40 h. ago ‘I’m the right man’: Zak Crawley ignores pressure with century against Zimbabwe

‘I’ve been made a better player by people around me’Crawley’s place thought to be under threat from BethellIf Zak Crawley showed little sign of the pressure he was under as he became one of three English centurions on the opening day against Zimbabwe, it is possibly because he did not know he was under any.The opener’s place in the team was presumed to be at risk after a poor run of form was followed by heavy hints that Jacob Bethell would be parachuted straight into the team on his return from the IPL, but after scoring 124 – England’s third-highest innings of the day after Ben Duckett’s 140 and Ollie Pope’s unbeaten 169 – the 27-year-old insisted he had heard no such rumours and had felt nothing from his coaches and colleagues except support. Continue reading...

Events

40 h. ago Zak Crawley feels like ‘part of the team again’ after Trent Bridge century

Crawley hit 124 as the hosts powered to 498 for three on day one.

Politics

49 h. ago How Mariona Caldentey elevated Arsenal on road to Champions League final

Spain’s World Cup winner will come up against her former team when Arsenal meet Barcelona after an impressive debut season in England

Sport

50 h. ago England v Zimbabwe: first men’s cricket Test, day one – live

Day one of the series at Trent Bridge, play from 11am BSTDunkley sparks new era for England | Sign up for the SpinAfter years of being ignored because England were also-rans being overshadowed by the World Test Championship, the rankings are back!This four-day Test is the first meeting between the sides since 2003, when England won both Tests by an innings. Interesting team they had, a mix of generations with a couple of bolters.Marcus TrescothickMichael VaughanMark ButcherNasser Hussain (c)Robert KeyAlec Stewart (wk)Anthony McGrath Ashley GilesMatthew Hoggard (Richard Johnson in second Test)Steve HarmisonJames Anderson Continue reading...

Politics

63 h. ago Sophia Dunkley launches England into new era with win over West Indies in first T20

England (150-2) beat West Indies (146-7) by eight wktsDunkley hits unbeaten 81 after Mathews ton for visitorsThis was supposed to be all about England: a first chance to assess how this team will fare under the new head coach, Charlotte Edwards, and new captain, Nat Sciver-Brunt. And no doubt, Edwards will be pleased that her reign began with an eight-wicket win, especially as this was a homecoming of sorts for the former Kent captain. As for Sciver-Brunt and her team? They will probably just be relieved to experience their first taste of victory in five months.But despite England’s comfortable win (brought up with 21 balls to spare), spearheaded by a confident unbeaten 81 from Sophia Dunkley and featuring a wicket on debut for the 27-year-old Warwickshire seamer Em Arlott, there was only one star of the show: West Indies captain Hayley Matthews, who calmly brought up a century off the final ball of the innings, finishing unbeaten on exactly 100. Continue reading...

Events

3 d. ago Brendon McCullum wants England team to strengthen bond with fans

England are firm favourites to deliver a resounding victory against Zimbabwe in Nottingham.

Politics

4 d. ago ‘We are a passionately multiracial team’: Zimbabwe return to England transformed

Visitors have endured political chaos and miserable results over 22 years but cricket is finally a national gameTwenty-two years is a long time, even in a sport that measures its games in days and its history in centuries. The last time England played a Test match against Zimbabwe, in 2003, Rob Key was in the middle order instead of the managing director’s job, Jimmy Anderson was a 20-year-old tearaway playing in his very first series, and the England and Wales Cricket Board was just about to launch the world’s very first professional Twenty20 tournament. Zimbabwean cricket has changed, too. Back then the team was in the earliest stages of a transformation that was meant to turn cricket from a minority game, played by the small white population, into a sport that better represented the whole country.They have been hard years, riven by player strikes, political interference, maladministration, and a miserable drop-off in results. The team temporarily withdrew from Test cricket, suspe...

Politics

5 d. ago We can’t take our eyes off the ball against Zimbabwe – England’s Harry Brook

The international season gets under way at Trent Bridge on Thursday.

Politics

7 d. ago Somerset coach Jason Kerr backs James Rew to follow in Jos Buttler’s footsteps

The uncapped 21-year-old will be part of England’s squad for next week’s one-off fixture against Zimbabwe.

Politics

9 d. ago Ben Stokes eager to ‘dominate every situation’ when he returns to England action

The 33-year-old captain has not played since tearing his hamstring in New Zealand before Christmas.

Politics

1 week ago Manchester United wonderkid called up to England after Ruben Amorim decision

Man Utd youngster Bendito Mantao has been around the first-team squad and has been called up to England again.

Politics

2 w. ago Luke Humphries 'wasn't worried' Luke Littler would snub England's World Cup of Darts dream team

Luke Littler will star alongside Luke Humphries at the World Cup of Darts in Frankfurt next month, when Humphries will be aiming to defend the crown he won with Michael Smith last year

Politics

3 w. ago England stars stutter with the bat in County Championship action

Joe Root was dismissed for one, Yorkshire and England team-mate Harry Brook hit 33 and Zak Crawley made just six for Kent.

Politics

3 w. ago David Beckham at 50: his gorgeous, outrageous life in 50 pictures

One of the most photographed men in the world, he has gone from captain of the England football team to elder statesman. We look back at the red cards, redemption, scandals, fashion and family lifeIt’s swings and roundabouts being a titchy kid in football. David Beckham first played for Chingford-based youth team the Ridgeway Rovers, where he was coached by his dad, Ted. Back then, he didn’t make the England schoolboys squad because he wasn’t burly enough – his father subsequently employing the somewhat nauseating tactic of feeding his son Guinness with raw eggs to gain weight. On the other hand, it did mean he could be a match mascot at Manchester United, his dad’s passion, at the age of 11, because he was still so cute and shrimpy. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Charlotte Edwards will bring winning mentality to England team – Lauren Bell

Former England captain Edwards was appointed in the top job last month to replace Jon Lewis after the painful 16-0 defeat to Australia in the Ashes.

Events

3 w. ago Gary Neville asks ChatGPT to settle Liverpool vs Manchester United debate as he bites back at 'biggest club' claims

Neville claimed at the weekend that the Reds had now overtaken United as the 'most succesful' team in England

Society

3 w. ago The Breakdown | Red Roses triumph again but cannot afford another World Cup wobble

Seven straight Six Nations titles is impressive but rivals may have been encouraged by the nervous finish against FranceThere are two contrasting schools of thought after England’s grand-slam clinching win against France on Saturday. According to John Mitchell, the Red Roses’ head coach, his side’s nervy 43-42 victory was ideal preparation for the World Cup this year. Alternatively, as the former England hooker Brian Moore succinctly put it during post-match TV analysis: “If they were playing New Zealand, would they have got away with that?”Between them Mitchell and Moore know plenty about World Cup disappointment. The former was head coach of the All Blacks side beaten in the semi-finals of the 2003 men’s tournament in Australia. Moore was part of the England team edged out by the Wallabies in the final in 1991. They have spent enough time in top-level rugby to know how abruptly best-laid plans can be foiled and that wanting something badly guarantees you zilch. Continue reading...

Politics

4 w. ago Six batsmen who could open for England's Test side amid Zak Crawley's poor form: The 6ft 7in youngster, County Championship top scorer and captain aiming for third call

RICHARD GIBSON: Zak Crawley's early season form - first-innings scores of 1, 0 and 1 - has reignited debate about whether the Kent batsman merits a place in England's Test team.

Sport

4 w. ago Ellie Kildunne ruled out of grand slam decider as Zoe Harrison starts at fly

Harrison edges out Holly Aitchison for the starting No 10 shirt as England take on France at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham

Politics

4 w. ago Ellie Kildunne ruled out of grand slam decider as Zoe Harrison starts at fly half for Red Roses

Harrison edges out Holly Aitchison for the starting 10 shirt as England take on France at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham

Politics