60 m. ago Joe Root silences his last remaining critics with England century for the Ashes history books

Root’s 135 not out in Brisbane finally ended his long wait for a ton on Australian soil and gave England a platform to revive their Ashes hopes in the second Test

Culture

72 m. ago Joe Root ends long wait for century in Australia to give England Ashes hope

Root hits sublime 135 not out as tourists reach 325 for nine after thrilling opening to day-night showdown at the Gabba

Politics

92 m. ago Joe Root ends wait for Test century in Australia to boost England’s Ashes hopes

The former captain, playing his 16th Test and 30th innings Down Under, ended the day with an imperious 135 not out.

Politics

95 m. ago Root finally makes century in Australia and late burst gives England edge after Starc salvo

Second Test, day one: England 325-9Starc takes six but Root and Archer add 61 for final wicketIt was one of the most intense opening days to a Test match in recent memory. The Gabba was like a cauldron, the air as thick as soup, and with the pink ball zipping around for Mitchell Starc as he continued his bulldozing start to the series, the pressure on England felt relentless.And yet at 8.38pm local time this all melted away as Joe Root tickled Scott Boland for four to seal his 40th Test century and – far more notably – his first on Australian soil. Root insisted this tour was never about addressing the gap in his otherwise stellar CV but, even for the most self-effacing of masters, the sense of relief out in the middle was palpable. Continue reading...

Politics

2 h. ago England’s Joe Root secures his first Ashes century in Australia

Root’s lack of a three-figure score in any format in Australia was a major subplot ahead of this series.

Politics

2 h. ago Australia v England: Ashes second Test, Joe Root hits century on day one – live

Updates from the day-nighter at the Gabba in Brisbane Max Rushden: I was fearing for Crawley, not Duckett Ashes top 100 | Get the Spin newsletter | Email TanyaAustralia: Jake Weatherald, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith (capt), Cameron Green, Josh Inglis, Alex Carey (wk), Michael Neser, Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland, Brendan Doggett.The speculation comes to a close but the debate will continue across the afternoon at least, as Australia turn to a horses for course approach with Nathan Lyon left out of a home Test for the first time in almost 14 years. The off-spinner was also omitted from the XI in Australia’s most recent pink-ball Test in the Caribbean, but it still feels like a huge call to leave out a bowler who has claimed 562 wickets. Michael Neser comes in to add more pace in the day-night Test, as well as reducing the length of the Australia tail. Continue reading...

Events

2 h. ago Ashes: Joe Root hits first Test century in Australia amid chaotic start to second Test

Matthew Hayden’s blushes spared as Root takes full advantage of early reprieve with sparkling ton at the Gabba

Events

3 h. ago The Ashes LIVE: Joe Root enters nervous nineties after Ben Stokes and Jamie Smith lose wickets in quick succession

Get all the latest scores and updates as Ben Stokes's England team try to avenge their loss in Perth and avoid a disastrous start to the series.

Politics

3 h. ago Ashes: Joe Root and Ben Stokes dig in for England after dramatic start to second Test

Tourists past 200 for four at the Gabba after chaotic start to day/night clash

Events

4 h. ago Ashes 2025 live score: Root eyes first Australia century with England innings on knife

Ben Stokes’ side eye redemption at the iconic Brisbane stadium after a humiliating first Test loss to Australia inside two days

Politics

6 h. ago Ashes: Zak Crawley falls after leading early England fightback in second Test

Opener falls for 76 after key partnership with Joe Root saw tourists fight back from 5-2 at the Gabba

Politics

6 h. ago Zak Crawley and Joe Root mount England fightback after two early wickets

England reached 98 for two at tea in the Brisbane day-night second Ashes Test after losing Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope for ducks.

Politics

65 h. ago Everything said in Ben Stokes' Ashes fallout with former stars as England icon has final say

England captain Ben Stokes has faced heavy criticism after comments made ahead of the Ashes, which the all-rounder has since apologised for.

Politics

67 h. ago England to face huge Ashes disadvantage Ben Stokes knew all about as Joe Root concern raised

England will take on Australia at The Gabba in the Second Ashes Test which will be a day-night game in Brisbane

Politics

3 d. ago Joe Root and Travis Head disagree on unpopular Ashes decision after England preparation slammed

England and Australia will do battle in the second Ashes Test match later on this week with the Aussies 1-0 up heading to the Gabba, which is usually a happy hunting ground for them.

Politics

5 d. ago The week Europe realised it stands alone against Russian expansionism

Washington’s Putin-appeasing plan for peace in Ukraine has failed, but many heard death knell sounded for European reliance on US protectionKaja Kallas, the European Union foreign policy chief, asked her officials this week to dig up the number of times Russia had – in its various guises – invaded other states in the 20th and 21st centuries. The answer that came back was 19 states, on 33 occasions. Kallas, the former Estonian prime minister, was not just indulging in some form of historical mathematics. She was seeking to make a point that lies at the heart of the dispute between the US and Europe over Ukraine’s future, a dispute that has again revealed the chasm across the Atlantic about the true nature of the Russian regime.Kallas reads history books as a leisure activity and – drawing on her own country’s history of Soviet occupation – has long maintained that the Soviet Union fell, but its imperialism never did. “Russia has never truly had to come to terms with its brutal past o...

Politics

6 d. ago Are England actually honest with themselves? If they are, they’ll know they have to change | Mark Ramprakash

Ben Stokes’s batters must realise the aggressive option doesn’t always mean attacking Australia’s bowlers, and if they don’t, it could be all over in BrisbaneIt’s not over yet. There is still hope. Before the Ashes started I had plenty of it, because of England’s fantastic array of fast bowlers and because I felt they had improved on their crash‑bang‑wallop, one-size‑fits‑all approach to batting. Then the series got under way, and while the bowlers did their bit, the batters failed badly. After the two-day humiliation in Perth they are inevitably under the microscope – but while everyone is questioning England’s approach, how much are they challenging themselves?I based my optimism on some of what I had seen over the summer. In the first innings against India at Lord’s Joe Root and Ollie Pope put on 109 runs at almost exactly three an over, staying calm and building a foundation that eventually won their side the match. I watched that and admired the way they had refined their attit...

Politics

6 d. ago Zak Crawley gets clear verdict after England's Ashes failure as critics branded 'hypocrites'

England Ashes hero Steve Harmison has come out in defence of opener Zak Crawley following his dreadful start to the series in Perth - and defended the tourists over their preparation

Events

7 d. ago Historic FA Cup moment as the first mother and daughter duo play for Hednesford Town

Hazzana Parnell and her daughter Remaya have written their names in the history books as the first duo to play on the same team in the FA Cup in a stunning family milestone

Politics

8 d. ago Ian Botham warns Ben Stokes and Joe Root they must win Ashes in Australia to cement their legacies

Joe Root and Ben Stokes have not won a Test in Australia, and Ian Botham has claimed this will affect their legacies

Events