16 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

16 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

16 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

18 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

56 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

63 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

64 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

64 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

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

8 d. ago Harry Brook admits Pat Cummins’ absence could boost England’s Ashes chances

Injured Australian captain set to miss at least Perth testBrook expects Stokes to play all five Tests in AustraliaHarry Brook believes Pat Cummins potentially missing the start of the Ashes would play into English hands but warned that Australia’s depth in pace bowlers means any replacement should not be underestimated.With just six weeks to go until the first Test in Perth, the fitness of Cummins remains a major talking point following the detection of a lower back stress injury earlier this year. According to some reports, his entire series could even be in jeopardy. Continue reading...

Politics

8 d. ago Harry Brook says Pat Cummins’ absence could play into England’s hands at Ashes

Injured Australian captain set to miss at least Perth testBrook expects Stokes to play all five Tests in AustraliaHarry Brook believes Pat Cummins potentially missing the start of the Ashes would play into English hands but warned that Australia’s depth in pace bowlers means any replacement should not be underestimated.With just six weeks to go until the first Test in Perth, the fitness of Cummins remains a major talking point following the detection of a lower back stress injury earlier this year. According to some reports, his entire series could even be in jeopardy. Continue reading...

Politics

8 d. ago Harry Brook says Pat Cummins’ absence could boost England’s Ashes hopes

Injured Australian captain set to miss at least Perth TestBrook expects Stokes to play all five Tests in Australia Harry Brook believes Pat Cummins potentially missing the start of the Ashes would play into English hands but warned that Australia’s depth in pace bowlers means any replacement should not be underestimated.With only six weeks to go until the first Test in Perth, the fitness of Cummins remains a major talking point following the detection of a lower back stress injury earlier this year. According to some reports his entire series could even be in jeopardy. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Rob Key insists Brook’s England promotion is not ‘scheme’ to oust Pope

Key all but confirms Woakes’ international career is overBrook replaces Pope as vice-captain for Ashes seriesRob Key has all but confirmed that Chris Woakes has played his last game for England and insisted that Harry Brook’s promotion to vice-captain for the Ashes is not “an elaborate scheme” to oust Ollie Pope from the team.Speaking a day after naming a 16-man squad to take on Australia, Key, the team director, clarified the selections – not least the late switch in deputy for Ben Stokes – and confirmed that Woakes missed out due to the dislocated shoulder sustained during the final Test of the summer. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago England lay down gauntlet after naming five 90mph seamers in Ashes squad

Wood, Archer, Atkinson, Carse and Tongue lead attackWill Jacks gets nod over Rehan Ahmed as reserve spinnerAlready the quickest scoring team in Test cricket, England will hit Australia with their fastest bowling attack for a generation – perhaps all time – after announcing their 16-man squad for this winter’s Ashes assault.A late curveball from Rob Key’s panel is the inclusion of Surrey’s Will Jacks, offering an attacking option with the bat and serving as the reserve spinner to Shoaib Bashir. Otherwise, the squad is largely as expected, including confirmation that Harry Brook has replaced Ollie Pope as vice-captain. Continue reading...

Politics

4 w. ago Sonny Baker gives a candid assessment of his chastening debut for England

The 22-year-old is hoping for a dry Sunday.

Politics