14 h. ago Why the needless mystery from Australia over Cummins and Khawaja for second Test? | Geoff Lemon

Mixed messages over captain Pat Cummins’s potential return to bowling in the Ashes are a curiously dismissive attitude towards the paying public You could speculate about whether Cricket Australia deliberately prefers to be opaque about player availability and team plans, or whether it just has a deficiency in communications, but once again the fitness of players and the makeup of the XI is left to be inferred from the selection in the larger squad of 14 players for the second Ashes Test in Brisbane.Normally, a board naming an unchanged squad would not be much news. This time it is, thanks to the possible movement in either direction of Pat Cummins and Usman Khawaja, neither of which has now eventuated. Continue reading...

Politics

26 h. ago Cummins out of Australia Ashes squad as Khawaja lays into state of Perth pitch

Fast bowler deemed not ready to return for Gabba day-night TestOpener Usman Khawaja says pitch is ‘a piece of shit’The opportunity that England squandered in Perth appears to have presented itself once more after Australia opted to play it safe with Pat Cummins and name an unchanged squad for next week’s day-night second Test at the Gabba.Beyond their match-defining collapse on the second afternoon, one of the most galling aspects of England’s eight-wicket defeat in the first Test was the fact that both Cummins and Josh Hazlewood – two members of their fabled fast bowling group – were missing. Continue reading...

Politics

28 h. ago Pat Cummins: Australia make decision over captain for second Ashes Test against England

Australia have named their squad for next week’s second Ashes Test

Politics

29 h. ago Pat Cummins to miss second Ashes Test as Australia name squad

Cummins missed the first Test in Perth with a back issue and Australia have named unchanged squad

Politics

33 h. ago Australia name unchanged squad for second Ashes Test with Pat Cummins still out

Fast bowler deemed not ready to return for Gabba day-night TestOpener Usman Khawaja retains place in 14-man squad The opportunity that England squandered in Perth has presented itself once more after Australia opted to play it safe with Pat Cummins and name an unchanged squad for next week’s day-night second Test at the Gabba.Beyond their match-defining collapse on the second afternoon, one of the most galling aspects of England’s eight-wicket defeat in the first Test was the fact that both Cummins and Josh Hazlewood – two longstanding members of their fabled fast bowling group – were missing. Continue reading...

Politics

5 d. ago Australia face nervous wait on Pat Cummins’ availability for second Ashes Test

Back problems meant Cummins missed the first Test as Australia romped to a two-day victory over England

Politics

7 d. ago Pat Cummins gives himself ‘half a chance’ of playing second Ashes Test

Australia captain Cummins missed the first Test with a back injury

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7 d. ago Pat Cummins gives injury update on Usman Khawaja after missing start of Australia innings

Khawaja was unable to open the batting for Australia due to back spasms

Events

1 week ago TMS stats man says which Ashes team of the past England should look to for hope

England go in search of their first win Down Under since the 2010-11 series.

Politics

1 week ago Ashes are hard to predict but may feature ‘cataclysmic’ collapses – statistician

England go in search of their first win Down Under since the 2010-11 series.

Politics

3 w. ago Australia captain Pat Cummins reveals target return date after being ruled out of first Ashes Test

Pat Cummins will miss the first Ashes Test but is hopeful of still playing a major role in the series

Events

3 w. ago Pat Cummins provides update on injury recovery as Australia captain reveals Ashes plan

Cummins has been ruled out of the opening Test against England in Perth

Events