Cricket news

• The mediocre Ashes: England arrived as a rabble and Australia weren’t much better | Geoff Lemon

  08-01-2026 20:14 via theguardian.com
  Australia were there for the taking but Brendon McCullum’s tourists were so poor and ill-prepared they never got closeAs far as endings go, it ended nicely. People streamed on to the Sydney Cricket Ground, wanting to get close to the trophy presentation and to have a canter on the turf. Nothing thrills an audience more than a chance to walk the stage. On a sun-kissed blue-heaven day, the match had finished early enough to leave plenty of afternoon to spare. Later Usman Khawaja soaked that
  
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• England arrived as a rabble and Australia weren’t much better – mediocrity defined this Ashes | Geoff Lemon

  08-01-2026 20:14 via theguardian.com
  Australia were there for the taking but Brendon McCullum’s tourists were so poor and ill prepared they never got closeAs far as endings go, it ended nicely. People streamed on to the Sydney Cricket Ground, wanting to get close to the trophy presentation and to have a canter on the turf. Nothing thrills an audience more than a chance to walk the stage. On a sun-kissed blue-heaven day, the match had finished early enough to leave plenty of afternoon to spare. Later Usman Khawaja soaked that
  
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• Sack the vibe: goodbye Bazball and hello England’s search for a cricketing soul | Barney Ronay

  08-01-2026 19:00 via theguardian.com
  There have to be consequences for Rob Key and Brendon McCullum but English cricket’s problems lie much deeper and will be much harder to fixIt seemed fitting, as the final moments ticked down at the Sydney Cricket Ground, as the day, the match, the tour seemed to ooze and melt a little at the edges under a hard white January sun, that Ben Stokes should finish this Ashes series still standing, but only just.It was at least a suitably slapstick final session in front of a scattered, holiday-
  
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• Brook, 'Boozeball' and another Ashes hangover

  08-01-2026 16:10 via bbc.com
  The revelation Harry Brook got into a fight with a bouncer brings further focus on the culture of the England team.
  
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• Harry Brook to captain England at T20 World Cup despite pre-Ashes scuffle with bouncer

  08-01-2026 16:01 via theguardian.com
  White-ball captain issues apology for October incidentRevelation after abject Ashes deepens England crisisHarry Brook will retain the captaincy of England’s white-ball team for next month’s T20 World Cup, despite receiving a final warning for his off-field conduct following an altercation with a nightclub bouncer in Wellington the night before a one-day international against New Zealand last November.The Yorkshire batter, who was also made vice-captain of the Test side earlier this y
  
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• Stumped: Matthew Hayden on what's next for England and Australia?

  08-01-2026 14:02 via bbc.co.uk
  We are joined by former Australia opener Matthew Hayden for our post-Ashes debrief.
  
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• England’s Ashes humbling was more a series of letdowns than ‘series of our lives’ | Ali Martin

  08-01-2026 14:00 via theguardian.com
  They landed in Perth expecting to challenge Australia but after a 4-1 defeat and more off-field revelations, the laid-back approach of McCullum’s regime is in the ECB’s sightsIt was billed as “the series of our lives” by Brendon McCullum but as he and Ben Stokes looked over towards the podium to watch Steve Smith and Pat Cummins lift the crystal Ashes trophy under an azure sky, the optimism that preceded this failed campaign felt a lifetime ago.They landed in Perth two mo
  
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• Ben Stokes' England captaincy decided after humiliating Ashes defeat

  08-01-2026 12:19 via express.co.uk
  Express Sport readers have had their say on Ben Stokes' future as England captain.
  
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• 'The culture needs to change' - Vaughan on Brook nightclub altercation

  08-01-2026 12:14 via bbc.com
  Michael Vaughan gives his thoughts on England's white-ball captain, Harry Brook, after he apologised for being involved in an altercation with a nightclub bouncer the night before a one-day international on the tour of New Zealand that preceded the Ashes.
  
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• Ashes review launched by ECB as Stokes gives full backing to under-fire McCullum

  08-01-2026 12:10 via theguardian.com
  ‘I love working with Baz. He’ll be getting my full support’Coach will push back if told what to do by governing bodyBen Stokes has backed Brendon McCullum’s continuation as head coach despite England’s 4-1 Ashes thrashing in Australia. McCullum, in turn, has accepted the need for improvement but will push back if he is told what to do.“If I’m asked my opinion he’ll be getting my full support and backing,” Stokes said after England’s fiv
  
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• Brook apologises after nightclub altercation

  08-01-2026 11:49 via bbc.com
  England's Harry Brook apologises after being involved in an altercation with a nightclub bouncer the night before an ODI on the tour of New Zealand that preceded the Ashes.
  
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• 'We're losing more': Ben Stokes admits England need to go back to the drawing board – video

  08-01-2026 11:42 via theguardian.com
  Ben Stokes, the England Test captain, has said the team 'need to go back to the drawing board' after losing the Ashes 4-1.'When you come up against a team like Australia, who know how to play cricket out here and you are adding to your own downfall then you're going to end up losing the series 4-1 like we have done,' Stokes said.'In the first couple of years, teams found it difficult to try and come up with anything ​to combat the way we played, but now teams are coming up with plans that
  
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• Notts sign Pakistan's Ali on short-term deal

  08-01-2026 11:38 via bbc.com
  Nottinghamshire sign Pakistan seamer Mohammad Ali on a short-term deal for the later stages of the upcoming season.
  
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• England Ashes player ratings as four 2/10s dished out in appalling Australia disaster

  08-01-2026 09:48 via express.co.uk
  England will return home from their Ashes tour of Australia after suffering a 4-1 defeat.
  
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• Harry Brook’s pre-Ashes scuffle with bouncer deepens crisis around England

  08-01-2026 09:27 via theguardian.com
  White-ball captain issues apology for October incidentLatest revelation just hours after abject Ashes reversalEngland’s white-ball captain Harry Brook has issued a public apology for becoming embroiled in a late-night incident in New Zealand just before the Ashes, admitting his actions “brought embarrassment to both myself and the England team”.A matter of hours after England’s 4-1 defeat to Australia was confirmed in Sydney and shortly after ECB chief executive Richard G
  
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• Harry Brook issues apology after 'clashing with bouncer' hours before captaining England

  08-01-2026 09:01 via express.co.uk
  Harry Brook has issued an apology for his behaviour before England's Ashes Tour, admitting his actions "brought embarrassment to both myself and the team"
  
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• Daily Ashes Debrief: Reaction to England's series defeat

  08-01-2026 09:00 via bbc.co.uk
  Alex Hartley and guests react to the day's play.
  
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• McCullum keen to remain as England head coach despite Ashes defeat

  08-01-2026 07:31 via bbc.com
  Brendan McCullum says he's "not opposed" to making adjustments but says a complete overhaul of his approach won't be in store should he remain England coach, following their 4-1 Ashes series defeat to Australia down under.
  
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• 'Areas to improve' but McCullum 'won't be told what to do'

  08-01-2026 07:24 via bbc.com
  Coach Brendon McCullum says he will not be told what to do but accepts there are "areas to improve" after England's Ashes defeat.
  
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• 'We need to be smarter' - Stokes admits England must improve

  08-01-2026 07:22 via bbc.com
  Ben Stokes says it's time for "some honest truths" to be shared amongst his team, following England's 4-1 Ashes series defeat in Australia.
  
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• England show fight but fall short as Australia seal 4-1 Ashes win

  08-01-2026 06:28 via bbc.com
  After bowling England out for 342, Australia chase down their winning target of 160 with five wickets in hand to win the fifth Ashes Test on the final day in Sydney, sealing a 4-1 series win to retain the urn.
  
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• Australia beat England by five wickets on day five of the fifth Ashes Test – as it happened

  08-01-2026 05:38 via theguardian.com
  Despite a late wobble at the SCG Australia held their nerve to secure victory and win the series 4-178th over: England 312-8 (Bethell 145, Potts 7) Bethell finally has the strike … and he immediately takes a single off Webster. I wonder if he’s going to play some shots before that second new ball? The singles continue as Webster tosses the ball up, inviting a potential hoo-ha. Bethell gets the reverse-sweep out, but with the field back he gets just one.77th over: England 307-8 (Beth
  
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• 'Whoever signed off England's tour has to go' - Agnew column

  08-01-2026 05:34 via bbc.com
  England's 4-1 Ashes defeat is the most disappointing I have covered and whoever signed off on the tourists' preparation has to go, writes Jonathan Agnew.
  
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• Talismanic Mitchell Starc adds final flourish to his imperious Ashes series | Geoff Lemon

  08-01-2026 05:17 via theguardian.com
  The bowler’s smarts and stamina from the first ball in Perth to the last in Sydney – not to mention his batting – made him a worthy man of the seriesIt was right that Mitchell Starc should clean up the last two English wickets of this Ashes. Right, too, that Travis Head should mop up a few more runs, but for all of the enjoyment that Head brings with his Jayasuriya-lite batting and his Boon-lite persona, the difference in the series has been the other left-hander. The fifth mor
  
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• Carey hits four to seal five-wicket win for Australia

  08-01-2026 05:09 via bbc.com
  Alex Carey secures victory in style for Australia, as he hits a four to seal a five-wicket win against England on day five of the fifth Ashes Test in Sydney, as Australia win the series 4-1.
  
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• 'He's a yard short!' - Labuschagne run out as England show late fight

  08-01-2026 05:01 via bbc.com
  Marnus Labuschagne is run out for 37 after some excellent fielding from Matthew Potts as Australia fall to 121-5, chasing 160 to win on day five of the fifth Ashes Test in Sydney.
  
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• Australia beat England by five wickets on day five of the fifth Ashes Test – live reaction

  08-01-2026 04:53 via theguardian.com
  Over-by-over updates from Sydney Cricket Ground
  The Ashes top 100 | Follow us on Bluesky | Mail Angus78th over: England 312-8 (Bethell 145, Potts 7) Bethell finally has the strike … and he immediately takes a single off Webster. I wonder if he’s going to play some shots before that second new ball? The singles continue as Webster tosses the ball up, inviting a potential hoo-ha. Bethell gets the reverse-sweep out, but with the field back he gets just one.77th over: England 307-8 (Be
  
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• Best player, moment & back spasm - our Ashes awards

  08-01-2026 04:50 via bbc.com
  Best player, best moment, best back spasm and services to tourism. Who wins BBC chief cricket reporter Stephan Shemilt's Ashes awards?
  
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• Australia hold on to win fifth Ashes Test leaving England to rue missed chances

  08-01-2026 04:47 via theguardian.com
  5th Test, D5: Australia, 567 & 161 bt England 384 & 342, by five wicketsAlex Carey hits winning runs at SCG as hosts wrap up series 4-1 There were a couple of wobbles along the way but at 2.30pm on the final day in Sydney, Australia had knocked off a target of 160 runs to win the fifth Test by five wickets and claim this Ashes series by a 4-1 scoreline.Like their tour as a whole, there was a nagging sense of what might have been for England with a few more runs on the board, or better ca
  
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• Australia hold on to win fifth Ashes Test and leave England rueing missed chances

  08-01-2026 04:47 via theguardian.com
  Australia, 567 & 161 bt England 384 & 342, by five wicketsCarey hits winning runs at SCG as hosts wrap up series 4-1There were a couple of wobbles along the way but at 2.30pm on the final day in Sydney, Australia had knocked off a target of 160 runs to win the fifth Test by five wickets and claim this Ashes series by a 4-1 scoreline.Like their tour as a whole, there was a nagging sense of what might have been for England with a few more runs on the board, or better catching and tighter b
  
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• Who made your Ashes team of the series?

  08-01-2026 04:39 via bbc.com
  Find out which players made the cut into the BBC Sport team of the series for the Ashes.
  
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• England beaten to give Australia 4-1 Ashes win

  08-01-2026 04:36 via bbc.com
  Australia complete a nervy five-wicket victory over England on day five of the final Ashes Test in Sydney to seal a 4-1 series win.
  
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• 'That has spun a mile' - Smith stunned by brilliant Jacks delivery

  08-01-2026 04:33 via bbc.com
  Australia captain Steve Smith is left stunned as he's bowled by a brilliant delivery from Will Jacks for 12, leaving Australia on 92-3, needing 68 runs to win the fifth and final Ashes Test in Sydney.
  
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• England futures at risk but Head an all-format star - player ratings

  08-01-2026 04:33 via bbc.com
  Find out who got a 10 and who is facing an uncertain international future with our Ashes player ratings.
  
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• 'It's had a shocker' - Snicko controversy strikes England again

  08-01-2026 02:42 via bbc.com
  England find themselves on the wrong side of another controversial Snicko decision after Jake Weatherald is given not out despite there appearing to be a murmur on the Snicko technology, as the ball passes the bat - with Weatherald on 16 and Australia 33-0, chasing 160 to win the fifth and final Ashes Test in Sydney.
  
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• 'A wonderful innings' - Bethell's brilliant knock ended by Starc

  08-01-2026 01:14 via bbc.com
  Jacob Bethell's memorable innings comes to an end as he's caught for 154 by Alex Carey, off the bowling of Mitchell Starc to leave England 328-9, with a lead of 146 on day five of the fifth Ashes Test in Sydney.
  
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