A defiant Steve Smith has declared he is not on the verge of retirement after batting Australia out of a hole and to a slender 12-run first-innings lead on day two of the fifth Ashes test.
Mitchell Starc’s ability to push through the pain has put Australia on top after the first day at The Oval, advancing the bid for their first Ashes series win in England in 22 years.
Australia retained the Ashes after rain prevented any play on the final day of the fourth test against England at Old Trafford on Sunday after weeks of blockbuster entertainment in the closest and most exciting Ashes contest since 2005.
Opener Zak Crawley hit a rapid 189 as England dominated the second day of the fourth Ashes test to take a 67-run lead over Australia with six wickets left at stumps overnight.
England’s prospects of leveling the Ashes series were just about alive after Joe Root claimed the only wicket of a rain-ruined fourth day at Old Trafford on Saturday.
Two potential debutants have been called up to the Black Caps for next month’s T20 tours of the UAE and England, alongside returning pace-bowling star Kyle Jamieson.
Stuart Broad claimed his 600th test wicket for England, under-fire wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow took three catches and Australia batters kept the runs ticking along to reach 299-8 at stumps on the first day of the fourth Ashes test today in what already looks like another close contest.
Test series against South Africa and Australia for the Black Caps, white ball series against Pakistan and England for the White Ferns highlight the 2023-24 home international cricket schedule released today.
England secured another memorable Ashes victory at Headingley after Harry Brook helped to set up a three-wicket win over Australia in the third test on Sunday to keep the five-match series alive.
Pat Cummins, the Australia captain, refused to apologise and declared he would happily dismiss a batsman in the same manner as Jonny Bairstow was stumped at Lord’s as he doubled down on the flashpoint of the Ashes series so far.
Brendon McCullum says Australia will live to regret their decision to stump Jonny Bairstow at Lord’s, adding that he believes the incident will wreck relations between the teams and galvanise an “upset” England to fight back from 2-0 down in the Ashes series.
England coach Brendon McCullum says Australia played against the “spirit of the game” as the visitors claimed a controversial victory in the second Ashes test at Lord’s.
