Should India win tonight’s Champions Trophy final in Dubai, the triumph will be accompanied by an asterisk and a footnote.
Bulls charge towards crucial win; SA’s home final quest begins strongly: Shield wrap
Test all-rounder Beau Webster made an unbeaten 64 for Tasmania, however it almost certainly won’t be enough to stop Queensland keeping its slim hopes of reaching the Sheffield Shield final alive with a win at Bellerive Oval.
Ten finals, ten titles: Freakish moment that helped Breakers seamer Sarah Coyte maintain perfect WNCL record
Ten finals. Ten titles.
Ben Stokes is cricket’s last action hero – the ODI captaincy can be his Viking funeral | Barney Ronay
Instincts are to protect England’s Test captain, but he’s the functioning brain of Bazball. It’s hard to think of anyone better to lead the ODI team
This column is about the rise of high-end supermarket cheddar cheese that has delicious and addictive crunchy crystals in it. What are these exactly? And is everything just basically crisps now? This column is about the MCC being needlessly given tens of millions of pounds because the England and Wales Cricket Board sold a hat that isn’t really a hat, just the promise of a brightly coloured future-hat.
This column is about cricket umpires being reduced progressively to a theatre of facial expressions, from the brave, wounded “you’re on screen, please reverse your decision”, to the screw-you triumphalism of the confirmatory finger to an empty set of stumps. Michael Caine once said that while doing a closeup you should always stare at a fixed point, always into one eye not both eyes of your scene partner. Do we need to train Joel Wilson in this?
Continue reading...Sports quiz of the week: races, records, finals, fights, a brawl and a new law
Have you been following the big stories in football, rugby, golf, athletics, boxing, cricket and horse racing?
Continue reading...Remember me? Axed Test quick ignites in Shield demolition; Konstas rival’s reminder — Wrap
Former Test seamer Michael Neser almost produced a clean sweep of Tasmania as he drove Queensland to a commanding position with a magical spell in Hobart.
Wunderkind… or teen ‘brat’? The curious case of Konstas and why he’s split Aussie cricket
Following a breakout summer headlined by twin Sheffield Shield hundreds a thrilling Test debut at the MCG, Sam Konstas has become Australian cricket’s most captivating enigma.
Cricket world lauds Steve Smith as Champions Trophy sparks global captaincy carnage
So well was Steve Smith performing prior to his retirement from one-day cricket this week, even respected players and pundits from Australia’s greatest rival lavished him with praise.
‘Nothing’s off the table’: Surprise candidate to lead England’s struggling white-ball teams
England cricket supremo Rob Key said on Thursday “it would be stupid” to rule Test captain Ben Stokes out of consideration for the role of skipper of the struggling white-ball team.
Ben Stokes in frame for England ODI captaincy and Harry Brook for T20 role
- England set for white-ball reset after Buttler resignation
- Key says it would be ‘stupid’ not to consider Stokes
Rob Key could offer Ben Stokes the chance to take on the captaincy of England’s one-day team – and potentially put Harry Brook in charge of the T20 side – after admitting it would be “stupid” not to consider his Test talisman for an expanded role.
Speaking at Lord’s on Thursday, less than a week after England completed their winless Champions Trophy campaign, the director of men’s cricket held his hands up to “a lot of errors”. There was also an admission his players lacked the competitiveness that Stokes brings.
Continue reading...Gillespie brands Pakistan successor Javed ‘a clown’ amid coaching row
- Australian claims he and Gary Kirsten were undermined
- Javed’s interim role extended for tour of New Zealand
The former Pakistan Test coach Jason Gillespie labelled his successor Aaqib Javed a “clown” and accused the former fast bowler of undermining him and ex-white-ball coach Gary Kirsten in order to take charge of the national team across all formats.
Gillespie’s comments were in reply to a social media post containing quotes from Javed a few days after hosts Pakistan had crashed out of the Champions Trophy without a win. Javed told reporters on Tuesday that Pakistan had changed 16 coaches and 26 selectors in around two years, and that any side would struggle in such circumstances.
Continue reading...Uzzie cracks stylish century in perfect WTC final prep as Vic prodigy struggles — Shield Wrap
Following a well-earned break, Usman Khawaja has ramped up preparation for the upcoming World Test Championship final by notching a century during Queensland’s Sheffield Shield match against Tasmania in Hobart.
Brilliant Kohli-Steve Smith moment captured on camera before Aussie’s retirement
Eagle eyed cricket fans have spotted the moment that revealed Steve Smith was retiring from One Day International cricket.
‘He is a clown’: Gillespie unloads on ‘undermining’ Pakistan successor over CT failure excuse
Jason Gillespie has slammed his Pakistan coaching successor Aaqib Javed as “a clown” after he blamed instability in the team and the PCB for a failed Champions Trophy campaign — having himself “undermined” the Australian to become coach.
Twin tons, incredible milestone power Kiwis to record CT score and a tasty final rematch with India
Rachin Ravindra and Kane Williamson struck hundreds as New Zealand eased to a 50-run win over South Africa in Lahore on Wednesday to set up a rematch with India in the Champions Trophy final.