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

71 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

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

40 h. ago Russo adds to Kendall’s early strike but England lack clinical edge against Ghana

England 2-0 GhanaYoung star Kendall courts praise from WiegmanLucia Kendall was already living the dream, slotting into life in the WSL after she joined Aston Villa from Southampton this summer with an ease that earned her a first senior call up in October. The 21-year-old made her full debut against Australia, remarkably picking up the player of the match trophy at the end of the 3-0 win.In the cold and rain at St Mary’s against Ghana on Tuesday night, it took her just six minutes to ensure the dream remains a recurring one, slotting in from close range after Bénédicte Simon had scuffed her clearance from Chloe Kelly’s cross and the ball fell fortuitously at the midfielder’s feet. Continue reading...

Events

7 d. ago AD FEATURE: Kevin the Carrot gets married in spectacular festive celebration

Aldi's root hero finally makes an honest vegetable of Katie with an eventful wedding in Leek

Politics

9 d. ago Graham Thorpe's widow says he would still be alive if his 'cricket family' had supported him after his England sacking left him 'teetering on the edge' before his suicide aged 55

Graham Thorpe's widow has hit out at the network within English cricket, declaring her husband would still be alive if he was given better support.

Society

1 week ago Slade edges England over line for autumn clean sweep despite Argentina scare

England 27-23 ArgentinaHosts hold on to secure 11th successive victory England rounded off their first four-Test autumn Twickenham clean sweep since 2016 with their 11th successive win of a highly satisfying calendar year. Argentina made them sweat in the second half but 12 points from the boot of George Ford and a productive first home start by Max Ojomoh enabled Steve Borthwick’s side to edge an increasingly tense contest.Ojomoh, on his first home start, scored a sharp early try and also provided assists for further scores by the Exeter duo of Immanuel Feyi-Waboso and Henry Slade. In the closing moments, though, it was England who were left hanging on before an injury-time lineout fumble thwarted another potentially extraordinary Pumas comeback. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago England edge over line for autumn clean sweep but Argentina fume over Curry scuffle

England 27-23 ArgentinaHosts hold on to secure 11th successive victory Up on the scoreboard England have ended their autumn firmly in credit. A first four-Test autumn clean sweep at Twickenham since 2016, a total of 17 tries scored and a winning run that now stretches to 11 Tests. By the time the 2026 Six Nations comes around those will be the primary facts when Steve Borthwick’s team regather with the aim of pushing further onwards and upwards.Their final game of the year, though, was a curate’s egg with a distinctly sour aftertaste. An angry Felipe Contepomi, the Pumas’ head coach, alleged afterwards he had been shoved and sworn at by Tom Curry in a post-match scuffle in the tunnel and complained the Sale flanker had been guilty of a “reckless” tackle that led to his full-back Juan Cruz Mallía suffering a serious knee injury and reduced Argentina to 14 men late on. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago The true cost of England's Ashes embarrassment in Perth revealed after Travis Head assault

Travis Head smashed a rapid century as Australia romped to victory on day two of the first Ashes Test in Perth, leaving England embarrassed and others out of pocket

Events

1 week ago Ashes 2025 live: England search for answers after humiliating defeat in first Test

Travis Head’s brilliant century inspired Australia to a 1-0 lead in the series after a pair of horrific England batting collapses

Politics

1 week ago ‘Shellshocked’ Stokes urges England to move on from mauling in first Ashes Test

Head’s century gives Australia eight-wicket victoryStokes: ‘Let emotions in but get rid of them quickly’Ben Stokes has warned his England players not to wallow in the pain of losing to Australia inside two days. A hotly anticipated Ashes series got off to a catastrophic start in Perth and he said they must “feel it and get rid of it” if they are to have a chance of levelling the scores in Brisbane.The England captain said the tourists were “very confident in our ability to keep Australia to under 200 and win the game”, having set the home side a target of 205. Instead, they were marmalised by Travis Head, bumped up to open in place of the injured Usman Khawaja, who scored 123 off 83 balls to power his side to the verge of victory. It was a contribution the Australia captain, Steve Smith, described as “one of the great Ashes knocks”. Continue reading...

Events

1 week ago Inspired Travis Head inflicts nightmare Ashes loss on brittle England

Stand-in opener Head scored the second-fastest Ashes century from just 69 balls as Australia claimed an eight-wicket victory in the first Test

Politics

1 week ago Ashes 2025 live score: Travis Head makes century as Australia race towards victory

England set Australia a target of 205 runs to win the first Test

Sport

1 week ago The clever Ben Stokes move that gives England an Ashes edge to stun Australia

The England captain delivered a sensational display with the ball to ignite hopes of a famous Ashes victory in the first Test in Perth, but his strategy helped the tourists seize the moment on day one

Politics

1 week ago Ashes begins with a bang after 19 wickets on dramatic day one give England early edge

1st Test D1: England 172; Australia 123-9Hosts close 49 behind after ball-dominated day in PerthThe opening day of this Ashes series has set an absurdly high bar for what is to come. England played their supporters back at home, a collapse to 172 all out like waking up to a horse’s head in the bed, only for Ben Stokes and his stable of quicks to deliver a more telling statement of their own.If they did not know it before, Australia are now well aware that this is a very different England side to those of the past. The fast forward but fragile batting was a known quantity, granted. But it now comes with a pool of high-octane seamers who will test techniques and tickers in equal measure. Continue reading...

Events