2 h. ago Brendon McCullum admits England’s Ashes preparation ‘didn’t work’

England finally took a Test match into the fifth day in South Australia but an 82-run defeat leaves them 3-0 down to Australia.

Politics

22 h. ago Pat Cummins primed to pop the corks after bursting England’s fragile bubble | Geoff Lemon

Australia’s captain marvel, the ultimate flat-wicket operator, stormed into this third Ashes Test like he had never been awayOn a redundancy scale, attending the Adelaide Test and noting that Pat Cummins was good is in the realm of noting that the Torrens was wet or the cathedral was spiky. Still, on day four, any one of those obvious things might justifiably have caught an observer’s eye. Perhaps it’s more notable just how natural, how inevitable, it felt that Cummins was indeed bowling at his best in his first match back after a nascent stress fracture cost him the first two Tests of this Ashes series and any match preparation before that.England observers will spend four years until their team’s next visit pondering explanations for this year’s poor showing, inevitably including much examination of the lack of chances for their bowlers to adjust to Australian conditions. Cummins spent five months in the gym and the nets without once seeing the middle of a ground, latterly powerin...

Politics

2 w. ago Joe Root and Travis Head disagree on unpopular Ashes decision after England preparation slammed

England and Australia will do battle in the second Ashes Test match later on this week with the Aussies 1-0 up heading to the Gabba, which is usually a happy hunting ground for them.

Politics

3 w. ago Ben Stokes hits back at 'arrogant' accusation and defends England preparations for Ashes series

Ben Stokes spoke to the media ahead of England's second Ashes Test against Australia at the Gabba next week

Events

3 w. ago What England's Ashes flops are doing ahead of crucial second Test in Brisbane

The England cricket team's preparations are under the spotlight after Ben Stokes's side capitulated to a two-day defeat in the first Test in Perth

Politics

3 w. ago Ian Botham lambasts England’s ‘absolute nonsense’ Ashes preparation: ‘Nets are for fishing’

Botham has once again hit out at England’s lack of a proper warm-up match after a harrowing first Test defeat in Perth, with their focus on net practice instead

Politics