11 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

11 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

11 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

13 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

13 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

13 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

16 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

51 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

3 d. ago England v Pakistan: Women’s Cricket World Cup match abandoned due to rain – as it happened

Pakistan outplayed England and were on course for an historic victory when the weather intervened in ColomboA bold leave by Beaumont, who flourishes bat aloft but hears the death rattle as the ball nips in beautifully and clocks the top of off stump.1st over: England 8-0 (Jones 8, Beaumont 0) Captain Fatima Sana with the new ball – her second delivery is turned by Jones off her ankles for four, and her last driven past a couple of stationary fielders for four more. Sana is not impressed. The palm trees peak through the gaps in the stands, not too many watching yet Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago England v Pakistan: Women’s Cricket World Cup match abandoned due to rain – live

Cricket World Cup game reduced to 31 overs a side Sign up for The Spin newsletter | And mail RobA bold leave by Beaumont, who flourishes bat aloft but hears the death rattle as the ball nips in beautifully and clocks the top of off stump.1st over: England 8-0 (Jones 8, Beaumont 0) Captain Fatima Sana with the new ball – her second delivery is turned by Jones off her ankles for four, and her last driven past a couple of stationary fielders for four more. Sana is not impressed. The palm trees peak through the gaps in the stands, not too many watching yet Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Blackburn boss sets record straight on Ipswich postponement claim

Valerien Ismael has broken his silence after Blackburn Rovers' clash with Ipswich Town was abandoned at the weekend due to heavy rain

Events

4 w. ago Ireland v England: second men’s T20 cricket international abandoned due to rain – as it didn’t happen

Updates from the second match of the series in Malahide Taha Hashim on Phil Salt | Sign up for The Spin | Mail JimYou knew it, I knew it. This one is kiboshed by rain.Still nowt official outta Malahide. There was some action with the covers a while ago but in a ‘kicking the tyres on a clapped out old banger’ sort of way rather than a ‘chances of play are significantly improving’ sort of way. Continue reading...

Politics