50 h. ago Jacob Bethell insists England remain driven in Ashes battle after punishing day

Australia had piled on a towering total of 518 for seven – 134 ahead – by the end of day three.

Events

50 h. ago Conscript Potts is England’s paratrooper fighting a lonely Ashes war in Sydney | Barney Ronay

While England’s batting always gets to hog the limelight, this tour has also been lost in the bowling fade-outsForty-five minutes into a quietly overcast morning at the Sydney Cricket Ground, Matt Potts came into the England attack from the Randwick End, and immediately began running through his variations.His first ball was wide and smashed through cover by Travis Head. His second ball was both short and wide and hacked over gully by Travis Head. His third ball was short and straight and smashed past midwicket by Travis Head. His fourth ball was defended with a show of furrowed caution, to loud, mocking cheers from a crowd that had begun to tuck into the day. Welcome to the treadmill, Pottsy. And yes, it’s always like this around here. Continue reading...

Events

52 h. ago Smith and Head hit centuries to help Australia grind England into the dust

Fifth Ashes Test; day three: England 384. Australia 518-7Host captain on 129 not out following Head’s 163 from 166They do these things well here in Australia. They honoured the victims and first responders of the Bondi atrocity fittingly on the first day of this fifth Test, and on the third the Sydney Cricket Ground became a sea of pink to once again generate welcome funds for the McGrath Foundation.Out in the middle, however, Australian charity was in far shorter supply. Across three sessions their batters ground England’s bowlers into the dust and perhaps answered some of the questions about their motivation since winning the Ashes, not least following the madness of Melbourne. Continue reading...

Events

3 d. ago The Ashes: Fifth Test state of play and weather warning as England halted vs Australia

England are looking to battle back in The Ashes to avoid a thrashing at the hands of Australia, with the fifth test offering that chance, even if the retention of the urn is gone.

Events

4 d. ago Harry Brook pleased to survive bouncer battle as England start well in Sydney

Root looked serene throughout his knock of 72 not out while Brook was involved in a livelier contest on his way to 78no from 92 balls

Events

1 week ago Glamorgan’s former England batter and ECB boss Hugh Morris dies aged 62

He was awarded an MBE in 2022 for services to cricket and charity.

Events

1 week ago Hugh Morris, former England cricketer and ECB chief, dies aged 62

Morris was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2022Glamorgan lead tributes to ‘fine human being’Hugh Morris, the former England and Glamorgan batter who went on to hold senior positions with country and county, has died at the age of 62.Born in Cardiff in 1963, Morris became Glamorgan’s youngest ever captain at the age of 22 before returning to the role later in his career, leading them to the Sunday League title in 1993, their first trophy in 24 years. Continue reading...

Events

1 week ago Former England and Glamorgan batter and ECB boss Hugh Morris dies, aged 62

Morris was the youngest-ever captain at Glamorgan, aged 22, and featured for his country’s Test side on three occasions, while also acting as the ECB’s first managing director from 2007 to 2013

Events

1 week ago Lawrence Dallaglio faces financial ruin: Bankrupt England rugby legend hit with £500,000 bill amid divorce battle and having to sell off his home

The World Cup winner, 53, was made bankrupt earlier this year after he and his wife of almost 20 years, Alice, divorced amid accusations of infidelity on both sides.

Economics

1 week ago Bizarre decision to bat Brydon Carse at number three explained by Ben Stokes

Normal No 10 Carse was surprisingly thrust up the order to No 3 during England’s second innings – with limited effect

Politics

1 week ago Duckett and Bethell were dangled out to dry by failings of a slack set

No rational judge could have expected England’s fall guys to succeed at the MCG where they were thrown on to a festive bonfireGuess who just got back today? Those wild-eyed boys that had been away. This was a day of brittle, over-caffeinated cricket, on an MCG pitch streaked with faint green ridges. But it was also a day when the boys were, however briefly, back in town.Ben Duckett and Jacob Bethell have been the two protagonists in the grainy, Zapruder-style footage from England’s six-day, mid-series jig-about by the sea. True to apparent recent form, both were here for a good time not a long time as England were bowled out for 110 in 29.5 overs. Both batted like men groping for the light switch in the dark against a new ball that seamed the width of the bat at times. Continue reading...

Events

1 week ago Duckett and Bethell were dangled out to dry by failings of a slack setup | Barney Ronay

No rational judge could have expected England’s fall guys to succeed at the MCG where they were thrown on to a festive bonfireGuess who just got back today? Those wild-eyed boys that had been away. This was a day of brittle, over-caffeinated cricket, on an MCG pitch streaked with faint green ridges. But it was also a day when the boys were, however briefly, back in town.Ben Duckett and Jacob Bethell have been the two protagonists in the grainy, Zapruder-style footage from England’s six-day, mid-series jig-about by the sea. True to apparent recent form, both were here for a good time not a long time as England were bowled out for 110 in 29.5 overs. Both batted like men groping for the light switch in the dark against a new ball that seamed the width of the bat at times. Continue reading...

Events

1 week ago Auf Wiedersehen, pets: Duckett and Bethell were (briefly) back in town but failings lie at the top | Barney Ronay

No rational judge could have expected England’s fall guys to succeed at the MCG where they were thrown on to a festive bonfire by a lack of red-ball cricket and a slack set-upGuess who just got back today? Those wild-eyed boys that had been away. This was a day of brittle, over-caffeinated cricket, on an MCG pitch streaked with faint green ridges at the start, like an under-ripe, peeled potato. But it was also a day when the boys were, however briefly, back in town.Ben Duckett and Jacob Bethell have been the two protagonists in the grainy, Zapruder-style footage from England’s six-day, mid-series jig-about by the sea. True to apparent recent form, both were here for a good time not a long time as England were bowled out for 110 in 29.5 overs. Both batted like men groping for the light switch in the dark against a new ball that seamed the width of the bat at times. Continue reading...

Events

1 week ago Freddie Flintoff had to stop ‘putting wife through hell’ after being kicked off plane

Former England cricket star Andrew Flintoff has had a number of personal battles to contend with during the course of his life, both professionally and privately

Events

1 week ago Freddie Flintoff 'put wife through hell' before reaching breaking point in plane cockpit

Former England cricket captain Freddie Flintoff previously opened up about his battle with drinking and how it affected his relationship with wife Rachel

Events

2 w. ago Jofra Archer ruled out of remaining Ashes Tests in two England changes for Melbourne

Jofra Archer has taken nine wickets in the opening three Tests of the series and shone with the bat, but Ben Stokes’s England will be without him in Melbourne and Sydney

Politics

2 w. ago England star Ben Duckett appears to be drunk during Ashes tour of Australia

A video has emerged online of England opener Ben Duckett appearing intoxicated on a night out during the ongoing Ashes tour.

Politics

2 w. ago England told they need to have 'serious conversation' around Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden

Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden are among a bevy of stars battling for a limited number of spots in Thomas Tuchel's England team ahead of the World Cup next summer

Politics

2 w. ago Six balls in Perth to Harry Brook’s drop: 10 moments that decided the Ashes

Lilac Hill warmup, Alex Carey’s glovework and Pat Cummins’ control of Joe Root are key parts of the storyIt’s not a complete exaggeration to say that Australia won the 2025-26 Ashes on 15 October 2024. That was when Cricket Australia announced the schedule for the series: Perth first, Brisbane second. Starting the series on the bounciest, most Kryptonicious pitches in Australia – and the only major venues where England haven’t won a Test since 1986-87 – was a masterstroke, especially as Australia also had a day-night advantage at the Gabba. By the time England reached more batting-friendly climes, many of their batters already had scrambled brains. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Arrogant England’s cricket machine collapses like a castle of dust in 11 days | Barney Ronay

So this is Christmas. And what have we done? The Ashes is over. With two Tests still to comeWhen the moment finally came the visuals were perfect: clean lines, neat angles, figures picked out in crisp afternoon sun against the almost satirical splendour of Adelaide Oval.Scott Boland took the final wicket to seal Australia’s unassailable 3-0 Ashes series lead, the 74th time this moment has been played out down the centuries, and immediately the white shapes converged to form a bobbing huddle. England’s batters stood in an attitude of formal deflation. The umpires began their priestly last-things walk, framed against that huge, empty, lime-green field. Continue reading...

Politics