Selector Marcus North has responded to Ben Stokes questioning Harry Brook not being made England Test captain as several English greats raised their concerns with the 16-player squad named for the first two Tests of the upcoming home series against Pakistan.
‘It drains you’: Marnus’ honest admission on 1,112-day drought… and the big change to break it
Fresh off two months without cricket, Marnus Labuschagne has admitted a “lack of confidence” contributed to his prolonged form slump.
England begin post-Stokes era by recalling Lawrence, Cox and Pope for Pakistan series
Jordan Cox handed No 3 position due to Bethell injury
Root’s first assignment back as captain is at Headingley
Life after Ben Stokes begins with a reshuffle of England’s Test squad. Ollie Pope, Dan Lawrence and Sam Cook have all earned recalls for the start of the three-match series against Pakistan, while Jordan Cox also returns and will bat at No 3 after Jacob Bethell was ruled out of the series through injury.
Joe Root’s first assignment back as permanent Test captain gets underway at Headingley on 19 August and a 16-strong squad means plenty of options at his disposal. Without a genuine all-rounder post-Stokes, the big question will be whittling this number down to give Root a balanced XI.
Continue reading...Test hopeful’s huge message to selectors but Konstas misfires in Bangladesh tour opener
West Australian spinner Corey Rocchiccioli has continued his push for higher honours, producing a superb six-wicket haul as Cricket Australia’s XI took on Bangladesh in a tour match in Darwin.
Big Ashes twist on the cards as Aussie icon centre of England cricket raid
New England Test cricket coach Stephen Fleming has turned his attention to poaching Aussie icon Mike Hussey in a move sure to make waves in the cricket world.
Second Aussie injury blow in two days as fast bowler ruled out of Bangladesh Test series
Australia’s Test squad has suffered its second injury in two days, with fast bowler Michael Neser ruled out of the Top End series against Bangladesh, which begins next Thursday.
Young gun Campbell Kellaway explains key to Aussie Test dream ahead of Darwin audition
After making a significant adjustment in the off-season, Campbell Kellaway is struggling to find the consistency he is after as he prepares to play Bangladesh in Darwin on Thursday.
‘What?’ Stokes’ bizarre call over England drinking, clips Poms over Root as comeback addressed
Ben Stokes has revealed his ambition to coach England in the future, but ruled out any chance of ending his shock retirement from international cricket while addressing several big issues in the wake of his sudden exit from the international scene.
Stokes decoded: his concerns for Joe Root and hopes for ‘great man’ Stephen Fleming | Ali Martin
What England’s former captain did – and didn’t – say in two-hour podcast interview with his old teammates Stuart Broad and Jos Buttler
Over the course of two hours chatting to his old friends Stuart Broad and Jos Buttler on their podcast, Ben Stokes sounded at peace with his decision to retire from England duty five weeks ago. Dare we say it, refreshed and ready to go again.
Beyond playing for Durham and in franchise cricket, Stokes is “definitely” retired, however, and there was not even a hint of a possible U-turn when the home Ashes rolls around next summer. Nor, given his character, was this first interview since calling it a day ever going to be one stuffed with regret.
Continue reading...Ben Stokes rules out 2027 Ashes return but ambition is ‘to coach England one day’
Player has spoken for first time since he quit Test cricket
Former captain expresses surprise Brook not given post
Ben Stokes has trained his sights on becoming England head coach in the future and expressed concerns about Joe Root’s impending second stint as Test captain.
In his first interview since retiring from England duty back in June – a two-hour chat with former teammates Stuart Broad and Jos Buttler on the For The Love Of Cricket Podcast, Stokes once again ruled out returning for next summer’s Ashes.
Continue reading...‘I’d be a 100-Test player…’: Top contender opens up on spin race… and why he can bust Aussie myth
If Corey Rocchiccioli was a national selector, he would be penning his name in the Australian team in every single match.
No more ‘debacles’: Quicks put through paces as summer starts early amid Aussie great’s warning
Australian great Allan Border is hoping for a more even test between bat and ball as the nation’s Test team embarks on a challenging 12 month period culminating in an away Ashes against England.
Aussie connection set to bring Stokes to Big Bash revealed as $600k bidding war erupts
A Big Bash bidding war has erupted with former England Test captain Ben Stokes and New Zealand blaster Finn Allen vying to become the BBL’s most expensive ever signing.
Greatest final ever? WILD scenes in Global Super League as Peter Siddle heroics in vain in all time cricket classic
The Caribbean-based Global Super League has produced perhaps the most extraordinary final in cricket history.
Root promises not to ‘rip up’ Bazball as Aussie great admits ‘surprise’ at captaincy comeback
Joe Root has promised to not rip up England’s Bazball playbook during his second stint as Test captain.