5 h. ago Jofra Archer ‘absolutely desperate’ for England Test return, says Ben Stokes

The fast bowler played the last of his 13 Tests in February 2021.

Politics

7 h. ago Ben Stokes calls on England to adapt better ‘when we’re up against the wall’

Test captain identifies weakness ahead of India seriesRelaxed schedule enabled team to reassess approachBen Stokes may have described England’s recent lack of Test action as “a bit odd” but playing just one game in the past six months has given the side space to reconsider their approach before the series against India.Stokes has won 23 of his 36 games in charge while losing 12 and insisted: “I don’t think it’s arrogant to say that we’ve been good over the last three years,” but with England’s next 10 Tests coming against either India – starting at Headingley on Friday – or Australia they have prepared for potential adversity. Continue reading...

Politics

8 h. ago England: Ollie Pope never in danger of being dropped, insists Ben Stokes

Jacob Bethell has forced the issue of Ollie Pope’s inclusion with some strong recent performances

Politics

9 h. ago Is England v India on TV? How to watch online, dates, times and prediction for first Test

Ben Stokes’ side face India at Headingley in the first test of the five-match series

Politics

10 h. ago It would be remarkable to drop Ollie Pope after 171 – Ben Stokes

Pope will line up for England against India despite pressure on his number three place from Jacob Bethell.

Politics

10 h. ago England are right to stick with a settled top six – Bethell should follow the Lara model | Mark Ramprakash

Ollie Pope retains his No 3 spot for the first Test and India wouldn’t mind having a bit more of that kind of continuityThere always seems to be one man under pressure in England’s batting lineup and consensus over the winter seemed to be that Jacob Bethell’s emergence had put Ollie Pope’s place at risk. Pope has clung on to his place for the start of the India series and my view is that Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum should be very careful before they mess with what is probably the most settled top six of any Test side in the world at the moment.There was speculation about both Pope and Zak Crawley before they scored centuries in last month’s game against Zimbabwe, but that performance should have secured their spots for this series at least. Bethell is a huge talent and some really top cricketers have spoken very highly about his performances and potential – clearly his time will come. He was impressive in New Zealand over the winter and since then we’ve seen exhilarating glimpse...

Politics

16 h. ago Michael Vaughan 'staggered' by Ben Stokes decision in warning ahead of India series

England face India in a Test series this summer ahead of the Ashes a few months later and Ben Stokes' lack of time batting has stunned former captain Michael Vaughan

Events

55 h. ago India Test series as important as the Ashes to England, claims ECB chief

Ben Stokes and co. face India in the first Test starting this week

Politics

8 d. ago We’ve ticked a few boxes – Brendon McCullum impressed by Harry Brook’s captaincy

The England head coach says Brook and Test skipper Ben Stokes are “two good leaders and two very different personalities”.

Politics

2 w. ago England’s Jamie Overton out for West Indies series with broken finger

Overton dropped a sharp return catch from just his second delivery in the Windies’ reply to England’s 400 for eight

Events

3 w. ago Ben Stokes claims Jacob Bethell comments were ‘twisted to suit an agenda’

The England captain had hinted at an immediate return to the Test side for the left-hander but has since clarified his remarks

Politics

3 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

3 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

3 w. ago Shoaib Bashir finally breaks through after frustrating morning for England

Zimbabwe were 141 for three at the break, still 159 behind.

Politics

3 w. ago Ben Stokes underlines importance with vital spell as England turn the screw against Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe (265 & 30-2) trail England (565/6d) by 270 runs: Back from an injured hamstring, the England captain produced a key burst of fast bowling to help his side seize total control at Trent Bridge

Politics

3 w. ago Ben Stokes strikes twice for England as Brian Bennett leads Zimbabwe resistance

Zimbabwe were 210 for five at tea replying to England’s 565 for six.

Events

4 w. ago Zimbabwe come in from cold but left crying for help at early signs of mismatch | Andy Bull

Tourists are in England for the first time in 22 years and faced dual threats of hostile batting and cold weatherOf course the first morning of the summer was the worst morning of the summer. Test cricket, like a bank holiday picnic, is a reliable way to send the English sun running, and Zimbabwe’s first day of Test cricket in this country in 22 years started under thick ripples of ominous grey cloud, and in a freezing breeze. In the shop at the bottom of the Radcliffe Road Stand staff were sent running to the stock room to fetch up fresh boxes of beanie hats and hooded tops, as the crowd, caught short by the sudden dip in temperature after weeks of good weather, made an unexpected run on their supplies of winter clothing.Zimbabwe won the toss, which was the last thing that went their way all day. “We’ll have a bowl,” said their captain, Craig Ervine, and it must have seemed like a good idea at the time. Ben Stokes admitted he would have done the same thing himself given the conditi...

Politics

4 w. ago Zak Crawley feels like ‘part of the team again’ after Trent Bridge century

Crawley hit 124 as the hosts powered to 498 for three on day one.

Politics

4 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

4 w. ago Ben Stokes targets No 1 spot in world Test rankings: ‘One more place to go’

Ashes rivals Australia sit above England in ICC tableZimbabwe Test is captain’s first action since DecemberEngland under Ben Stokes have never lacked ambition, but they go into a defining period of Test cricket with one in particular in mind: to become the first England side in 15 years to take top spot in the International Cricket Council’s rankings, officially the best in the world.“If we win what we’ve got coming up, the likelihood is that we will be at the top of that leaderboard,” Stokes said. “There’s no doubt in my mind we have the ability to be that team.” Continue reading...

Events