Former England captains and the nation’s leading cricket journalists are concerned that Ben Stokes has left their men’s Test team in a deep hole a year out from a home Ashes series.
‘Bazball’ cracks evident as Stokes strongly backs successor… but dodges big McCullum question
Ben Stokes has backed Harry Brook to succeed him as England’s Test captain after bowing out of international cricket, saying the gifted batsman had his “100 percent support”.
‘It’s pretty crazy’: How a teammate’s injury revived Aussie’s career in ‘wild’ 12-month rise
There were some worried faces in the Australian dugout during last week’s T20 World Cup contest against the Netherlands in Southampton.
‘Dumbfounded’: Stokes exits in carnage as NZ inflict horror defeat and legend demands more scalps
An injury-hit New Zealand overwhelmed England by 160 runs in the third Test at Trent Bridge on Monday as Ben Stokes’ last match in international cricket ended with a thumping defeat — and calls for more change at the top of English cricket.
Abject England end Stokes era with rare home series defeat by New Zealand
New Zealand beat England by 160 runs to win series 2-1
Root run out sets tone despite Smith resistance
New Zealand won a Test series in England for the fourth time by wrapping up a 160-run victory in the third Test at Trent Bridge on Monday, bringing an end to the international career of England’s captain, Ben Stokes.
Resuming on 103 for four and chasing an unlikely 373 to win, England were dismissed for 212 soon after lunch on day five as New Zealand clinched the series 2-1.
Ali Martin’s report from Trent Bridge will follow shortly
Continue reading...A helter-skelter ride: Brilliant, charismatic Stokes is one of England’s best captains ever | Vic Marks
Despite disappointments we remain indebted to an all-round talent for transforming the way in which Test cricket is played
Last year I completed a book on England’s cricket captains since Mike Brearley and the final chapter was devoted to Ben Stokes. It began with the observation: “There is jeopardy here”; it ended with the conclusion: “I would be hard pressed to name anyone in the last few decades who has done more than Ben Stokes to keep a format [Test cricket], still beloved by so many, alive.”
Jeopardy and Stokes have often been frequent bedfellows, on the field and off it. My jeopardy came in having to assess Stokes the captain before last winter’s Ashes series given that there is a long tradition of deciding the merit of England captains based upon their results against Australia. We know now it did not go so well; we also have an idea of how much torment it brought him. Yet I’m still content with those pre-Ashes observations. Of course there is always jeopardy with Stokes. We have never known what he would do next (which now includes his sudden decision to retire from international cricket). Moreover despite the recent disappointments, I think he remains one of the best captains England have had – to the amazement of most of us.
Continue reading...‘F*** you’: Pointed question over Stokes’ exit ‘tantrum’ as Baz faces calls for head — UK View
The timing and circumstances surrounding Ben Stokes’ mid-match retirement have drawn plenty of mixed reaction from English media after the all-rounder’s incredible Test career ended with a whimper at Trent Bridge on Sunday.
India eliminated as Perry steers record-breaking Aussies into World Cup knockouts
Ellyse Perry starred as Australia knocked India out of the Women’s T20 World Cup with a six-wicket group-stage win at Lord’s on Sunday.
Ben Stokes retirement bombshell: England captain quits international cricket mid-Test
England captain Ben Stokes has declared he will retire from international cricket at the end of the current Test against New Zealand following a contentious year.
India whitewashed in historic series loss to Ireland as 15yo phenom snubbed again
Ireland secured a landmark series win over T20 world champions India in Belfast on Sunday with a tense one-run win after the tourists again denied teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi a debut.
Poms in deep strife as Kiwis mount fightback after Archer’s frightening blitz
Rachin Ravindra’s unbeaten fifty revived New Zealand after Jofra Archer’s double strike gave England renewed hope of victory in the third and deciding Test at Trent Bridge on Saturday.
‘Strikeout’: Cricket World Cup winner Plunkett makes instant impact in baseball
Veteran of 2019 champions in first game for Oakland Ballers
‘The hitter didn’t know what was coming’
The former England cricketer Liam Plunkett swapped his cricket colours for a baseball glove, playing his first game for the Oakland Ballers and even claiming a strikeout.
The 41-year-old was part of England’s 2019 World Cup-winning side – his final international appearance – taking three wickets in the tied final against New Zealand as England emerged victorious by the narrowest of margins on boundary count. He moved to the United States, where his wife is from, and has played Major League Cricket for the San Francisco Unicorns.
Continue reading...Saracens’ George slams Auvaa’s ‘unacceptable behaviour’ in nightclub incident
England veteran says Samoan ‘immature – but a good kid’
Academy player ‘a rabbit in the headlights in London’
Jamie George has criticised his Saracens teammate Totoa Auvaa’s “unacceptable” behaviour during the nightclub incident that led to the cricketers Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson being dropped by England but insisted he was “a good kid”.
The England international and former captain described the 21-year-old Samoan back-row as “a rabbit in the headlights in London” and said the academy player “doesn’t know right from wrong”.
Continue reading...IPL teen sensation denied debut as minnow shocks India in all-time T20 boilover
Ireland stunned T20 world champions India with a landmark 34-run win in their series opener in Belfast on Friday after the tourists opted against giving an international debut to teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
‘You see clearly’: DRS drama as returning Stokes makes ‘magical’ statement
Ben Duckett scored his first century in over a year and Jacob Bethell banished his first-innings blues after returning England captain Ben Stokes sparked a fightback in the third Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge.