Stuart Broad and Jack Leach vie for final starting spot with James Anderson ruled out of first Ashes Test
England are considering starting their Ashes campaign without both their all-time leading wicket-takers after naming a 12-man squad this morning. It was confirmed James Anderson is rested…
Joe Root declares himself ready for Ashes series that will ‘define my captaincy’
England captain Joe Root has declared himself ready for an Ashes series that he admitted would “define my captaincy”. Statistically Root is already his country’s most successful…
The making of Pat Cummins: From men’s cricket aged 13 to Australia’s Ashes skipper… via a severed finger
He scored 118 in one innings as an 11-year-old, quite the achievement at that age, and just seven years later he had gone from playing at Glenbrook’s…
Aussies think they are tough – but the Luton league was far tougher
Australia is a hostile environment. The weather, the wildlife and – yes – the cricket fans are all out to get you, or at least that’s how…
Sorry England, but pace really does matter in Australia
Given the importance of runs scored, performance by spinners and a host of other factors, the difficulty comes in proving a direct cause and effect between speed…
What England’s batsmen must do to stand a chance in the Ashes
Jos Buttler hasn’t done anything of note in Ashes Tests in England – he’s played 10 and is averaging only 20.5. And he hasn’t played a Test…
Ollie Robinson: I won’t take a backwards step against Aussies – and have got a plan for Steve Smith
Ollie Robinson has vowed to get “under the skins” of the Australia batsmen and believes he may have found out a way to solve the puzzle of…
Joe Root must exploit Pat Cummins’ captaincy inexperience — and make him doubt himself
The clash of the two captains will define this Ashes series and it will be fascinating to watch the duel between Joe Root and Pat Cummins. It…
Broken ribs, Andrew Strauss’s dancing and winding up Ricky Ponting — how the 2010-11 Ashes were won
Chris Tremlett can still the moment he broke James Anderson’s rib. England’s players had gathered for a pre-Ashes boot camp in Germany in 2010, and for reasons…
Azeem Rafiq case and Tim Paine scandal should be off limits for Ashes sledging, says Chris Woakes
Woakes batted for the Lions XI and may well have to wait for his chance in the Ashes series while Ollie Robinson bowled 12 overs for England…
Expected averages and smart selections – how cricket’s data revolution could decide the Ashes
The ongoing data revolution in cricket has changed the game forever. Teams now have all the statistics and analysis they need to come up with smarter on-field…
Marnus Labuschagne exclusive interview: Australia’s ultimate cricket nerd out to burst England’s bubble
It is the “intensity” that was Labuschagne’s abiding memory from his first skirmishes in Ashes cricket over four Tests in 2019, when he followed up that half-century…
England fans beware – tourists have never gone into an Ashes tour Down Under so underprepared
Rain stopped play Down Under After being thrashed in consecutive Ashes series Down Under – England could hardly complain that the combined 9-0 scoreline from the 10…
Ashley Giles supports Joe Root and England halting Ashes Test due to racist abuse from crowds
Ashley Giles has said that he would support England if they chose to stop an Ashes Test because of racist abuse from crowds. “I’d certainly trust Joe…
Why traditional tour matches have been sacrificed in the pursuit of Ashes success
Before the first Ashes Test begins at the Gabba a week on Wednesday, England’s sole opponents will be the England Lions, the national second string. On one…
‘He’s got my full support’: Nathan Lyon wants Tim Paine to remain Australia keeper for Ashes
Spinner Nathan Lyon has called for Tim Paine to retain his spot in Australia’s side after the Tasmanian resigned as captain over inappropriate behaviour. The 36-year-old announced…
Pat Cummins named new Australian Test captain as Tim Paine takes leave of absence over sexting scandal
The news came as Paine’s manager, James Henderson, confirmed Paine would miss the Ashes as he take an immediate leave of absence from cricket for mental health…
‘All the players support him’: Tim Paine backed to retain spot as Aussie keeper despite resigning as captain
Australian batsman Marcus Harris has backed Tim Paine to remain as Test wicketkeeper despite his resignation as captain over a ‘sexting’ scandal. Paine resigned as Test skipper…
Tasmania chairman labels treatment of Tim Paine as ‘worst of an Australia Test captain in 50 years’
Cricket Tasmania chairman Andrew Gaggin has condemned Cricket Australia’s “appalling” treatment of Tim Paine, saying he should never have been put in a position where he felt…
Tim Paine sexting scandal deepens as it is claimed brother-in-law sent lewd messages to the same woman
The ‘sexting’ scandal that has rocked Australian cricket took another extraordinary turn after it was alleged that Tim Paine’s brother-in-law sent lewd messages, including an “unwelcome and…