2 d. ago England reveal Jofra Archer comeback plan ahead of India series

The Sussex seamer could make a long-awaited return in England whites at Edgbaston

Politics

3 d. ago Jamie Smith in a ‘great place’ to attack India in marquee Test series

Smith had never opened in List A cricket before.

Events

2 w. ago Ben Stokes backs Ollie Pope after England century sees off ‘agenda’ against him

The England captain said an answer of his about selection for the India series had been ‘twisted’ after the innings and 45 runs win over Zimbabwe.

Politics

2 w. ago Ben Stokes hits out at ‘twisted agenda’ over centurion Pope’s status

England captain says remarks were misinterpreted‘Popey knows how much I value him’Ben Stokes criticised the speculation about Ollie Pope’s position in the England team, insisting parts of the media were pursuing “an agenda” against him. On the eve of England’s victory inside three days, the captain was asked about the chances of Jacob Bethell, away playing in the IPL, returning for next month’s series against India.“If you talk about nailing down a position, Beth has done himself the world of good with the performances he put in [in New Zealand over the winter],” Stokes said. “I think you can put two and two together.” Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago Ollie Pope smashes 169 off Zimbabwe to show England selectors his class

Only Test day 1: England 498-3 v ZimbabweDuckett and Crawley also hit centuries in one-off TestThere were shades of The Thick of It after Ben Stokes gave his press conference a day out from this one-off Test against Zimbabwe. When the minister – or in this instance the England captain – said Jacob Bethell would be straight back in for the series against India, this apparently referred to the squad and not necessarily the XI.That Stokes sought to make this clarification through the back channels perhaps said more about the task at hand than England’s true thoughts on the subject. No captain would ever wish to send a player out believing whatever they achieved would be irrelevant, not least a vice-captain and team-first character such as Ollie Pope. Continue reading...

Culture

2 w. ago One more place to go – Ben Stokes targets top spot in Test rankings for England

The one-off game against Zimbabwe, beginning on Thursday, is followed by a five-match home series against India and a huge Ashes trip this winter.

Events

2 w. ago Zimbabwe’s welcome return sets the table for England’s banquet of Test cricket

A four-day encounter at Trent Bridge is a low-key affair compared to five-Test series against India and Australia but a first meeting with Zimbabwe in 22 years could yet prove crucial for England

Politics

2 w. ago Bring back that Bazball feeling: McCullum wants England to reconnect with fans

Head coach asks for ‘humility’ as huge Test year beginsEssex seamer Sam Cook to make debut against ZimbabweBrendon McCullum has called on England’s cricketers to reconnect with their fans after a period when some of their public comments, as well as their performances, may have given the impression that they are “out of touch with the general population”.This week’s four-day Test against Zimbabwe marks the start of a defining few months in which England play a five-game series at home to India before travelling to Australia in search of an elusive away Ashes win. McCullum said he had spent the “idle time” before the start of the international summer “looking at where we’ve come from, what we’ve achieved, opportunities we’ve let slip, and also looking at what we’ve done for the people that this team represents”. Continue reading...

Sport

3 w. ago Simon Reeve: we reveal the adventurer's favourite place to travel in the world

Spectacular, overwhelming, spiritual and home to seriously good street food — why India’s holiest city has stolen the TV presenter’s heart

Politics

3 w. ago India crisis talks fail as Virat Kohli confirms Test retirement before England series

Virat Kohli has followed Rohit Sharma in retiring from Test cricket, despite the BCCI's efforts to convince the legendary batsman to stay on for India's series against England this summer

Events

3 w. ago India’s Virat Kohli retires from Test cricket: ‘I’ve given everything I had’

Decision follows Rohit Sharma doing likewise last weekKohli: ‘I’m walking away with a heart full of gratitude’The former India captain Virat Kohli has announced his retirement from Test cricket.The 36-year-old’s decision comes the week after Rohit Sharma, who succeeded Kohli as skipper, also retired from the red-ball format and a month before India start a five-match Test series in England. Kohli scored 9,230 runs in 123 Tests to stand fourth in India’s all-time list of Test run scorers. Continue reading...

Politics

4 w. ago The IPL is a good barometer in India: its suspension shows us how serious this is

The IPL is so closely intertwined with India’s politics that even cricket’s richest tournament could not continue at a time of crisisIt’s not often that two sets of people find themselves in the same situation on either side of one of the world’s most fractious borders.When Friday dawned, amid swirling rumours of missiles wrecking neighbourhoods and falsehoods about pilots being captured, cricketers in India and Pakistan sensed that something was about to give. Continue reading...

Politics