7 d. ago England’s Ashes has been a disaster but touring Australia with a disability has been ‘too easy’

Going to Australia as a freelance journalist with a form of muscular dystrophy was not without trepidation but an away Ashes was too good to pass up“Australia is not for weak men.” Had I heard Ben Stokes’s words in Brisbane earlier perhaps I wouldn’t have decided to cover the Ashes series as a freelancer. Had I known how England were going to play, I almost certainly wouldn’t.My attendance was not in any way predicated on how well England might do in the series – making decisions based on the potential success of the English cricket team can only lead to madness. But having been born with a form of muscular dystrophy, the physical requirements of an eight-week tour to Australia were more of a consideration. Continue reading...

Events

1 week ago Alastair Cook outlines stance over becoming England’s next head coach

The former England captain has been linked with replacing Brendon McCullum as head coach

Society

1 week ago Ben Stokes ready to deliver some hard truths in England's Ashes post

The England captain admits that the ‘Bazball’ approach has not been working

Politics

1 week ago Sack the vibe: goodbye Bazball and hello England’s search for a cricketing soul | Barney Ronay

There have to be consequences for Rob Key and Brendon McCullum but English cricket’s problems lie much deeper and will be much harder to fixIt seemed fitting, as the final moments ticked down at the Sydney Cricket Ground, as the day, the match, the tour seemed to ooze and melt a little at the edges under a hard white January sun, that Ben Stokes should finish this Ashes series still standing, but only just.It was at least a suitably slapstick final session in front of a scattered, holiday-ish crowd. Australia custard-pied their way to a victory total of 160, narrowly avoiding falling pianos, dangling off giant clocktowers along the way. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago The two men who should really be in the firing line after latest Ashes debacle

Coach Brendon McCullum and captain Ben Stokes are taking the flak after the debacle Down Under but the spotlight should also be on their complacent ECB bosses

Politics

1 week ago England’s Ashes humbling was more a series of letdowns than ‘series of our lives’ | Ali Martin

They landed in Perth expecting to challenge Australia but after a 4-1 defeat and more off-field revelations, the laid-back approach of McCullum’s regime is in the ECB’s sightsIt was billed as “the series of our lives” by Brendon McCullum but as he and Ben Stokes looked over towards the podium to watch Steve Smith and Pat Cummins lift the crystal Ashes trophy under an azure sky, the optimism that preceded this failed campaign felt a lifetime ago.They landed in Perth two months ago with what they and many thought was an aggressive, dynamic England side, finally set to challenge Australia’s ageing champions after three miserable tours. Cue a 4-1 humbling, offset by one maelstrom win in Melbourne but with the Ashes already lost in 11 days. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Former England players criticise Ben Stokes’ captaincy and Bazball ‘cult’ after Ashes thrashing by Australia

England arrived in Perth in November with big ambitions of a rare Ashes win on Australian soil but were outplayed for most of the five Test matches and leave empty handed

Sport

1 week ago See the shocking Ashes blunder NOBODY spotted until it was too late

After Ben Stokes fumed at Snicko's lack of 'consistency' on Thursday evening, it appears another controversial umpiring decision has emerged.

Events

1 week ago Australia hold on to win fifth Ashes Test leaving England to rue missed chances

5th Test, D5: Australia, 567 & 161 bt England 384 & 342, by five wicketsAlex Carey hits winning runs at SCG as hosts wrap up series 4-1 There were a couple of wobbles along the way but at 2.30pm on the final day in Sydney, Australia had knocked off a target of 160 runs to win the fifth Test by five wickets and claim this Ashes series by a 4-1 scoreline.Like their tour as a whole, there was a nagging sense of what might have been for England with a few more runs on the board, or better catching and tighter bowling earlier in the contest. But there could be few quibbles from the injured Ben Stokes as he watched the final rites from first slip. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Australia hold on to win fifth Ashes Test and leave England rueing missed chances

Australia, 567 & 161 bt England 384 & 342, by five wicketsCarey hits winning runs at SCG as hosts wrap up series 4-1There were a couple of wobbles along the way but at 2.30pm on the final day in Sydney, Australia had knocked off a target of 160 runs to win the fifth Test by five wickets and claim this Ashes series by a 4-1 scoreline.Like their tour as a whole, there was a nagging sense of what might have been for England with a few more runs on the board, or better catching and tighter bowling earlier in the contest. But there could be few quibbles from the injured Ben Stokes as he watched the final rites from first slip. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Injured Stokes to spend final day of Ashes tour watching from SCG pavilion

England captain suffered groin injury in opening sessionBethell says ‘I knew it was coming’ over maiden centuryBen Stokes is set to spend the final day of this Ashes tour watching on from the old pavilion at the SCG and hoping for a miracle in his absence after seeing yet another Test series cut short by injury.The all-rounder had worked hard to get through all five Tests in Australia only to fall at the final hurdle, limping off 10 balls into his opening spell on the fourth morning and appearing in distress. An England spokesperson later confirmed it was an issue with his right abductor (groin). Continue reading...

Events

1 week ago England’s Ashes centurion Jacob Bethell: I knew Test ton was coming

Bethell provided a bright moment in Sydney as England’s miserable Ashes series nears its end.

Politics

1 week ago Ben Stokes injury update issued by Jacob Bethell ahead of final Ashes day

England’s captain pulled up with a right adductor injury while bowling on day four in Sydney

Events

1 week ago England star Jacob Bethell thrilled to silence his critics with Ashes century

Jacob Bethell, 22, had never scored a first-class hundred before hitting an unbeaten 142 at the SCG.

Politics

1 week ago Bethell’s elegant first Test century presses pause on Australia’s Ashes party

Fifth Test; day four: England 302-8 & 384; Australia 567Tourists lead by 119 after late wickets let hosts back inIt was good. So good. So unbelievably good. On the penultimate day of an Ashes tour packed with regrets for England, a star was born when Jacob Bethell, 22 years young, raised his bat to all corners of the Sydney Cricket Ground in celebration of a hundred that offered hope for the future.There was no reason why England should collapse to defeat on this sun-soaked fourth day but every reason to think they might anyway. Ground down by Australia over two months, starting their second innings 183 runs behind and with Ben Stokes injured first thing, they certainly looked ripe for it. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Jacob Bethell leads charge as England look to stave off defeat in Sydney

Bethell hit an excellent 79 not out as England shaved a 183-run first-innings deficit down to single figures.

Politics

1 week ago England attempt fightback after captain Ben Stokes limps off injured

Stokes left the field with a groin injury in his second over of the fourth day at Sydney.

Events

2 w. ago Joe Root’s 160 puts England in charge before Travis Head hits back for Australia

Root was a class above his team-mates as he converted his overnight 72 into an outstanding 160.

Events

2 w. ago UK should seek ‘closer alignment’ with EU single market, Starmer says

Prime minister vows he will stay in Number 10 even as Labour party sinks in opinion polls

Politics

2 w. ago Ben Stokes calls for players to put team first as England seek Sydney win

A 3-2 series loss is the best the tourists can hope to salvage at the SCG.

Sport