28 h. ago South Africa beat England by seven wickets: Champions Trophy cricket – live reaction

Champions Trophy updates, 9am GMT start in KarachiHussain’s truth-bomb fights back against AI robotsHow to keep 50-over cricket relevant | Email Daniel2nd over: England 18-1 (Duckett 9, Smith 0) England have two players who have held their heads high throughout this troubled tour – Ben Duckett and Joe Root. Duckett, facing Lungi Ngidi, plays two serene clips for four, as if he hadn’t even noticed that he’d lost his opening partner.1st over: England 9-1 (Duckett 0, Smith 0) Marco Jansen’s left-arm angle was a foreign language to poor Salt, who hadn’t even been able to face it in the nets as England left all their lefties at home. He managed a spank over cover for four but played and missed twice, almost gave a catch in the ring with a shovel to leg, and then got that top edge. One of the worst run-a-ball innings you will ever see. Continue reading...

Politics

28 h. ago Jos Buttler’s England reign ends in painful defeat by South Africa

Gp B: South Africa, 181-3, bt England, 179, by 7 wktsEngland limp out of Champions Trophy with three lossesJos Buttler called the Champions Trophy a brutal format before the start of the tournament but in the end it proved mercifully short. Had this been a World Cup, stretched out over weeks to milk even more television money, England could easily have surpassed that bleak title defence in India 18 months ago by way of ignominy.Instead, it was off to the airport, via the hotel, after this third and final defeat; the first time they have exited a global event without a single group win. South Africa, who topped Group B with a crushing seven-wicket win, were due to fly to Dubai on Sunday, even if the farcical schedule – dictated by India having to play all their matches in the gulf state – meant they do not know whether this will actually be the scene of their semi-final. Continue reading...

Politics

28 h. ago Champions Trophy: England thrashed by South Africa in miserable end to Jos Buttler reign

England have lost 10 of 11 matches since Brendon McCullum took charge of white-ball sides

Politics

31 h. ago England set South Africa target of 180 to win: Champions Trophy cricket – live

Champions Trophy updates, 9am GMT start in KarachiHussain’s truth-bomb fights back against AI robotsHow to keep 50-over cricket relevant | And email Tim2nd over: England 18-1 (Duckett 9, Smith 0) England have two players who have held their heads high throughout this troubled tour – Ben Duckett and Joe Root. Duckett, facing Lungi Ngidi, plays two serene clips for four, as if he hadn’t even noticed that he’d lost his opening partner.1st over: England 9-1 (Duckett 0, Smith 0) Marco Jansen’s left-arm angle was a foreign language to poor Salt, who hadn’t even been able to face it in the nets as England left all their lefties at home. He managed a spank over cover for four but played and missed twice, almost gave a catch in the ring with a shovel to leg, and then got that top edge. One of the worst run-a-ball innings you will ever see. Continue reading...

Events

49 h. ago McCullum’s challenge now is to find more than just a new England captain | Ali Martin

Jos Buttler’s decision to step down emphasises the task their coach faces to reinvigorate England’s white-ball teamsOnce Jos Buttler walked into the press conference room at Karachi’s National Stadium on Friday night, flanked by Brendon McCullum, what followed was no surprise. This Champions Trophy was always make or break for England’s white-ball captain and, after two defeats extinguished any semi-final hopes, the latter won out.The cat was pretty much out of the bag two nights earlier in Lahore when, slightly shell-shocked from England’s failed run chase against Afghanistan, Buttler said he would be considering his future. When a captain begins openly asking whether they are “part of the problem” – Buttler’s words that evening – the story rarely ends any other way. Continue reading...

Politics

54 h. ago Jos Buttler confirms England captaincy decision following Champions Trophy humiliation

Jos Buttler had been facing calls to resign as England's captain in the one-day format following back-to-back defeats in the Champions Trophy, leaving them unable to reach the semi-finals

Politics

3 d. ago Michael Atherton gives blunt verdict on Jos Buttler’s captaincy after England crash out of Champions Trophy

Buttler’s side were eliminated from the Champions trophy after losing to Afghanistan to leave the skipper under severe pressure

Events

4 d. ago England cricket captain Jos Buttler urged to resign after latest dismal failure

Jos Buttler's England side were dumped out of the Champions Trophy on Wednesday after being beaten by Afghanistan despite only needing 17 runs from 14 balls with three wickets in hand to win

Events

4 d. ago England eliminated from Champions Trophy after defeat by Afghanistan

Jos Buttler’s side lost by eight runs in Lahore leaving his position as captain in jeopardy

Politics

4 d. ago Jos Buttler considering future after England’s sorry Champions Trophy exit

Captain on brink after third group exit in a rowAfghanistan outplay England to win thrillerJos Buttler will consider his future as England’s white-ball captain after the agonising eight-run defeat by Afghanistan in Lahore that terminated his side’s Champions Trophy hopes, and left him wondering whether he is part of the problem.England fly to Karachi on Thursday for their final group game – against South Africa on Saturday – already out of the running for the semi-finals. Their defeat by Afghanistan, following the loss against Australia last Saturday, made it a third consecutive tournament failure under Buttler’s leadership. Continue reading...

Sport

4 d. ago Jos Buttler will take time to assess his future as captain after England exit

England were knocked out of the Champions Trophy after losing to Afghanistan in Lahore.

Politics

4 d. ago England eliminated from Champions Trophy after defeat to Afghanistan

Jos Buttler’s side lost by eight runs in Lahore leaving his position as captain in jeopardy

Politics

4 d. ago What now for England and Jos Buttler after Champions Trophy exit?

An eight-run defeat to Afghanistan continued a worrying downward trend in white-ball cricket.

Politics

4 d. ago England dumped out of Champions Trophy after defeat to Afghanistan

Jos Buttler’s position as white-ball captain is under scrutiny.

Politics

4 d. ago England crash out of Champions Trophy early as Afghanistan defeat deepens ODI woes

Dramatic chase falls narrowly short as Jos Buttler’s side exit at group stage after back-to-back defeats

Events

4 d. ago England chasing 326 to defeat Afghanistan: Champions Trophy cricket – live

Champions Trophy updates from Lahore, 9am GMT startRead this week’s edition of The Spin | And email JimIs Livingstone living on a prayer?Yes, says John Starbuck:Hi. Unless he produces a whizzo performance today, I suspect Livingstone will be omitted from Saturday’s game, in favour of the (now) extra spinner. What do you reckon? Continue reading...

Politics

4 d. ago England need 326 to defeat Afghanistan: Champions Trophy cricket – live

Champions Trophy updates from Lahore, 9am GMT startSign up to get our newsletter, The Spin | And mail Jim Is Livingstone living on a prayer?Yes, says John Starbuck:Hi. Unless he produces a whizzo performance today, I suspect Livingstone will be omitted from Saturday’s game, in favour of the (now) extra spinner. What do you reckon? Continue reading...

Politics

4 d. ago England chase 326 against Afghanistan after Ibrahim Zadran’s stunning 177

Defeat in Lahore would see England exit the Champions Trophy.

Politics

5 d. ago Trott defends Afghanistan’s men with cloud hanging over England game

Taliban’s ban on women playing cricket has led to calls for a boycott by the ECB, but Champions Trophy match proceedsA day out from what is a must-win game for both Afghanistan and England, Jonathan Trott, head coach of the former, addressed the issue that is impossible to ignore during this Champions Trophy. The Taliban continues its brutal clampdown on women’s rights back in Afghanistan and Trott outlined the position his players find themselves in.“They know the difference between right and wrong,” said Trott, drawing a distinction between a team that play their cricket in exile under the previous Afghan flag and the regime at home. “They are under no illusions about where they have come from and they’re very courageous. You see that in their cricket and that’s the one thing I’ve not tried to change at all. They know who they are playing for and representing.” Continue reading...

Politics

5 d. ago Jos Buttler admits stakes high for England and his captaincy against Afghanistan

Captain hopes to banish negative thoughts from sideEngland look to get back on track after opening defeatJos Buttler goes into Wednesday’s crunch encounter with Afghanistan in Lahore knowing a win is not simply a non-negotiable as regards England’s Champions Trophy prospects but potentially his future as their white-ball captain.The washout between Australia and South Africa in Rawalpindi on Tuesday has at least clarified England’s situation. Barring further rain affecting Group B, two wins would rule out any net run-rate calculations and guarantee a semi-final berth. By the same token, it also means they are just one defeat from flying home at the earliest opportunity. Continue reading...

Politics