth Test Australia v England: Prediction, Betting Tips & Odds

Following England’s first away Ashes win in almost 15 years, the series concludes with the Fifth Test in Sydney

Politics

8 h. ago Sydney’s tradition of goodbyes coincides with Bazball reckoning

England have a final chance to salvage something from tour but must accept Ashes defeat was self-inflicted and changes, however limited, must be madeAs well as being a bucket list venue for players and supporters, the Sydney Cricket Ground has a reputation in England as the ground of the one-cap wonders. This is based on Mason Crane, Scott Borthwick and Boyd Rankin getting a go at the end of recent Ashes tours, rather than anything more historically substantial.If anything, as the traditional scene for the final Test of the Australian summer, the SCG is more like the Oval – the ground where careers often come to an end. And on Friday, surrounded by his family and with a fair bit to get off his chest, Usman Khawaja confirmed the final instalment of this Ashes series, starting on Sunday, will be his international farewell. Continue reading...

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10 h. ago Defiant Ben Stokes makes case for England to extend ‘Bazball’ double act with Brendon McCullum

The futures of Stokes and McCullum have been under the microscope after England’s Ashes disappointment

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16 h. ago Usman Khawaja details ‘racial stereotypes’ in Australian cricket ahead of final Test

The fifth Ashes Test in Khawaja’s hometown of Sydney will be the final act of a 15-year career in the Baggy Green

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20 h. ago How Usman Khawaja became one of the most polarising players in Australian cricket with defiant political messages

Usman Khawaja has enjoyed a very successful career at Test level for Australia - but it hasn't always been easy for the left handed opener

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32 h. ago Australia ‘more robust’ and can handle pressure better than England, believes Bayliss

England’s World Cup-winning coach says Ashes series has been ‘a disappointment’ and that a harder mentality in Australian youth cricket could be a factorTrevor Bayliss will be among those watching the fifth Ashes Test at the iconic Sydney Cricket Ground this Sunday. But even as the head coach responsible for delivering the World Cup in 2019, the majority of England fans who walk past him will probably do so without so much as a double take.This was very much the Australian’s way when sporting the Three Lions on his training kit for five years – low key and forever dodging the spotlight under that wide-brimmed hat. Even crediting Bayliss for that World Cup – or the Ashes win in 2015 – cuts against his mantra that players alone deserve the glory. Coaches, he always stressed, are simply there to facilitate. Continue reading...

Events

34 h. ago Sydney has a history of hosting Ashes comebacks – and launching dynasties | Geoff Lemon

Classic New Years Tests offer clues for how England and Australia can end this series on their terms at the SCG and set up for the nextIf you’re an England cricket team, a Test in Sydney doesn’t look so bad. The last few weeks have merited constant updating of England’s horrible streak in Australia since January 1987, which last week’s Melbourne win improved only as far as 51 played, seven won, eight drawn, 36 lost. In Sydney over that time, the calculation is a little friendlier, at 10 played, four drawn, two won, only four lost.So while the trophy is gone, a strong showing in this match could offer optimism that it might be a springboard for the future. Sydney has a history of involvement in Ashes comebacks, whether within a match, within a series, or in the longer term. Continue reading...

Politics

64 h. ago Spin bowling on the back foot with pace dominating quickfire Ashes

Nathan Lyon has been the only specialist spinner on show with touring tweaker Shoaib Bashir sidelined by England Disappointment can be found in all corners of this Ashes series. England’s victory came too late. Australia may have secured the urn again but Glenn McGrath’s usual prediction didn’t hold. It’s been a serious letdown for the neutral, never mind that a 3-2 scoreline is still in the offing. This was meant to be the one where England had a shot, where the Sydney finale would actually have something on the line beyond World Test Championship points.Instead we’ve had 13 days of play out of 20, star quicks from both sides missing hefty chunks or all of it and stern-faced discussions about how much grass was left on the “G”. It’s fallen well short as a spectacle. Part of that lies in the absence of the slow stuff, a lack of high-quality spin ruining the show. Continue reading...

Events

3 d. ago Chelsea vs Bournemouth Premier League preview, team news and prediction

Both Chelsea and Bournemouth will be keen to secure all three points at Stamford Bridge to end 2025 on a high note as the two sides meet in the Premier League

Politics

4 d. ago The Ashes inspiration, overpreparation and bold tactics: a history of Australia v England two

The old rivals have clashed in eight of the 27 Tests to finish inside two days – these are the tales behind the six matches played before the current seriesTo put in context the surprise that greeted the two-day Boxing Day Test just gone, consider the rarity by arithmetic. The match in Melbourne was Test number 2,615, and was two-day Test number 27. You don’t need a calculator to see that’s roughly 1%. And yet we’ve had two such matches in the current Ashes series, plus another in Australia three years earlier. We’ve had half a dozen two-day Tests worldwide since 2021. What gives?Nine two-day Tests – fully one-third of the total – happened in the 1800s, when pitches could become swamps or shooting galleries. The next few mostly involved weak teams in their early years of development. Australia and England each dished one out to South Africa in the tri-series of 1912, and the South African team was little stronger when ripped up by Clarrie Grimmett and Bill O’Reilly in 1936. Australi...

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5 d. ago Joe Root rejects ‘silly’ talk over England management after highlighting positive trend

Head coach Brendon McCullum and managing director Rob Key both face questions after an Ashes defeat, but a consolation win in Melbourne has raised spirits

Politics

6 d. ago Sunderland vs Leeds prediction: Premier League Betting Tips & Odds

Sunderland welcome Leeds to the Stadium of Light on Sunday and we’ve got two football betting tips for the clash

Politics

6 d. ago England's win to cost Australia MILLIONS as repercussions of rapid Ashes victory emerge

England ended their long wait win for a Test victory on Australian soil as Ben Stokes' side wrapped up victory inside two days with thousands of fans in line for refunds

Economics

6 d. ago Huge financial hit Australian cricket faces for shortened Ashes Test revealed

The fourth Test at the MCG between England and Australia ended inside two days leaving a huge amount of refunds to be handed out, as well as lost merchandise and food sales

Events

6 d. ago Bizarre decision to bat Brydon Carse at number three explained by Ben Stokes

Normal No 10 Carse was surprisingly thrust up the order to No 3 during England’s second innings – with limited effect

Politics

6 d. ago ‘Finally we’ve won one’: Stokes delighted by Ashes Test win but pitch was ‘not ideal’

England captain and Joe Root revel in rarest of victories‘Narrative that we haven’t won goes back to zero now’Ben Stokes shared a hug with Joe Root and spoke of an “awesome feeling” after watching his England side claw back some respectability on this failed Ashes tour with a rollercoaster two-day victory in Melbourne.Of the England squad, none had felt the pain of an 18-match winless streak more than the captain and his predecessor. Stokes had played in 13 Tests here without ever tasting a victory, while for Root the number was 17. With both men aged 34, this tour may well have been their last chance. Continue reading...

Economics

6 d. ago Ben Stokes admits England’s chaotic Ashes win ‘not the best advertisement’ for Test cricket

England recorded a first Ashes Test win in Australia for 15 years by winning inside two days at the MCG, where chaos and mayhem reigned supreme

Politics

6 d. ago England emerge from the chaos to salvage some Ashes pride with wild two

England won an Ashes Test in Australia for the first time in 15 years, to end a run of 16 defeats and two draws across four tours

Events

6 d. ago England seal first win in Australia for 15 years to avoid Ashes whitewash

England chase down 175 to win by four wickets inside two days in Melbourne

Events

6 d. ago England hold nerve to break Ashes drought in Australia with Boxing Day Test victory

Fourth Test, day 2: Australia 152 & 132, lose to England, 110 & 178-6Tourists charge to four-wicket win inside two days at MCGStop press. Hold the back page. Drag out the dusty bunting and book three more nights in Noosa. England have won a Test in Australia for the first time in nearly 15 years, chasing down 175 runs in Melbourne to win by four wickets and ensure this Ashes series defeat will not end as an Ashes whitewash.Granted it was not a live victory, England simply dragging the scoreline back to 3-1 and doing so courtesy of a two-day heist on a pitch that made batting a lottery. But given the ordeal of this tour, and that grim run of 18 Tests without a victory on Australian soil, it was not insignificant either. Continue reading...

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