Cricket news

• Joe Root is finally a wizard in Aus after Harry Brook’s Bazball scarecrow act | Barney Ronay

  04-12-2025 20:23
  A tale of two Yorkshiremen, one keeping England in the series, the otherbatting without a brainIn the end even the celebration was perfect, out there under that strange deep-blue southern sky, in the frenzy of the game-state – manic Baz energy, England’s lower order scything away death cult-style at the other end, the way even the grass seems lacquered and glazed by the lights.So yeah. All that stuff. In the middle of this Joe Root guided the ball away through fine leg to complete hi
  
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• Nathan Lyon in ‘filthy’ mood after Test omission as Crawley hails ‘phenomenal’ Root

  04-12-2025 15:11
  Spinner ‘pretty gutted’ after Australia choose all-pace attackCrawley praises Root’s first away Ashes ton as ‘one of his best’Nathan Lyon admitted he was furious after being dropped by Australia for the first time in 13 years of home Tests as the battle for the Ashes got back under way in Brisbane on Thursday. In his absence Joe Root plundered the home side’s all-seam attack for an unbeaten 135 on the opening day at the Gabba, his 40th Test century and his fir
  
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• Sublime Starc is last man standing after Australia’s mystifying call to leave out Lyon | Geoff Lemon

  04-12-2025 13:58
  Left-armer ran through England again but just how much will Australia regret not selecting their premium spinner at the Gabba?In the end it was Mitchell Starc saving the day in the second Ashes Test as he did the first. In a series supposed to be defined by Australia’s fast-bowling Big Three, he has done the work as the sole member to make the starting line. With one English wicket left to fall and his tally on six for 46, he was on the brink of the remarkable feat of recording career-best
  
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• Zak Crawley’s handsome drives steady England ship and show power of perseverance | Simon Burnton

  04-12-2025 13:09
  England fans were bracing themselves for a familiar and depressing few hours before the opener finally came goodAnthems over, Zak Crawley left the field and took the water handed to him by Matt Potts. If he was a little dry of mouth it would hardly be a surprise – even without the burden of the brace of ducks he took from the first Test, the situation he was about to walk into might have verged awkwardly close to terrifying. He downed half the bottle, donned his helmet and turned back arou
  
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• Australia v England: Ashes second Test, day one – as it happened

  04-12-2025 13:04
  Advantage England as Joe Root hits his first hundred on Australian soil in the second Test at BrisbaneAustralia: Jake Weatherald, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith (capt), Cameron Green, Josh Inglis, Alex Carey (wk), Michael Neser, Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland, Brendan Doggett.The speculation comes to a close but the debate will continue across the afternoon at least, as Australia turn to a horses for course approach with Nathan Lyon left out of a home Test for the first time in almos
  
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• Root finally makes century in Australia and late burst gives England edge after Starc salvo

  04-12-2025 12:50
  Second Test, day one: England 325-9Starc has 6-71 but Root and Archer add 61* for 10th wicketIt was one of the most intense opening days to a Test match in recent memory. The Gabba was like a cauldron, the air as thick as soup, and with the pink ball zipping around for Mitchell Starc as he continued his bulldozing start to the series, the pressure on England felt relentless.And yet at 8.38pm local time all this melted away as Joe Root tickled Scott Boland fine for four to seal his 40th Test cent
  
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• Oh Duckett. I was fearing for Crawley when I should have been worrying about Ben | Max Rushden

  04-12-2025 10:14
  Up against the brilliant Mitchell Starc and his band of bowlers, even a dot ball for England in the Ashes is a moment of relief “Must be amazing to be in Australia for the Ashes, what’s the atmosphere like?” It’s an understandable, if slightly daft question. Brett Lee isn’t in my house. I don’t wake up next to a furious Jonathan Agnew. “WHY AREN’T YOU IN CANBERRA, MAX?” I’m 850 miles from Brisbane.Apart from me the atmosphere is one of
  
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• 'Duckett out first ball' - Starc strikes early as England start poorly

  04-12-2025 05:31 via bbc.com
  Ben Duckett is out first ball in the first over off the bowling of Mitchell Starc as England fall to 5-1 in their first innings of the second Ashes Test against Australia in Brisbane.
  
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• Lyon out of home Test for first time since 2012

  04-12-2025 05:16 via bbc.com
  Nathan Lyon is left out of an Australia side for the first time in a home Test since 2012, while the hosts were also still without captain Pat Cummins for the second Ashes Test.
  
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• Australia v England: Ashes second Test, day one – live

  04-12-2025 03:52
  Brisbane start: 2pm local/3pm AEDT/4am GMT
  Ashes top 100 | Get the Spin newsletter | Email MartinWe might have to wait to find out the Australia XI until either Pat Cummins or Steve Smith walk on to the Gabba alongside England captain Ben Stokes for the toss. But Geoff Lemon has already dived into what that call will mean for the hosts and the second Test.Cummins, it seems, is now feeling good enough in training that waiting for the third Test in Adelaide seems excessive. But overnight nerves m
  
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• South Africa chase record 359 to beat India

  03-12-2025 19:27 via bbc.com
  South Africa complete the joint highest chase in the history of one-day internationals in India as they passed a target of 359 to win by four wickets in Naya Raipur.
  
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• Cummins conundrum is key as Australia try not to overthink tactics

  03-12-2025 18:06
  Will the captain return? Will Nathan Lyon play? Who will open? Ashes hostilities are renewed and the hosts don’t need to ask too many questionsAt last, at long last, an Ashes series is about to start. It feels that way, anyway, after so many months of lead-up, such an eternal blur of preview and prediction and preamble, were supposed to reach their end – only to find that the end was instead a momentary interruption, a hiccup, an indigestion-dream of a Test from Perth, a contest done
  
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• England's Smith earns first central contract

  03-12-2025 17:56 via bbc.com
  Hampshire's Linsey Smith is among 17 players to receive full England women's central contracts for 2025-26.
  
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• Oval Invincibles will be renamed as MI London for The Hundred in 2026

  03-12-2025 17:09
  Name favoured by the Ambani family co-ownersMumbai Indians holdings buys 49% of new franchiseOval Invincibles, the Hundred’s most successful franchise, will be competing as MI London next year, the name favoured by their new Indian co-owners.The change of monicker brings the men’s and women’s teams, who between them have won Hundred titles in each of the past five years, in line with the rest of the Ambani family’s Mumbai Indians holdings which, in addition to its IPL tea
  
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• Invincibles become MI London as Hundred deals completed

  03-12-2025 16:37 via bbc.com
  Five-time The Hundred champions Oval Invincibles will be renamed MI London from next season following investment from the owners of Indian Premier League side Mumbai Indians.
  
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• In the pink? Cricket bosses and players still not seeing benefit of day-night Tests | Simon Burnton

  03-12-2025 15:00
  The Ashes pink-ball Test at the Gabba may once again leave many in the sport wondering of the format has a futureIn October 2012 the International Cricket Council formally green-lit the idea of day-night Tests, offering a new, potentially lucrative spin on the oldest format. “This is all about new audiences and doing all we could to make the game more accessible at every level,” said the ECB’s then chief executive, Tom Harrison, when he announced England’s first pink-ball
  
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• The 2005 Ashes SPOTY takeover - wins for Warne, England & Flintoff

  03-12-2025 13:55 via bbc.com
  After an iconic Ashes series in 2005, the England cricket team won team of the year, Shane Warne won the Overseas Personality award and Andrew 'Freddie' Flintoff was named BBC Sports Personality of the Year Awards. BBC Sport takes a look at some of the most memorable moments.
  
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• The Spin | Pink-ball wizard: batters on facing ‘devastating weapon’ Mitchell Starc

  03-12-2025 12:47
  Dawid Malan ‘smiles at the memory’ of taking on Australia’s relentless fast bowler under the lightsThat tall, fast and slim kid, sure bowls a mean pink ball.Leading into Thursday’s crucial second Test match, a day-night affair at Brisbane’s Gabba, much has been made of Mitchell Starc’s pink-ball wizardry. With 81 wickets at an average of 17.08, the lissom-limbed southpaw seamer has more wickets than any other with the pink’un in hand. Just what English s
  
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• 'Only win will do in biggest Test of Bazball era'

  03-12-2025 12:30 via bbc.com
  England cannot mathematically lose the Ashes in Brisbane, but a 2-0 deficit would mean the urn is as good as gone - this is the biggest Test of the Bazball era, says Stephan Shemilt.
  
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• Michael Vaughan goes at England’s Ashes hopefuls again as he makes Tiger Woods jibe

  03-12-2025 11:15 via express.co.uk
  England take on Australia in the second Ashes Test at The Gabba in Brisbane - with Ben Stokes' side looking to bounce back from their heavy defeat in Perth
  
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• Bashir is ‘England’s No 1 spinner’ despite exclusion from Ashes Test, says Stokes

  03-12-2025 09:43
  Captain says decision made because of unique Perth challengeMark Wood aiming to be fit for third TestShoaib Bashir has been reassured that he remains England’s first-pick spinner, despite Will Jacks being selected for the second Ashes Test in Brisbane. On the eve of the game Ben Stokes said the decision had been made because of the unique challenges of a day-night match at the Gabba and Jacks’s greater quality with the bat“We tried to look at how we thought spin was going to be
  
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• Bashir is ‘England’s No 1 spinner’ despite Ashes exclusion for Gabba Test

  03-12-2025 09:43
  Stokes says decision made owing to unique challenge‘We are doing everything we can’ to get Wood back fit Shoaib Bashir has been reassured that he remains England’s first-pick spinner, despite Will Jacks being selected instead for the second Ashes Test in Brisbane. On the eve of the game Ben Stokes said that the decision had been made because of the unique challenges of a day-night match at the Gabba and Jacks’s greater quality with the bat, but that “if it comes dow
  
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• Pat Cummins poised to return for Australia in second Ashes Test at Gabba

  03-12-2025 08:58
  Steve Smith hints fast bowler may be late call-up in BrisbaneJosh Inglis favoured to replace injured Usman KhawajaThe challenge for England could be set to increase amid a growing belief that Pat Cummins will be given the green light to return for Australia this week in the second Ashes Test at the Gabba.Cummins, 32, was absent from the series opener in Perth as he underwent the final stages of rehabilitation from a lower back stress injury that was first detected back in July. Steve Smith stepp
  
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• Australia leave door open for Cummins return

  03-12-2025 08:52 via bbc.com
  Australia delay naming their side for the second Ashes Test against England, meaning captain Pat Cummins could make a shock return on Thursday.
  
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• Challenges lie ahead in day-night Test but England have what it takes to shock Australia | Mark Ramprakash

  03-12-2025 08:34
  Even Steve Smith struggles under lights and selection of Will Jacks is the right approach by the touristsThere has been a lot of discussion over the past week about day-night Tests, how to approach them and whether they produce quality cricket. Stuart Broad described them as a lottery but Australia’s outstanding record would suggest that actually the best team normally prevails, and skill should win the day. The question for England is whether they have it in them to dominate in relatively
  
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• Australia cagey on second Ashes Test XI with door still open for Pat Cummins’ return

  03-12-2025 06:09
  Captain Steve Smith says fast bowler is ‘close’ to being selectedLineup remains unknown with further inspection of pitch neededAustralia’s starting XI for the second Ashes Test remains unknown less than a day out from the first ball in Brisbane, with a further inspection of the Gabba pitch required before a team, which may yet contain Pat Cummins, is named by the hosts.Stand-in captain Steve Smith fronted an expectant media on Wednesday but was unable to reveal anything about t
  
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• Australia cagey on second Ashes Test XI as Josh Inglis made to wait over recall

  03-12-2025 05:52
  Lineup remains unknown with further inspection of pitch neededCaptain Steve Smith refuses to rule out Pat Cummins’ return in BrisbaneAustralia’s starting XI for the second Ashes Test remains unknown less than a day out from the first ball in Brisbane, with a further inspection of the Gabba pitch required before a team is named by the hosts.Stand-in captain Steve Smith fronted an expectant media on Wednesday but was unable to answer questions over the lineup, with Josh Inglis a candid
  
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• Ashes Weekly: will Australia strike again in Brisbane? - podcast

  03-12-2025 05:00
  Max Rushden is joined by Geoff Lemon, Emma John and Sam Perry to preview the second Test, a day-night affair at the Gabba, with Australia aiming to continue their outstanding record with the pink ball and England looking to recover from their embarrassing defeat in PerthRead more: Continue reading...
  
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• Flailing Usman Khawaja’s Test future now lies out of his own hands | Geoff Lemon

  03-12-2025 01:24
  After years of selectors arguing that his presence brings stability to Australia, the injured opener is now the team’s main source of uncertaintyAs far as surprises go, a 38.95-year-old with a back problem continuing to have a back problem is not up there with the end of The Sixth Sense. The only twists in this story are the ones that Usman Khawaja can’t currently do. With the second Ashes Test in Brisbane coming up on 4 December, the capricious nature of such injuries made it odd th
  
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• Fearless Robin Smith and his square cuts gave hope to his England team | Tanya Aldred

  02-12-2025 21:51
  Smith stood up to West Indies bowling and scored centuries against Australia in the most demanding of circumstancesA Robin Smith square cut was more than a wisecrack-sharp snap of the bat. For English cricket fans of the late 80s and early 90s, it was a nudge in the ribs that, underneath the pastings, the dismal collapses and Rentaghost selections, the national team would fight another day.Smith’s cut, alongside a David Gower cover drive, gave hope where there was little left in the bucket
  
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• Fearless Robin Smith and his square cuts gave hope to England in grim era | Tanya Aldred

  02-12-2025 21:51
  Smith stood up to West Indies bowling and scored centuries against Australia in the most demanding of circumstancesA Robin Smith square cut was more than a whip‑crack snap of the bat. For English cricket fans of the late 80s and early 90s, it was a nudge in the ribs that, underneath the pastings, the dismal collapses and Rentaghost selections, the national team would fight another day.Smith’s cut, alongside a David Gower cover drive, gave hope where there was little left in the
  
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• Strengthened Australia welcome England to Gabbatoir in pivotal Ashes week | Ali Martin

  02-12-2025 20:00
  Ben Stokes is still bullish but the omens suggests pink-ball Test could be a nightmare on Vulture StreetMy first day at the Gabba was 23 years ago, half a lifetime having passed since I slept on my brother’s sofa across the river and followed the Ashes tour as a backpacker. The coin went up, Nasser Hussain decided to have a bowl, and Steve Waugh’s Australians cashed in on generosity.Having not returned until 2017‑18, and then covered the Covid tour four years later, the Sydney
  
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• Robin Smith obituary

  02-12-2025 18:10
  England and Hampshire cricketer nicknamed the Judge admired for his fearless and powerful battingIn the eras before the Twenty20 format nobody hit a cricket ball harder than Robin Smith. Muscled like a prizefighter but with quick feet inherited from his ballet dancer mother, he produced strokes, the square cut especially, with a force that left dents in boundary boards and opponents’ ambitions. His wicket was highly sought after, for teams knew they were in for a hand-wringing experience,
  
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• ‘He was a batter ahead of his time’: Robin Smith, former England cricketer, dies aged 62

  02-12-2025 17:30
  Batter scored more than 6,000 runs for EnglandSmith was at Hampshire from 1982 to 2003Tributes have been paid to Robin Smith, whose swashbuckling batting and fearlessness at the crease lit up English cricket in an era when it often languished in the doldrums, following his death at the age of 62.Smith played 62 Tests for England between 1988 to 1996, averaging 43.67. But it was the sight of him taking the fight to the fastest pace bowlers of his generation that will live longest in the memory. C
  
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• Why Starc is so good with the pink ball - Finn

  02-12-2025 17:00 via bbc.com
  Former England fast bowler Steven Finn explains why Australia fast bowler Mitchell Starc excels with the pink ball before the day-night second Ashes Test.
  
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• Robin Smith's team-mate slammed over 'unnecessary' remark after England legend dies at 62

  02-12-2025 15:26 via express.co.uk
  England cricket icon Robin Smith has died at the age of 62.
  
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• 'A sad loss to English cricket' - Robin Smith dies aged 62

  02-12-2025 15:26 via bbc.com
  BBC Sport's chief cricket reporter Stephan Shemilt pays tribute to former England batter Robin Smith who has died aged 62.
  
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• Gloucestershire sign Australian fast bowler Bell

  02-12-2025 15:01 via bbc.com
  Gloucestershire sign Australian fast bowler Gabe Bell for the first six matches of the 2026 County Championship campaign.
  
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• Smith's record-breaking 167 against Australia

  02-12-2025 13:38 via bbc.com
  Robin Smith scores a record-breaking 167 off 163 balls against Australia at Edgbaston in 1993 – the highest score by an England player in the One Day format until Alex Hales made 171 against Pakistan in 2016.
  
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• Bangladesh hammer Ireland to claim T20 series win

  02-12-2025 13:20 via bbc.com
  Bangladesh secure victory over Ireland by eight wickets in the decisive third Twenty20 international in Chattogram.
  
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• Media will not stop us enjoying Australia - Stokes

  02-12-2025 13:00 via bbc.com
  England will continue to enjoy their time off in Australia during the Ashes despite media scrutiny, says captain Ben Stokes.
  
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• 'A fearless hero for hapless England' - Robin Smith obituary

  02-12-2025 12:28 via bbc.com
  Robin Smith, who has died at the age of 62, was a fearless hero in a struggling England team, but had to battle his own demons after retiring from cricket.
  
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• Former England batter Robin Smith dies aged 62

  02-12-2025 12:21 via bbc.com
  Robin Smith was a key figure in the England side in the late 1980s and 1990s.
  
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• Robin Smith, former England cricketer, dies aged 62

  02-12-2025 12:02
  Batter made more than 4,000 runs for EnglandSmith spent more than 20 years at HampshireThe former England cricketer Robin Smith has died at the age of 62 with his family and former county Hampshire saying they were devastated by his loss.Smith played 62 Tests and 71 one-day internationals for England between 1988 and 1996 and was a resolute middle-order bulwark for the side during often difficult times for the team. He particularly excelled against pace, making his highest Test score of 175 agai
  
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• Can England bounce back in Brisbane? – Ashes Weekly podcast

  02-12-2025 11:47
  Max Rushden is joined by Geoff Lemon, Emma John and Sam Perry to preview the second Test, a day-night affair at the Gabba, with England looking to recover from their embarrassing defeat in Perth Continue reading...
  
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• England cricket legend Robin Smith dies aged 62 as former team-mate breaks down in tears

  02-12-2025 11:00 via express.co.uk
  Robin Smith, the former England cricketer, has died at the age of 62.
  
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• England star responds after players caught breaking rules ahead of second Ashes test

  02-12-2025 09:36 via express.co.uk
  England's players are under intense media scrutiny following their Ashes disaster in Perth.
  
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• 'Just put a helmet on' - Pope's scooter advice to England

  02-12-2025 09:18 via bbc.com
  Ollie Pope tells his England team-mates to “put on a helmet” after they were caught riding e-scooters in Brisbane without them.
  
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• Usman Khawaja ruled out of second Ashes Test due to back injury

  02-12-2025 08:10
  Australia opener will not be replaced in the squad in Brisbane38-year-old’s absence paves way for Travis Head to open at the GabbaUsman Khawaja has been ruled out of the second Ashes Test with his back injury.The 38-year-old’s place in the XI had been under intense scrutiny since back spasms forced him from the field in the victorious first Test and prevented him from opening the batting. Continue reading...
  
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• England select spinner Jacks for second Ashes Test

  02-12-2025 07:30 via bbc.com
  Will Jacks will play his first Test in three years as England include a spin option for the second game of the Ashes series against Australia.
  
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