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Cast your mind back two months to George Bailey naming Australia’s squad for the first Test of the Ashes in the conference room of a Gold Coast hotel. Even with the absence of captain Pat Cummins, the squad is a familiar roll call. Smith? Present. Starc? Here. Hazlewood? Yep (for now). Head, Lyon, Khawaja, they’re all there. The usuals -well, Weatherald is a new one. And so is Doggett – but he won’t be needed with Boland, right? Plus Cummins will be back soon. No room for you, Neser. Bar Hazlewood, the players who milled about on the sun-kissed Sydney…
Usman Khawaja admits the occasion got to him as he walked out in Test cricket for the final time As Usman Khawaja left the field for the final time as an international cricketer, he dropped to his knees. Moments after blowing a kiss to his wife Rachel and family in the crowd, he put his forehead on the hallowed Sydney Cricket Ground turf, just shy of the painted sign in his honour which read, “Thanks Uzzy #419”. It was a solemn moment for Khawaja to reflect and show his gratitude. Never had an Aussie Test cricketer signed off like this…
Here is how we rated England’s players out of 10 after the 4-1 Ashes series defeat in Australia…Jofra Archer – 6/10Nine wickets across six innings at 27.11; best of 5-53102 runs in six innings at 25.50; best of 51 Archer’s series ended early after a left side strain but he was one of England’s best performers to that point, demonstrating pace and hostility with the ball and showing up many of his team’s batters with a half-century in Adelaide and dashing 38 in Brisbane. Archer received unfair criticism after his fiery last burst in the pink-ball Test, with many asking…
‘We’re in an interesting place as a team’: Stokes England coach Ben Stokes says a rethink of their ‘Bazball’ style of play is warranted, while embattled coach Brendon McCullum indicated he’d push back against major change to their set up after the Ashes loss. England officials confirmed on Thursday a thorough review of their tour was already underway, including planning, preparation, performance and behaviours. In a statement, England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) boss Richard Gould said the organisation’s focus was already on regaining the urn from Australia at home in 2027. Since taking over as coach in 2022 following…
England’s Harry Brook has apologised for “embarrassing myself and the team” after an altercation with a nightclub bouncer in New Zealand last autumn.A report in The Telegraph said Brook, England’s white-ball captain, was hit by the bouncer the night before the third ODI in Wellington on November 1 after being denied entry to the club. The 26-year-old has been issued with a final warning and fined approximately £30,000. Image: Brook became England white-ball captain when Jos Buttler departed the role after the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy Brook said in his statement: “I want to apologise for my actions. I fully…
The ACT Meteors handed Victoria a 48-run loss riding on Annie Wikman’s impressive 142 off 136 set ACT Meteors v Victoria | WNCL Annie Wikman’s wonderful week has continued in Canberra as her maiden WNCL century set up the ACT Meteors’ second win against Victoria in three days. The 24-year-old was also the player of the match for her 62no off 58 when the hosts defeated the languishing side two days ago. On Thursday, Wikman did everything – scored runs, took a wicket and, fittingly, took the catch as the final Victorian wicket fell to seal a 48-run win for…
After retaining the Ashes with a 4-1 series win, Mitch Starc and Steve Smith will turn their attention towards respective returns for the Sixers in BBL|15 Ashes heroes Mitch Starc and Steve Smith will return to the KFC Big Bash League for the Sydney Sixers in the coming days following Australia’s triumphant 4-1 series win over England. The pair confirmed their involvement in Australia’s post-match press conference, with a host of other Australian Ashes winners also expected to confirm their involvement in the Big Bash. Starc will feature in magenta for the first time since BBL|04 to add to his…
Jake Weatherald showed glimpses without fully cementing his spot in the Test side during the Ashes but will be hoping to hold his spot for Bangladesh’s Top End tour Tensions rise between Carse, Weatherald after DRS drama Steve Smith said Jake Weatherald did “a good job” in his first Test series as the 31-year-old eyes a fairytale home Test in Darwin mid-year in Australia’s next engagement. Having survived the latest Snicko controversy following a review for caught behind on 16, Weatherald managed 34 in Australia’s second innings at the SCG before a top edge was well caught at fine leg…
Under-pressure England head coach Brendon McCullum says he is willing to evolve his methods – but will not “rip up the script completely” if he is allowed to continue in the role following the 4-1 Ashes defeat in Australia.England lost the series in just 11 days of cricket after an error-strewn first three Tests in Perth, Brisbane and Adelaide, with their lean preparation and aggressive style of cricket, plus a mid-series beach break in Noosa where they were pictured drinking, criticised. A two-day victory in the Boxing Day game at the MCG – England’s first Test win in Australia in…
We break down the race for the top four as BBL|15 enters the business end of the season Reigning champions Hobart Hurricanes have surged to the top of the KFC BBL|15 standings as seven teams remain in the hunt for a finals berth. With little more than a week of the regular season to go, four points separate the top seven teams in the race for a top four spot.While Sydney Thunder’s campaign is still mathematically alive with a 0.1 per cent chance of reaching the top four, they’re have been all but eliminated after securing just one win from…