2 h. ago England need 326 to defeat Afghanistan: Champions Trophy cricket – live

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

2 h. ago England chase 326 against Afghanistan after Ibrahim Zadran’s stunning 177

Defeat in Lahore would see England exit the Champions Trophy.

Politics

4 h. ago Cricket legend Colin Cowdrey's son sues neighbour for £350,000 saying she ruined sale of his £3.85m home by embarking on campaign of lies after row over his tennis court

Film producer Jeremy Cowdrey, 64, whose father captained England, first fell out with his neighbour Vanessa Gibson over claims his tennis court trespassed onto her land.

Economics

5 h. ago Cricket legend Colin Cowdrey's son sues neighbour for £350,000 saying she ruined sale of his £3.85m home

Film producer Jeremy Cowdrey, 64, whose dad captained England, first fell out with his neighbour Vanessa Gibson over claims his tennis court trespassed onto her land.

Economics

5 h. ago Son of 'genius' England cricket captain Colin Cowdrey in fight with neighbour over £3.85m sale of home

Film producer Jeremy Cowdrey accused his neighbour of trying to jeopardise the sale of his ten-acre country home

Economics

5 h. ago Son of England cricket legend in fight with neighbour he claims ruined £3.85m sale of home

Jeremy Cowdrey says the actions of his neighbour, who lives in a barn conversion nearby, repeatedly undermined his efforts to sell his home

Economics

20 h. ago Trott defends Afghanistan’s men with cloud hanging over England game

Taliban’s ban on women playing cricket has led to calls for a boycott by the ECB, but Champions Trophy match proceedsA day out from what is a must-win game for both Afghanistan and England, Jonathan Trott, head coach of the former, addressed the issue that is impossible to ignore during this Champions Trophy. The Taliban continues its brutal clampdown on women’s rights back in Afghanistan and Trott outlined the position his players find themselves in.“They know the difference between right and wrong,” said Trott, drawing a distinction between a team that play their cricket in exile under the previous Afghan flag and the regime at home. “They are under no illusions about where they have come from and they’re very courageous. You see that in their cricket and that’s the one thing I’ve not tried to change at all. They know who they are playing for and representing.” Continue reading...

Politics

23 h. ago Jos Buttler admits stakes high for England and his captaincy against Afghanistan

Captain hopes to banish negative thoughts from sideEngland look to get back on track after opening defeatJos Buttler goes into Wednesday’s crunch encounter with Afghanistan in Lahore knowing a win is not simply a non-negotiable as regards England’s Champions Trophy prospects but potentially his future as their white-ball captain.The washout between Australia and South Africa in Rawalpindi on Tuesday has at least clarified England’s situation. Barring further rain affecting Group B, two wins would rule out any net run-rate calculations and guarantee a semi-final berth. By the same token, it also means they are just one defeat from flying home at the earliest opportunity. Continue reading...

Politics

23 h. ago England captain Jos Buttler admits stakes are high ahead of Afghanistan clash

Buttler’s side, who have lost 17 in 24 and have surrendered both white-ball World Cups in that period, must win Wednesday’s Champions Trophy match.

Politics

28 h. ago England Test captain Ben Stokes to miss Hundred as he manages fitness pre

The 33-year-old all-rounder tore his hamstring while playing for Andrew Flintoff’s Superchargers in the Hundred last August.

Politics

31 h. ago Joe Root backs ‘brilliant leader’ Jos Buttler as England face crucial Champions Trophy clash

Buttler’s England have lost 17 of their last 24 ODIs heading into Wednesday’s must-win encounter with Afghanistan

Politics

41 h. ago Joe Root comments on Jos Buttler speak volumes as he makes England cricket statement

England are staring down the barrel of Champions Trophy elimination if they don't beat Afghanistan, but former captain Joe Root is convinced they're on the right track - despite Jos Buttler's side's struggles in the last 18 months

Politics

44 h. ago Ben Stokes to skip the Hundred in order to focus on England’s Ashes tour

England captain to prioritise fitness for Australia seriesMoeen Ali also withdraws and retires from county gameBen Stokes and Moeen Ali have both withdrawn from this year’s Hundred. England’s Test captain has chosen to focus on his fitness and his duties with the red ball, and Moeen has decided to retire from county cricket so he can grasp the opportunities offered by global franchise leagues.The competition has brought only bad luck to Stokes, who in five appearances has scored only 14 runs at an average of 3.50 and sustained one serious hamstring injury, while playing for Northern Superchargers last August. That pulled muscle kept him out of all cricket for two months and, after a recurrence while playing for England in New Zealand late last year, he required surgery from which he is recovering. Continue reading...

Politics

44 h. ago Joe Root backs ‘brilliant leader’ Jos Buttler as England face crucial game

Make-or-break match looms against Afghanistan Brydon Carse ruled out of tournament with injuryJoe Root has stressed Jos Buttler’s white-ball setup is in better shape than the Test side that buckled towards the back end of his own captaincy, as England attempt to keep their Champions Trophy hopes alive in their controversial match against Afghanistan on Wednesday.Battling to reach the semi-finals after the record-breaking five-wicket defeat against Australia over the weekend, England have endured a further blow with news that the fast bowler Brydon Carse has been ruled out of the tournament with the recurrence of a toe injury. Continue reading...

Politics

45 h. ago Joe Root convinced England on right track under ‘brilliant leader’ Jos Buttler

England have lost 17 of their last 24 ODIs heading into Wednesday’s must-win Champions Trophy clash with Afghanistan.

Politics

46 h. ago England cricket hero announces decision to retire as he reveals next move

Moeen Ali will quit the domestic game after this year's Vitality Blast campaign with Warwickshire with all-rounder keen on move into coaching following spell turning out for T20 franchises abroad

Politics

46 h. ago Brydon Carse ruled out of Champions Trophy as England call up Rehan Ahmed

The all-rounder had been struggling with a toe injury.

Politics

52 h. ago Brydon Carse set to miss England’s crucial Champions Trophy tie against Afghanistan

Ongoing toe issue saw Carse miss training on MondayEngland need victory after opening five-wicket defeatBrydon Carse appears set to be ruled out for England’s must-win game against Afghanistan this week – and possibly the remainder of their Champions Trophy campaign – after being a notable absentee at training on Monday.Jos Buttler’s men head into Wednesday’s day-nighter at the Gaddafi Stadium desperate for victory following their chastening five-wicket defeat to Australia on the same ground last Saturday. Carse, who had been touch and go to play due to a toe injury, finished as their most expensive bowler on the night, going at 9.85 per over. Continue reading...

Politics

69 h. ago Liam Livingstone hopes England can get to grips with dewy Pakistan conditions

England recorded the highest total in tournament history on Saturday but it was overtaken hours later by Australia.

Politics

3 d. ago Jos Buttler defends England selection but pinpoints where bowlers must improve after Australia defeat

Australia chased down a mammoth total as England suffered an early Champions Trophy blow

Politics