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England captain Ben Stokes announced his readiness for the Ashes with six wickets on the first day of their in-house warm-up against Andrew Flintoff’s Lions in Perth.Stokes has not played since July, when he tore a shoulder muscle against India, but proved he is firmly on track for the opening Test by leading the attack at Lilac Hill. He took two wickets in each of Thursday’s three sessions as he claimed 6-52 in 16 overs as the second string reached 382-10 at stumps.Stokes has been subjected to a stream of barbs from the local media since touching down in Perth…
Sport thrives on emotion. Rivalries, chants, celebrations are all part of its heartbeat. But recent flashpoints across different sports have raised a pressing question: when does passion become hostility – and what effect does it have on our sportsmen and sportswomen?From fans’ abuse of Rory McIlroy at the Ryder Cup, to the Aussie media’s sledging of Ben Stokes and England’s cricketers upon their arrival Down Under for the Ashes, where should a line be drawn? Racing Bulls team member incites Lando booingIn Sao Paulo, McLaren’s Lando Norris should have been basking in glory after stretching his lead at the top…
Kirby Short names two young captains who have caught her eye during the opening matches of WBBL|11 Check out The Surge Podcast on Spotify and Apple. If it takes one to know one, Kirby Short’s the perfect person to run the ruler over the standout captaincy performances during the opening two rounds of WBBL|11. Short, who led the Brisbane Heat to the title in WBBL|05, joined The Surge to analyse the various challenges the captains have dealt with in the early stages of the new season. Thanks to her new role as Cricket Victoria’s new Head of Female Cricket, Short’s eye was naturally drawn to…
Australia’s stand-in captain has suggested a nuanced approach to England’s bowling line-up would be appropriate, as he fine-tunes his own Ashes preparation Smith sounds Ashes warning with consecutive fifties Steve Smith has hinted England’s pace battery could be the wrong form of attack for the Ashes, believing nibbling seamers would pose a bigger threat on Australia’s lively pitches. England have arrived for the summer with their quickest bowling line-up this century, with almost the entire cartel able to reach in excess of 145km/h. Spearheaded by speedsters Mark Wood and Jofra Archer, the tourists also have Gus Atkinson, Josh Tongue and…
An intense duel with Mitchell Starc at the SCG stamped Campbell Kellaway’s credentials as an international player of the future NSW v Victoria | Sheffield Shield | Day 1 Chris Rogers says Campbell Kellaway has proven he can be Australia’s long-term successor to Usman Khawaja, labelling the Victorian a “ready-made Test player”. Kellaway scored a gutsy half-century for Victoria against NSW this week, against a Test attack of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon. The opener’s 51 at the SCG came after he also plundered 147 against Tasmania last month, with the 23-year-old now looking more complete at the…
Phoebe Litchfield is already looking forward to Australia’s next showdown with India, while she also responded to suggestions she could be the next national skipper Phoebe Litchfield expects things to get “very heated” when Australia welcome India onto their home turf for the upcoming multi-format series, with the hosts to have a major point to prove following their recent World Cup semi-final defeat. India knocked favourites Australia out of the ICC tournament with a world-record run chase in Navi Mumbai, going on to win their first senior women’s World Cup.But the upcoming bilateral series, which will feature three T20Is, three…
Beth Mooney stamped her class as one of the world’s best players with a magnificent 105 to fire the Perth Scorchers to a 23-run win over Brisbane Heat Brisbane Heat v Perth Scorchers | WBBL|11 A trademark Beth Mooney masterclass century set up Perth Scorchers for a 23-run win over the Brisbane Heat to get their WBBL season up and running. Mooney made a scintillating 105 off 73 deliveries to power the Scorchers to 3-172 at Allan Border Field. The Heat, who dropped crucial catches in the field, were all out for 149 in 19.1 overs. Wicketkeeper Mooney finished the…
Former Test paceman Steven Finn has named the player he thinks England should be wary of in the Ashes Steven Finn has branded Steve Smith “probably the most influential person within Ashes series of the last 20 years” and warned England the stand-in Australia captain remains at his peak. Much has been made of Australia’s supposed batting frailties, but they can count on the ever-dependable Smith, who will line up at No.4 and lead the side in the first Test in Pat Cummins’ absence. The 36-year-old has 12 centuries in 37 Tests against England, while he is the only two-time…
Allrounder Cameron Green is in position to make a big total after ending the day unbeaten on 49 for Western Australia, but Queensland hold the upper hand An unbeaten knock of class by Cameron Green has come at just the right time for Western Australia and Australia. The Test allrounder will be hoping to cash in at the WACA after he finished day two of the Sheffield Shield clash with Queensland on 49no. The hosts were in trouble at 5-210 at stumps in reply to the Bulls’ first innings total of 390. Green, who took 1-13 with the ball in…
Steve Smith will enter the Ashes with a century and two scores above 50 for NSW, but the Blues were beaten by 300 runs by Victoria at the SCG NSW v Victoria | Sheffield Shield | Day 3 Steve Smith is averaging more than 100 this summer before heading into the Ashes, but his half-century on Wednesday couldn’t save NSW from a 300-run Sheffield Shield defeat to Victoria. On a dramatic third day at the SCG where both Josh Hazlewood and Sean Abbott left the ground for hamstring scans, NSW were all out for 125 chasing 425 for victory. Hazlewood…