22 h. ago England squad: Ivan Toney makes shock return as Trevoh Chalobah earns first call

The striker has not played for the Three Lions since last summer’s Euros

Events

35 h. ago ‘I’m the right man’: Zak Crawley ignores pressure with century against Zimbabwe

‘I’ve been made a better player by people around me’Crawley’s place thought to be under threat from BethellIf Zak Crawley showed little sign of the pressure he was under as he became one of three English centurions on the opening day against Zimbabwe, it is possibly because he did not know he was under any.The opener’s place in the team was presumed to be at risk after a poor run of form was followed by heavy hints that Jacob Bethell would be parachuted straight into the team on his return from the IPL, but after scoring 124 – England’s third-highest innings of the day after Ben Duckett’s 140 and Ollie Pope’s unbeaten 169 – the 27-year-old insisted he had heard no such rumours and had felt nothing from his coaches and colleagues except support. Continue reading...

Events

46 h. ago England rugby boss delighted with 'world class' star after injury curtailed Lions hopes

Immanuel Feyi-Waboso has not played since before Christmas due to injury but is eyeing an imminent return and England boss Steve Borthwick is enthused about the return of the Exeter Chiefs winger

Events

3 d. ago Zimbabwe’s welcome return sets the table for England’s banquet of Test cricket

A four-day encounter at Trent Bridge is a low-key affair compared to five-Test series against India and Australia but a first meeting with Zimbabwe in 22 years could yet prove crucial for England

Politics

4 d. ago ‘We are a passionately multiracial team’: Zimbabwe return to England transformed

Visitors have endured political chaos and miserable results over 22 years but cricket is finally a national gameTwenty-two years is a long time, even in a sport that measures its games in days and its history in centuries. The last time England played a Test match against Zimbabwe, in 2003, Rob Key was in the middle order instead of the managing director’s job, Jimmy Anderson was a 20-year-old tearaway playing in his very first series, and the England and Wales Cricket Board was just about to launch the world’s very first professional Twenty20 tournament. Zimbabwean cricket has changed, too. Back then the team was in the earliest stages of a transformation that was meant to turn cricket from a minority game, played by the small white population, into a sport that better represented the whole country.They have been hard years, riven by player strikes, political interference, maladministration, and a miserable drop-off in results. The team temporarily withdrew from Test cricket, suspe...

Politics

5 d. ago Ben Stokes quits alcohol to help hamstring injury rehabilitation

England Test captain to return against Zimbabwe‘It’s just getting harder to do everything’Ben Stokes has stopped drinking alcohol during his latest injury rehabilitation in an effort to be firing on all cylinders for England this summer. The Test captain is set to make his comeback on Thursday in the one-off Test against Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge, having been sidelined since December after tearing his left hamstring in New Zealand.He rushed back from a similar injury last year but his recovery this time after an operation has been painstakingly managed and Stokes has left no stone unturned to fulfil his vow to return in peak physical condition. Speaking to the Untapped podcast, the 33-year-old said: “After my first major injury, I remember the shock of it, after the initial adrenaline had stopped, thinking: ‘How has this happened? We did have a bit of a drink four or five nights ago, could that have played a part? It wouldn’t have helped.’ Continue reading...

Events

7 d. ago Mason Greenwood clears up Marseille future amid Premier League return links

Mason Greenwood arrived at Marseille from Manchester United for around £26m last summer and has impressed in front of goal, scoring 26 goals so far - but there have been rumours he wants to return to England

Politics

8 d. ago James Anderson set to make county cricket return one year on from England farewell

Anderson bid an emotional farewell to England at Lord’s last year

Politics

8 d. ago James Anderson to make emotional cricket return one year on from England farewell

England's record wicket-taker, and the most prolific seam bowler in Test history, James Anderson has not played a competitive match since his farewell appearance against the West Indies last June

Politics

9 d. ago Kyle Walker faces humiliating return to England with AC Milan 'snubbing £4m chance to sign him'

Kyle Walker moved to the AC Milan in January on loan, ending his seven-and-a-half year stint in Manchester, amid family drama off the pitch. He hit the ground running but his form soon dipped.

Economics

1 week ago Ten transfer targets for Premier League clubs from across Europe

Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City will be competing for players this summerBy WhoScoredGyökeres has been heavily linked with a return to England in recent transfer windows. Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United have all been credited with an interest in the Swedish striker, who has scored 38 goals in the Portuguese top flight this season – 20 more than his nearest challenger. Sporting will be reluctant to lose their star but the former Brighton and Coventry player seems perfectly suited to the rigours of Premier League football. This summer might be the one when he leaves Lisbon. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Freddie McCann returns with a bang after hitting century for Nottinghamshire

McCann was stood down when England star Ben Duckett made a brief return to the side in their previous match, but the 20-year-old made 138 on Friday.

Events

2 w. ago Brydon Carse poised to give England a boost with return to action after injury

The seam bowler has not played since withdrawing injured from the Champions Trophy in February.

Events

3 w. ago The Pretender by Jo Harkin review – a bold and brilliant comedy of royal intrigue

This fantasia on the life of Lambert Simnel, who finds himself a claimant to the English throne, is a romp through late-medieval identity and historical uncertaintyOne day in 1484, strange men arrive at the Oxfordshire farm where 10-year-old John Collan lives. They’ve come to carry him away to a new life, for he is not, after all, the farmer’s son; in fact, he’s Edward Plantagenet, Earl of Warwick, spirited away in infancy to keep him safe ahead of the day he might return to claim the throne of England. That day is now in sight. He can’t call himself John any more, but he can’t yet be announced as Edward, Earl of Warwick. In the meantime he’ll be given a third name: Lambert Simnel.Over the course of this fantastically accomplished novel, the many-named boy will travel from Oxford to Burgundy then Ireland, and at last into the paranoid and double-crossing heart of Henry VII’s court. The tail end of the Wars of the Roses – with Richard III’s crown snatched from the...

Politics

3 w. ago KSI reveals Paul Pogba 'talks' as former Manchester United star linked with return to football

Latest Manchester United news as Paul Pogba tipped to make a shock return to football in England

Sport

3 w. ago Marcus Rashford to set new target at Aston Villa as Man Utd loanee 'out for season'

Marcus Rashford could have seen his season ended by injury but the Aston Villa loanee is hoping to return in time for England's set of fixture that take place in June

Events