Jos Buttler’s decision to step down emphasises the task their coach faces to reinvigorate England’s white-ball teamsOnce Jos Buttler walked into the press conference room at Karachi’s National Stadium on Friday night, flanked by Brendon McCullum, what followed was no surprise. This Champions Trophy was always make or break for England’s white-ball captain and, after two defeats extinguished any semi-final hopes, the latter won out.The cat was pretty much out of the bag two nights earlier in Lahore when, slightly shell-shocked from England’s failed run chase against Afghanistan, Buttler said he would be considering his future. When a captain begins openly asking whether they are “part of the problem” – Buttler’s words that evening – the story rarely ends any other way. Continue reading...

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Updates from the final group match at Gaddafi StadiumAny thoughts? Get in touch with Jim on email5th over: Afghanistan 23-1 (Ibrahim 3, Sediq 6) Johnson, who is moving the ball both in the air and on the pitch, beats Sediq with three successive deliveries. As Ian Smith says on commentary, Afghanistan just need to get through this spell – it’s fine if they are 40 for 1 after 10 overs.4th over: Afghanistan 20-1 (Ibrahim 1, Sediq 5) So far Dwarshuis has been able to control the swing pretty well; two from his second over. Continue reading...

Politics

Jos Buttler had been facing calls to resign as England's captain in the one-day format following back-to-back defeats in the Champions Trophy, leaving them unable to reach the semi-finals

Politics

Updates from the final group match at Gaddafi StadiumPlay starts in Lahore at 2pm local/8pm AEDT/9am GMTAny thoughts? Get in touch with Jim on email5th over: Afghanistan 23-1 (Ibrahim 3, Sediq 6) Johnson, who is moving the ball both in the air and on the pitch, beats Sediq with three successive deliveries. As Ian Smith says on commentary, Afghanistan just need to get through this spell – it’s fine if they are 40 for 1 after 10 overs.4th over: Afghanistan 20-1 (Ibrahim 1, Sediq 5) So far Dwarshuis has been able to control the swing pretty well; two from his second over. Continue reading...

Politics

Elimination from the Champions Trophy will surely end Jos Buttler’s tenure as white- ball captain, but is the lack of 50-over domestic cricket the biggest problem?The diagnosis after England’s Test team hit rock bottom during that wretched Ashes winter of 2021-22 was a pretty shrewd one by Rob Key. Newly hired as director of men’s cricket, Key recognised that the players, good enough but grossly underperforming, had been ground down by the pandemic and its joyless treadmill of fixture fulfilment.In came Brendon McCullum as the antipodean antidote to their negativity on and off the field. He was not a technical hire – although he analyses more information than the golf-bro image suggests – rather a relentlessly positive one who would double down on the aggressive outlook of Ben Stokes, his new captain, and not meet fire with ice. Continue reading...

Science

The Australia fast bowler is also dealing with an ankle issue after withdrawing from the tournament in Pakistan

Politics

Buttler’s side were eliminated from the Champions trophy after losing to Afghanistan to leave the skipper under severe pressure

Events

Jos Buttler's England side were dumped out of the Champions Trophy on Wednesday after being beaten by Afghanistan despite only needing 17 runs from 14 balls with three wickets in hand to win

Events

Jos Buttler’s side lost by eight runs in Lahore leaving his position as captain in jeopardy

Politics

Buttler’s side were eliminated from the Champions trophy after losing to Afghanistan.

Politics

Captain on brink after third group exit in a rowAfghanistan outplay England to win thrillerJos Buttler will consider his future as England’s white-ball captain after the agonising eight-run defeat by Afghanistan in Lahore that terminated his side’s Champions Trophy hopes, and left him wondering whether he is part of the problem.England fly to Karachi on Thursday for their final group game – against South Africa on Saturday – already out of the running for the semi-finals. Their defeat by Afghanistan, following the loss against Australia last Saturday, made it a third consecutive tournament failure under Buttler’s leadership. Continue reading...

Sport

England were knocked out of the Champions Trophy after losing to Afghanistan in Lahore.

Politics

England were embarrassed by Afghanistan in Lahore and knocked out of the Champions Trophy at the group stage, leaving Buttler to consider whether his time is up

Politics

Jos Buttler’s side lost by eight runs in Lahore leaving his position as captain in jeopardy

Politics

An eight-run defeat to Afghanistan continued a worrying downward trend in white-ball cricket.

Politics

Jos Buttler’s position as white-ball captain is under scrutiny.

Politics

Dramatic chase falls narrowly short as Jos Buttler’s side exit at group stage after back-to-back defeats

Events

Champions Trophy updates from Lahore, 9am GMT startRead this week’s edition of The Spin | And email JimIs Livingstone living on a prayer?Yes, says John Starbuck:Hi. Unless he produces a whizzo performance today, I suspect Livingstone will be omitted from Saturday’s game, in favour of the (now) extra spinner. What do you reckon? Continue reading...

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Champions Trophy updates from Lahore, 9am GMT startSign up to get our newsletter, The Spin | And mail Jim Is Livingstone living on a prayer?Yes, says John Starbuck:Hi. Unless he produces a whizzo performance today, I suspect Livingstone will be omitted from Saturday’s game, in favour of the (now) extra spinner. What do you reckon? Continue reading...

Politics

Defeat in Lahore would see England exit the Champions Trophy.

Politics