43 h. ago Ben Stokes pledges his support for Ben Duckett: 'I will be there through thick and thin'

England captain addresses reports of excessive drinking on the Ashes tour

Politics

45 h. ago Ben Stokes calls for 'empathy' for Ben Duckett after 'drunk' social media video backlash

LAWRENCE BOOTH IN MELBOURNE: Ben Stokes has pleaded for 'empathy' after Ben Duckett was named in England's team for the fourth Ashes Test in Melbourne.

Politics

45 h. ago Stokes calls for ‘empathy’ for England players and pledges support for Duckett

Archer ruled out for rest of series with side strainPope dropped for MCG Test with Bethell and Atkinson inBen Stokes has called for the public and the media to show “empathy” towards his embattled England players. It comes as their Ashes campaign threatens to fully unravel in response to a guaranteed series defeat and allegations of excessive drinking during a mid-tour break in Noosa.Sitting 3-0 down going into the Boxing Day Test, England have been hit by reports that their downtime in between the defeats in Brisbane and Adelaide was akin to a “stag do”. The emergence of footage appearing to show Ben Duckett drunk and slurring his words on a night out has heightened things. Continue reading...

Sport

6 d. ago Wilfried Nancy insists Celtic soft spot is on mentality not tactics as he reveals weighty pledge to players

Hoops have conceded from corner kicks in everyone of the new boss' four defeats since taking charge.

Sport

8 d. ago Alex Carey’s sparkling Ashes century steadies Australia after England strike early in heat

Third Test, day one: Australia 326-8Usman Khawaja digs in for 82 while Archer has 3-29After the pandemonium of Perth and Brisbane’s pink-ball palooza came a more familiar opening day at Adelaide Oval. It was also roasting hot out in the middle – 35C on the mercury – and when the toss went against Ben Stokes and his embattled England players, they could easily have melted.Instead, despite some sloppiness and Alex Carey’s magical century on the ground he calls home, the tourists kept plugging away with the fight that Stokes called for at 2-0 down. At stumps Australia were 326 for eight from 83 sapping overs – runs on the heritage-listed scoreboard, granted, but short of ambitions when the returning Pat Cummins got the choice first thing. Continue reading...

Events

1 week ago Ben Stokes calls on England to show some ‘dog’ in Adelaide and keep Ashes hopes alive

Captain cites summer Lord’s win over India as good exampleEngland must win in Adelaide to have chance of regaining the AshesBen Stokes has called on his England players to summon up the rage witnessed against India in the summer and show some “dog” as they look to keep their slim Ashes hopes alive in Adelaide.After going 2-0 down in Brisbane, Stokes spoke of Australia being “no country for weak men” and stressed the same went for the England dressing room under his captaincy. Looking ahead to the third Test that gets under way on Wednesday, that comment was seemingly no slip of the tongue. Continue reading...

Politics