56 h. ago Premiership Women’s Rugby gears up to to surf England’s World Cup wave

New season given massive boost by Rugby World Cup that brought an England triumph, unprecedented attendances and a huge rise in TV viewersThe Premiership Women’s Rugby season begins at the Stoop on Friday, just across the road and almost a month on from England’s Rugby World Cup victory against Canada in the final at Twickenham.One of the most famous images of that day was the Red Roses captain, Zoe Aldcroft, jumping around with the trophy, an image her teammate Meg Jones has now had tattooed on her leg, and the Gloucester-Hartpury lock will be aiming to replicate the pictures if her club side defend the title they have won for the past three seasons come the PWR final on 28 June. Continue reading...

Politics

69 h. ago Ash Gardner stars as Australia condemn England to first defeat at Women's Cricket World Cup

The Three Lions fell short of redemption after their Ashes humiliation earlier this year

Politics

2 d. ago Australia’s immense quality shines through in clinical win over England

Ash Gardner and Annabel Sutherland built a huge partnership to swing the game away from Nat Sciver-Brunt’s team

Politics

2 d. ago Australia bring back bad memories for England at Women’s World Cup

England 244-9; Australia 248-4. Australia win by six wicketsGardner hits 104no and Sutherland 98no Ever get the feeling of deja vu? At Indore on Wednesday, Australia took up where they had left off at the MCG in January: Alana King bowled unplayable balls, Annabel Sutherland and Ash Gardner piled on the runs and one side left the other for dust. It is the World Cup instead of the Ashes, but the result – a six-wicket win by the Aussies, with 57 balls to spare – was horribly familiar.Sutherland’s contribution to this World Cup had been limited to being the tournament’s leading wicket-taker. At Indore, she again showcased her variations, getting a hint of away movement to clip the top of Amy Jones’s off stump, before removing Tammy Beaumont and Emma Lamb with her slower ball. Her three for 60, and a 10-over spell from King that went for 20, ensured England put 244 on the board. Continue reading...

Politics

2 d. ago Australia beat England by six wickets at Women’s Cricket World Cup – live reaction

Updates as two sides meet in IndoreGet in touch! Share your thoughts with Rob5th over: England 35-0 (Jones 16, Beaumont 14) Schutt drops short with a leg-cutter and Jones welcomes it, pulling with authority to the boundary. A delicious couple of cuts follow, with Schutt losing her length.4th over: England 23-0 (Jones 4, Beaumont 14) Beaumont is forced back into the crease with Mooney up to the stumps, and Garth keeps her there with some fine stump-to-stump bowling. Maiden. Continue reading...

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3 d. ago Australia chasing 245 to beat England: Women’s Cricket World Cup – live

Updates as two unbeaten sides meet in IndoreGet in touch! Share your thoughts with Rob5th over: England 35-0 (Jones 16, Beaumont 14) Schutt drops short with a leg-cutter and Jones welcomes it, pulling with authority to the boundary. A delicious couple of cuts follow, with Schutt losing her length.4th over: England 23-0 (Jones 4, Beaumont 14) Beaumont is forced back into the crease with Mooney up to the stumps, and Garth keeps her there with some fine stump-to-stump bowling. Maiden. Continue reading...

Politics

5 d. ago England hold nerve to beat India and seal Women’s Cricket World Cup semi

England, 288-8, bt India, 284-6, by four runsIndia fail to chase down target after Knight’s centuryEngland won a last-over thriller against India at Indore on Sunday to seal their place in the World Cup semi-finals, holding two crucial catches at the death to defend 288 and win by just four runs. Earlier Heather Knight’s third ODI century in her 300th international set up the exciting finale.India were left needing 27 off 18 but, defying England’s recent ­reputation of falling to pieces under pressure, Linsey Smith conceded just four runs from the 48th over and then defended 14 off the last to ensure ­England came out on top. Continue reading...

Politics

9 d. ago Women's World Cup: England failed to show up against Pakistan, says Nat Sciver

Lionesses’ match was abandoned due to bad weather

Events

9 d. ago Rain saves England at Women’s World Cup and ruins Pakistan hopes of historic win

England 133-9, Pakistan 34-0; match abandonedNat Sciver-Brunt admits England ‘weren’t good enough’Pakistan came agonisingly close to a first one-day international win against England in Colombo on Wednesday, reaching 34 without loss in pursuit of a DLS-adjusted target of 113 before torrential downpours curtailed their hopes of making history.England’s batting has lurched from one disaster to another during this World Cup – they had to be bailed out by Heather Knight against Bangladesh and by Nat Sciver-Brunt against Sri Lanka – and it looked like their frailties would return as they collapsed to 79 for seven in the opening 25 overs. Continue reading...

Politics

9 d. ago England captain Zoe Aldcroft on winning World Cup: ‘We had so much belief’

Back from partying in Ibiza after a ‘massive whirlwind’, the Gloucester-Hartpury forward is now focused on success in the Premiership Women’s Rugby“I was telling myself: ‘Don’t cry right now, Zoe. Do not cry right now.’ But I just knew that we’d done it.”Zoe Aldcroft is reflecting on the moment last month when she realised England had won the Women’s Rugby World Cup. There were 12 minutes to play at a sold-out, increasingly euphoric Twickenham, but the hosts had created a 20-point cushion against Canada thanks to Alex Matthews’s second try. Continue reading...

Politics

9 d. ago England saved by the rain after Pakistan expose familiar flaws at Women’s World Cup

The weather intervened with Pakistan cruising towards victory having dismantled England with the ball

Society

9 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

9 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

1 week ago England v Pakistan: Women’s Cricket World Cup game resumes after 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

1 week ago England v Pakistan: Women’s Cricket World Cup game hit by rain – live

Updates from the World Cup match in Colombo Sign up for The Spin newsletter | And mail TanyaA 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...

Events

2 w. ago England edge past Bangladesh by four wickets: Women’s Cricket World Cup – live

Over-by-over news, play in Guwahati from 10.30am BST Get The Spin, our cricket newsletter | And email RobBell bounces back. Jhelik tries to force things against the quick after a couple of dots, coming down the pitch, but her loft down the ground is miscued to Sophia Dunkley at mid-off. England are up and running.4th over: Bangladesh 23-0 (Jhelik 4, Supta 17) Smith gets a closer look at Jhelik, who hasn’t had much of the strike. The left-armer sends down another over with little drama, conceding a couple. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago England chasing 179 to beat Bangladesh: Women’s Cricket World Cup – live

Over-by-over news, play in Guwahati from 10.30am BST Get The Spin, our cricket newsletter | And email RobBell bounces back. Jhelik tries to force things against the quick after a couple of dots, coming down the pitch, but her loft down the ground is miscued to Sophia Dunkley at mid-off. England are up and running.4th over: Bangladesh 23-0 (Jhelik 4, Supta 17) Smith gets a closer look at Jhelik, who hasn’t had much of the strike. The left-armer sends down another over with little drama, conceding a couple. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago RFU unveils plan to boost women’s game and build on England’s World Cup win

Strategy includes back-to-back World Cup triumphsOther targets include 3 million fans and £60m in revenueThe Rugby Football Union has promised to “keep its foot on the gas” after unveiling an ambitious five-year action plan to build on the momentum of the Red Roses’ Women’s Rugby World Cup victory.The strategy, called Every Rose: Our Time, includes the goal of becoming the first England team to win back-to-back Rugby World Cups, and getting 100,000 women and girls playing the game across the country by 2030, up from the 60,000 who participate now. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago England make World Cup statement by dismantling South Africa in opener

Linsey Smith set the tone to back up the faith placed in the spinner as England won by 10 wickets after skittling South Africa for 69

Politics

3 w. ago Cricket World Cup: England players kept grounded as challenge begins

Head coach Charlotte Edwards emphasises pride in shirt and says team are in a great place mentally and physicallyCharlotte Edwards is drawing on her memories of playing “for nothing” as an amateur to keep England grounded ahead of their World Cup opener against South Africa in Guwahati on Friday.Edwards represented England between 1996 and 2016, playing 18 of those years before the arrival of professional contracts, and the England head coach joked this week that she could “write a book” about her tournament debut at the 1997 World Cup in India. There was also a serious point to be made to the current team, however, who were accused during January’s Ashes whitewash of having lost touch with reality following large pay rises in 2024. Continue reading...

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