15 h. ago England’s Sri Lanka tour takes on added significance after troubled Ashes series

The tourists will be under more scrutiny than they might have expected following a bruising 4-1 defeat Down Under.

Events

3 d. ago Premier League's 'most glamorous WAG' back in England as she admits 'life is crazy'

Conor Gallagher's jaw-dropping WAG will be back on English shores - as she admits "life is crazy" after leaving Madrid for north London earlier this week

Politics

1 week ago Man admits sending disgusting racist abuse to England hero Jess Carter during Euros

Nigel Dewale, 59, admitted sending hateful and malicious social media messages to professional footballer and England international Jess Carter when he appeared before magistrates

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 Brendon McCullum to continue as England head coach ahead of T20 World Cup

Major decisions expected to be made following the tournament

Politics

1 week ago Brendon McCullum holds talks on England future and ‘keen to carry on’

The head coach’s position is under scrutiny as the ECB reviews a dismal Ashes defeat.

Politics

1 week ago Brendon McCullum keen to carry on with England but wants to ‘steer the ship’

Head coach defends methods and leadership after AshesTeam culture likely to be main focus of ECB reviewAt the end of a sorry Ashes loss capped off by news of Harry Brook’s involvement in a late-night incident two months earlier, Brendon McCullum set out his position as England head coach: if his wings are clipped and his ethos compromised then “maybe there is someone better” to do the role.The caveat is key here. McCullum is keen to continue and having held talks with Richard Thompson and Richard Gould, chair and chief executive respectively of the England and Wales Cricket Board, he appears set to – at least for the white-ball tour of Sri Lanka that begins in less than a fortnight. Continue reading...

Politics

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 Arsenal transfer news: Mikel Arteta enters Marc Guehi race with 'bid submitted' for star

Arsenal are ready to enter the January transfer race for Marc Guehi after Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner admitted the England defender could leave

Sport

1 week ago The mediocre Ashes: England arrived as a rabble and Australia weren’t much better | Geoff Lemon

Australia were there for the taking but Brendon McCullum’s tourists were so poor and ill-prepared they never got closeAs far as endings go, it ended nicely. People streamed on to the Sydney Cricket Ground, wanting to get close to the trophy presentation and to have a canter on the turf. Nothing thrills an audience more than a chance to walk the stage. On a sun-kissed blue-heaven day, the match had finished early enough to leave plenty of afternoon to spare. Later Usman Khawaja soaked that up with his own crowd of family and friends, on his last day as a Test player.These endings are supposed to signal the close of something momentous. Another Ashes wrapped up, another chapter in the rivalry written. Still, once it was done, the whole thing felt like it had been more hole than doughnut. Continue reading...

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 Brendon McCullum insists he ‘won’t be told what to do’ after England’s heavy Ashes defeat

A five-wicket defeat in Sydney closed the book on a dreadful tour for England and head coach McCullum

Politics

1 week ago Brendon McCullum open to ‘tweaks’ but keen to stand firm as Ashes fallout begins

A five-wicket defeat in Sydney closed the book on a dreadful tour that saw high hopes of bringing the urn back home dissolve into another heavy loss.

Politics

1 week ago England cricket boss promises ‘necessary changes’ after Ashes defeat

England and Wales Cricket Board chief executive Richard Gould said a ‘thorough review’ was already underway.

Politics

1 week ago Kevin Keegan statement in full as his family and Newcastle speak out after England legend diagnosed with cancer

NEWCASTLE have released a full statement following Kevin Keegan's cancer diagnosis. The 74-year-old former England manager was recently admitted to hospital after suffering with ongoing abdominal symptoms. The club said: "Our former player & manager, Kevin Keegan will undergo treatment after being diagnosed with cancer having been admitted to hospital for further evaluation of ongoing abdominal symptoms....

Science

1 week ago Bethell admits ‘tired’ England need to ‘graft’ after hitting Ashes wall in Sydney

‘It was a tough day but that’s what it’s about’Player suggests spin may now play a part in TestEngland hit the wall on day three at the Sydney Cricket Ground, or at least the latest in a series of walls, at the end of which Jacob Bethell admitted mental and physical fatigue was understandably, playing a part. There were dropped catches and some scattergun bowling lengths as Australia batted all day to reach 518 for seven, 134 runs ahead on first innings.“This is proper Test cricket now in terms of the graft and the stuff that you have to put in,” Bethell said afterwards. “It was a tough day, but that’s what it’s about. We’ve got to come out tomorrow, take the three wickets early and get back in again. Continue reading...

Events

2 w. 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

Politics

2 w. ago Ben Stokes wants McCullum to stay as England coach despite Ashes loss

Captain says they are ‘right people to carry on doing this ’Stokes believes the pair can push team to greater heightsBen Stokes has said he has no doubt he wants Brendon McCullum alongside him as the England head coach, but accepted the Ashes defeat means the pair must sit down before the summer and work out how they can upgrade the team.Senior figures at the England and Wales Cricket Board are wary of making sweeping changes and with Stokes seemingly safe, McCullum’s fate as head coach probably rests on his endorsement. Continue reading...

Politics