9 h. ago ‘Things are bigger than cricket’: Blair Tickner ready to enjoy New Zealand return

The bowler has re-evaluated his life and career after his wife Sarah’s leukaemia diagnosis in 2024More than two years have passed since Blair Tickner last played for New Zealand, two years in which his life was thrown into chaos, his career into doubt, his family into crisis. “Obviously people haven’t seen me as much, but I feel like I’ve been doing all the right things for the last two years,” he said of his call-up, one game into the ODI series against England. “So nothing’s really changed. I’m still the same guy.” This is not true. So much has changed, and he is not the same guy.In May 2024, while Tickner was in England playing for Derbyshire, his wife was diagnosed with leukaemia. He received the call just before the start of a County Championship game against Sussex, but because the toss had already taken place and he had been named in the XI the ECB refused Derbyshire permission to replace him, despite their opponents having agreed that they could do so. “We tried to get mysel...

Politics

33 h. ago Australia turn to controversial former captain as Pat Cummins injury blow confirmed

The Ashes gets underway in Perth next month but hosts Australia will be without captain Pat Cummins having already confirmed his replacement ahead of the first test

Events

36 h. ago Steve Smith to captain Australia in First Ashes Test as Pat Cummins ruled out

Cummins will not recover from back injury in time for next month’s series opener against England in Perth

Politics

44 h. ago Pat Cummins ruled out of first Ashes Test in major blow for Australia

The Australia captain has not recovered in time from a long-term back injury

Politics

45 h. ago Pat Cummins ruled out of first Ashes Test, with Steve Smith to captain Australia

Bowler resumes running but will not make series opener in Perth32-year-old says he ‘expects to return to bowling shortly’Pat Cummins is officially out of the first Ashes Test as he continues his recovery from a stress injury in his back, with Steve Smith to reassume the captaincy of Australia in the series opener against England next month.Cummins has not bowled since Australia’s 3-0 series defeat of West Indies in July and had been in serious doubt for the match in Perth on 21 November. After months of speculation over whether he would recover in time, Cricket Australia on Monday finally confirmed that the quick would have to sit out the game at Optus Stadium. Continue reading...

Politics

51 h. ago Noah Caluori named in England squad for Quilter Nations Series

Caluori made headlines earlier in October after scoring five tries for Saracens in their 65-14 win over Sale.

Politics

4 d. ago Luke Wood determined to enjoy his latest lease of life with England

Wood was an ever-present in England’s rain-affected T20 series win in New Zealand.

Politics

4 d. ago England face Ashes mountain but international rugby league set for long

England face Australia in a first Ashes series for 22 years, starting at Wembley on Saturday, and the whole sport may about to be given a lift.

Sport

5 d. ago Harry Brook insists New Zealand T20s 'worth it' as latest washout seals England series win

Two of three matches in series abandoned due to rain but tourists still benefit from team bonding experience

Politics

5 d. ago England win series after washout in final New Zealand T20 but Brook left frustrated

Third T20: NZ 38 for 1 v England. Match abandonedRain means only 25 balls bowled in final match of seriesEngland’s T20 series against New Zealand ended as it had started, with a washout. On a previously dry day, the weather teased and taunted. Rain first intervened at 7.17pm, two minutes after the start of play. After a brief resumption it returned, paused, gave the ground staff a bit of time to mop up, allowed the umpires to schedule a 10pm restart and then fell once again at 9.59pm. Twenty-five balls were bowled.“You don’t want to come all the way over to this part of the world and only play one game,” Harry Brook said. “Very frustrating.” Continue reading...

Politics

5 d. ago New Zealand v England: final men’s T20 abandoned – as it didn’t happen

England’s T20 series against New Zealand finishes on a rather damp note but the tourists claim 1-0 winHere we go! That’s tough on the two Tims, who had made a rollicking start.After three balls: NZ 8-0 (Seifert 8, Robinson 0) Wood’s first ball is an inswinger that swings all the way to the square-leg boundary, with an easy nudge from Tim Seifert. The second ball is a dot, and the third is another four – a full toss, thumped through the covers. But then Continue reading...

Politics

5 d. ago New Zealand v England: final men’s T20 abandoned – live reaction

Updates from Auckland as England win the seriesGet in touch! Share your thoughts with TimHere we go! That’s tough on the two Tims, who had made a rollicking start.After three balls: NZ 8-0 (Seifert 8, Robinson 0) Wood’s first ball is an inswinger that swings all the way to the square-leg boundary, with an easy nudge from Tim Seifert. The second ball is a dot, and the third is another four – a full toss, thumped through the covers. But then Continue reading...

Politics

5 d. ago England clinch T20 series win over New Zealand with Auckland washout

Just 22 balls were possible in the third match in the series.

Politics

6 d. ago Celebrity Traitors star admits 'I felt incredibly uncomfortable' in major show revelation

Joe Marler is one of the celebrities aiming for glory on the latest series of Celebrity Traitors, but the former England rugby international has admitted he felt 'uncomfortable' on the show

Politics

6 d. ago Antonio Conte slammed by Fabio Capello as humiliation earns Napoli unwanted record

The former England boss Fabio Capello claimed the Serie A champions had no "heart" and that the ex-Chelsea and Tottenham boss lacked "joy" after witnessing their embarrassing defeat to PSV Eindhoven

Politics

6 d. ago Joe Marler says he’s often questioned on whether he’s famous enough to be on Celebrity Traitors

Former England rugby player is competing on BBC series alongside household names including Stephen Fry, Jonathan Ross and Celia Imrie

Politics

7 d. ago Strictly's Stefan Dennis dealt fresh blow as he can't go home to Australia after injury drama

The Neighbours star has opened up about his sudden exit from the BBC One dance contest

Events

8 d. ago New Zealand vs England: Harry Brook and Phil Salt power tourists to dominant T20 win

England take 1-0 lead in three-match series in Christchurch after first match was abandoned due to rain

Politics

8 d. ago Rashid and Salt star as England thrash New Zealand in second men’s T20I

England, 236-4, beat New Zealand, 171, by 65 runsAdil Rashid takes four wickets after Phil Salt’s 85If rain potentially saved England from defeat in the first game of this series, in the second it arrived too late to help New Zealand. A 129-run partnership between Phil Salt and Harry Brook powered the tourists towards a score of 236 for four and, though the Black Caps demonstrated some mighty power-hitting of their own, they simply could not do it often enough, and too regularly lost wickets in trying.Adil Rashid took four wickets and Jordan Cox three catches as New Zealand were dismissed for 171 with two overs remaining, England winning by 65. By the time the forecast downpour arrived, the heavens opening as if fed up with having cricket balls repeatedly hit into them, the game was over. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago New Zealand v England: first men’s T20 cricket international hit by rain – as it happened

Rain washes out the first match of the series at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch3rd over: England 14-1 (Buttler 9, Bethell 2) Buttler gets a single off the first ball but Bethell can’t get off strike. Some free flowing shots go straight to the fielders and the pressure starts to rise. Play and a miss! Henry moves one off a length late and it is wafty-woo from Bethell. There we go – a tuck off the hip for two gets the youngster off the mark, that’ll settle him down a bit. Just three off the over.2nd over: England 11-1 (Buttler 7, Bethell 0) Jacob Bethell gets an early visit to the middle. Don’t mention the A word! He starts with two dots, a play and miss and a thick outside edge. Good over from Duffy and New Zealand have the better of the early exchanges. Continue reading...

Events