12 h. ago Curran and rain to the rescue for wobbly England against New Zealand in T20 opener

Curran hits unbeaten 49 in England’s 153-6‘He’s a very valuable player to us now,’ says Harry BrookEven before the rain fell, the start of England’s winter had become something of a damp squib. On a cool Christchurch evening their batters had been surprised by movement off the seam – “You don’t expect that in white-ball cricket, so when it does do a little bit it’s almost a shock,” said Harry Brook – and becalmed by the spin of Mitchell Santner and Michael Bracewell, and they duly wobbled their way to 81 for five before first Sam Curran seemed to rescue them, and then the weather definitively did.Only two batters scored more than 20, with the dismissal of Jos Buttler for 29, the former captain becoming the fifth man to fall, concluding a feeble start to England’s innings before Curran’s 49 improved their outlook. Continue reading...

Events

12 h. ago Curran and rain to England’s rescue against New Zealand in T20 opener

First T20: England 153-6. Match abandonedSam Curran hits unbeaten 49Even before the rain fell, the start of England’s winter had become something of a damp squib. On a cool Christchurch evening their batters had been surprised by movement off the seam – “You don’t expect that in white-ball cricket, so when it does do a little bit it’s almost a shock,” said Harry Brook – and becalmed by the spin of Mitchell Santner and Michael Bracewell. They duly wobbled their way to 81 for five before Sam Curran seemed to rescue them and then the weather definitively did.Only two batters scored more than 20, with the dismissal of Jos Buttler for 29, the former captain becoming the fifth man to fall, concluding a feeble start to the innings before Curran’s 49 improved their outlook. Continue reading...

Events

13 h. ago Harry Brook backs revitalised Sam Curran to make England T20 place his own

Curran hit 49 not out off 35 balls before England’s first match against New Zealand was abandoned due to rain.

Politics

14 h. ago New Zealand v England: first men’s T20 cricket international hit by rain – as it happened

Rain washes out the first match of the series at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch3rd over: England 14-1 (Buttler 9, Bethell 2) Buttler gets a single off the first ball but Bethell can’t get off strike. Some free flowing shots go straight to the fielders and the pressure starts to rise. Play and a miss! Henry moves one off a length late and it is wafty-woo from Bethell. There we go – a tuck off the hip for two gets the youngster off the mark, that’ll settle him down a bit. Just three off the over.2nd over: England 11-1 (Buttler 7, Bethell 0) Jacob Bethell gets an early visit to the middle. Don’t mention the A word! He starts with two dots, a play and miss and a thick outside edge. Good over from Duffy and New Zealand have the better of the early exchanges. Continue reading...

Events

14 h. ago England’s opening T20 against New Zealand abandoned due to rain

They tourists were denied the chance to defend 153 for six because of the weather.

Politics

14 h. ago New Zealand v England: first men’s T20 cricket international abandoned due to rain – live

First T20 called off after Christchurch deluge Series remains 0-0 with two matches to play3rd over: England 14-1 (Buttler 9, Bethell 2) Buttler gets a single off the first ball but Bethell can’t get off strike. Some free flowing shots go straight to the fielders and the pressure starts to rise. Play and a miss! Henry moves one off a length late and it is wafty-woo from Bethell. There we go – a tuck off the hip for two gets the youngster off the mark, that’ll settle him down a bit. Just three off the over.2nd over: England 11-1 (Buttler 7, Bethell 0) Jacob Bethell gets an early visit to the middle. Don’t mention the A word! He starts with two dots, a play and miss and a thick outside edge. Good over from Duffy and New Zealand have the better of the early exchanges. Continue reading...

Society

18 h. ago New Zealand v England: first men’s T20 cricket international – live

Updates from the series opener in Christchurch Sign up for The Spin newsletter | And mail JamesThe players emerge onto the outfield of a blustery Hagley Oval. Looks like a double cable knit sort of evening to me. Let’s play!Mitch Santner – not at all reminding me of the ‘Weatherfield One’ Deidre Barlow when he wears his oversized specs wins the toss. Continue reading...

Society

53 h. ago England and New Zealand find ‘special’ camaraderie amid hard graft

As a gruelling 2025-26 schedule begins with a T20 series, both tourists and hosts stress the importance of enjoymentEngland’s white-ball team have played 24 times this year, most recently a little more than three weeks ago. New Zealand’s have played 28 games, the latest was this month. These are groups who spend a lot of time together, but before the start of their Twenty20 series on Saturday both chiselled some space out of their schedule to do something surprisingly unusual with each other: nothing very much.Brendon McCullum took his team to Queenstown in New Zealand’s Southern Alps where, in Harry Brook’s words, they were “just left to our own devices”. There was some hiking, a bit of go-karting and, inevitably, a lot of golf. Continue reading...

Politics

60 h. ago Harry Brook parks Ashes chat as England begin ‘hell of a long winter’ in New Zealand

A limited-overs tour of New Zealand has flown under the radar, but the England white-ball captain says the Black Caps have his undivided attention

Politics

61 h. ago Harry Brook insists the Ashes is on backburner as focus turns to New Zealand

A limited-overs tour of New Zealand has flown under the radar, but the England white-ball captain says the Black Caps have his undivided attention.

Events

61 h. ago No Ashes talk in England camp, says Harry Brook before New Zealand series

White-ball captain’s focus ‘in the moment’ before T20sBlack Cap luminary Tim Southee set for coaching roleHarry Brook says there has been no Ashes talk in the England camp as the tourists prepare for “a hell of a long winter”, with the white-ball captain’s determination to “stay in the moment” so strong that he has not even noticed the ramping-up of pre-series trash talk by David Warner and Stuart Broad.The England squad arrived in Christchurch on Wednesday after the three-day bonding break in Queenstown for their six-match series against New Zealand, which concludes in Wellington on 1 November. Continue reading...

Politics

68 h. ago Tim Southee likely to only be available for first Ashes Test

Southee took up a position as England’s fast bowling consultant in the summer.

Politics

6 d. ago Harry Brook wants to use New Zealand tour as preparation for 2026 T20 World Cup

England will play three T20 internationals against the Black Caps followed by a three-match ODI series

Politics

1 week ago England among eight rugby nations who vow to ban players in rebel R360 league

Statement says R360 players ineligible for internationalsIreland and Scotland among those to impose sanctionGlobal rugby’s biggest unions have gone on the attack against the rebel Rugby 360 organisation that is seeking to poach the game’s leading stars. England, Ireland, Scotland, France and Italy, along with New Zealand, Australia and South Africa, made clear on Tuesday that players who join the proposed new competition will be ineligible for international selection and have confirmed they will not support the venture.Rugby 360’s backers, fronted by the former England international Mike Tindall, had been hoping to launch their multi-city franchise tournament next year but have now been told to back off in no uncertain terms. “As a group of national rugby unions, we are urging extreme caution for players and support staff considering joining the proposed R360 competition,” read a statement issued by the world’s leading unions. Continue reading...

Sport

1 week ago England among eight rugby nations vowing to ban players in rebel R360 league

Statement says R360 players ineligible for internationalsIreland and Scotland among those to impose sanctionGlobal rugby’s biggest unions have gone on the attack against the rebel R360 organisation that is seeking to poach the game’s leading stars. England, Ireland, Scotland, France and Italy, along with New Zealand, Australia and South Africa, made clear on Tuesday that players who join the proposed new competition will be ineligible for international selection and have confirmed they will not support the venture.R360’s backers, fronted by the former England international Mike Tindall, had been hoping to launch their multicity franchise tournament next year but have now been told to back off in no uncertain terms. “As a group of national rugby unions, we are urging extreme caution for players and support staff considering joining the proposed R360 competition,” read a statement issued by the world’s leading unions. Continue reading...

Sport

2 w. ago Nearly 100 years after her death, Oxford’s first female Indigenous scholar honoured

Mākereti Papakura died weeks before handing in her thesis at Oxford university documenting the life and customs of her tribe, work that is still used by Māori todayMore than 100 years ago, a Māori woman packed up her life as a tour guide and entertainer in New Zealand and set off for England, where she would soon make history by enrolling at Oxford university.In a tragic turn, Mākereti Papakura – believed to be the first woman from an Indigenous community to study at the university – died just weeks before completing her thesis, and in the decades since, her family has fought to have her degree recognised. Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago The Breakdown | Every World Cup match felt like a celebration of women’s rugby – the breakthrough we’ve dreamed of

When I started covering the Red Roses they played Six Nations games after many fans had left, but their World Cup triumph at a sold-out Twickenham is a new dawnA turning point, a line in the sand, a pivotal moment. Whatever you want to call it, this Rugby World Cup, and the final in particular, is a point women’s rugby won’t be turning back from. The showpiece at a sold-out Twickenham was a moment decades in the making, a long-held dream for so many in the sport.This summer has been unbelievable. The sight of thousands of fans in the stands, and not only for the England games, was just what the game needed. People travelled from abroad to support their nations but local communities also turned out for all 16 teams, which led Ruahei Demant, the New Zealand co-captain, to call England “world-leading” in supporting women’s sport. Every match also felt like a celebration of the game, whether that was down to players being applauded off their coaches, a fan at Twickenham saying “we’re al...

Politics

2 w. ago World Rugby confident other nations will catch up World Cup winners England

England secured World Cup triumph on home soil in front of a capacity crowd

Politics

3 w. ago Zoe Aldcroft ranks England among rugby’s greatest teams after World Cup success

Victory in the final at the Allianz Stadium saw the Red Roses extend their winning run to 33 matches.

Politics

3 w. ago Can England live up to World Cup favourites tag? – Talking Points

The Red Roses take on Canada at Allianz Stadium on Saturday.

Politics