16 h. ago Joe Root dismisses David Warner’s jibe as ‘all part of the fun’

The Trent Rockets batter is set to play against the former Australia opener in The Hundred on Thursday.

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5 d. ago Richard Hammond drops major hint Top Gear could return after BBC axed show following Flintoff crash

Top Gear has been on indefinite pause since December 2022, when former England cricket captain Flintoff was seriously injured during filming

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6 d. ago Joe Root’s appetite for runs impresses fellow ‘Fab Four’ member Kane Williamson

Root shows no sign of slowing down with 22 hundreds in his last 61 Tests.

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7 d. ago Jos Buttler aims to follow Joe Root’s lead and thrive as an ex

Buttler has handed the white-ball baton to Harry Brook.

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8 d. ago The Spin | Strapple, greeble, slog and kiss: how cricket’s language turns a game of numbers into poetry

There are more than 100 ways to describe hitting a ball, and that is just the start of an ever-expanding lexiconJoe Root shifts his weight forward, rising with the lifting ball from back of a good length. As it nears his body he moves his hands and bat towards the ball. In one seamless motion, with the ball under his eyes, he adjusts his weight back a touch, twisting his wrists to open the face of the blade. He lets the ball come to him before directing it through the gap between third slip and gully.That is a lot of words to say that Joe Root has yet again steered one behind square for four.This is an extract from the Guardian’s weekly cricket email, The Spin. To subscribe, just visit this page and follow the instructions. Continue reading...

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8 d. ago Next up, the Ashes – and England will need Ben Stokes at his all

England’s batting lineup looks settled for the trip to Australia, but their fast-bowling stocks were stretched against India and the captain can help ease the burdenThe England-India epic that ended up like two weary prizefighters trading blows will live long in the memory – a 2‑2 classic for which the players on both sides deserve immense credit. Not that Mohammed Siraj, still hitting 90mph on the speed gun on the 25th day, showed weariness. If anything, he could well hold the key to solving the world’s energy problems.Plaudits in particular go to three men who stepped up bravely when other sports would have simply subbed them off: Shoaib Bashir bowled with a broken left hand at Lord’s; Rishabh Pant batted with a broken foot at Old Trafford; and then Chris Woakes, Horatio Nelson armed with a Gray-Nicolls, followed him in folklore at the Oval. Don’t be fooled by the white flannels and the stoppages for tea – Test cricket is a brutal sport. Continue reading...

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8 d. ago Pope’s form, Stokes’ fitness and pace options – the questions facing England

Attention will quickly turn from an epic series against India to this winter’s Ashes.

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8 d. ago Intensity of India series will help England in Ashes battle – Brendon McCullum

McCullum says the series will have built resilience within his team.

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9 d. ago Ashes 2025/26 UK TV broadcaster confirmed as announcement is made

Ben Stokes' England side take on Australia Down Under in a five-Test series beginning in November and concluding in January.

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9 d. ago England’s Ashes series in Australia to be shown by TNT Sports

Ben Stokes’ side will try to win back the urn, starting with the first Test in Perth in November, with TNT Sports now set to show the five-Test series after a thrilling 2-2 draw with India concluded England’s Test cricket summer

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9 d. ago TNT Sports secures live rights to England’s Ashes series in Australia

Broadcaster will now show all of men’s winter tourTests added to white-ball deals in NZ and Sri LankaEngland’s attempt to regain the Ashes this winter will be broadcast live in the UK by TNT Sports. After agreeing a one-year deal with Cricket Australia over the weekend TNT now has the rights for all of England’s winter tours, as the broadcaster had deals in place to cover white-ball series in New Zealand and Sri Lanka either side of the Ashes.TNT’s predecessor, BT Sport, bought the rights for the past two Ashes tours so the new deal may be inauspicious for Ben Stokes’s side as their viewers have not seen England win a single game. England have lost 13 of the past 15 Tests they have played in Australia, which shows the size of the task for the touring side this winter. Continue reading...

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9 d. ago Stokes’ fitness, Pope’s form and pace options – the questions facing England

Attention will quickly turn from an epic series against India to this winter’s Ashes.

Politics

9 d. ago ‘Amazing’ series shows Test cricket is not dying – Ben Stokes

India completed a dramatic victory in the fifth Test at the Oval, despite Chris Woakes batting with a dislocated shoulder, to draw the series 2-2.

Events

1 week ago Stuart Broad criticises ‘lazy decision’ to halt Oval Test with England

The enthralling five-Test battle will go to the very last day with England leading 2-1 and requiring 35 runs to win the match, while India need four wickets to draw the series

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1 week ago Harry Brook and Joe Root set up thrilling series finale after Mohammed Siraj’s comic mistake turns fifth Test England’s way

The fifth Test was left on a cliffhanger with England needing 35 more runs to clinch the match as India chase four more wickets to draw the series

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1 week ago Joe Root pays emotional tribute to Graham Thorpe after superb ton puts England on brink

Joe Root has confirmed that Chris Woakes will bat with a dislocated shoulder if England need him to as the fifth Test will go down to the wire on the final day

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1 week ago Joe Root gives Chris Woakes injury update before huge England vs India final day

England need 35 runs to win on the final day with four wickets in hand

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1 week ago Mohammed Siraj’s comic mistake turns Test for England as Harry Brook and Joe Root set up thrilling finale

The fifth Test was left on a cliffhanger with England needing 35 more runs to clinch the match as India chase four more wickets to draw the series

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1 week ago Chris Woakes ‘all in’ and will bat with dislocated shoulder if needed – Joe Root

England need 35 runs on day five against India, with four wickets standing including that of the stricken Woakes.

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1 week ago Woakes ‘ready to bat if needed’ says Root as England put bodies on line to seal victory

England bowler left the pitch injured on day oneRoot frustrated with dismissal despite 39th Test centuryChris Woakes is poised to slip his left arm out of its sling and return to action just four days after a ­serious shoulder injury as England, with four wickets in hand, seek the 35 runs required to seal the final Test against India and with it the series.The scans on the shoulder Woakes injured on the opening day may have suggested he would be out of action for many months, but the 36-year-old is preparing himself to bat if required. Continue reading...

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