Ashes Test | DD News

January 5, 2026 4:46 PM

Joe Root says offering thanks, not bidding farewell, after Sydney century

England's Joe Root paused as he left the field to salute all four corners of the Sydney Cricket Ground on Monday after making a fine 160 in the fifth Ashes test, but the 35-year-old does not want to consider if this is his final bow in Australia. Root showed all of his qualities of composure, technique, timing and patience to compile his second century of this series having headed out to Australia never having made three figures in the country. Asked about his gesture to the crowd after he was...

January 5, 2026 4:44 PM

Ashes 5th Test: Root ton fires England before Head strikes back for Australia

Joe Root contributed a magnificent 160 to England's first-innings tally of 384 but Travis Head drove Australia to 166 for two in response on the second day of the fifth and final Ashes test on Monday. England's hopes of winning the urn are long gone after defeats in the first three tests of the series but they continued to show the spirit, lacking in previous beaten touring sides, that was evident in their victory in Melbourne last week. Until Australia took the second new ball, Root looked in...

January 4, 2026 4:23 PM

Ashes: Harry Brook finally shows the patience and control his critics have demanded

England batsman Harry Brook struck his highest score of the Ashes series on Sunday, ending the first day of the fifth test on 78 not out after showing the kind of patience and discipline that he has too often lacked on a disappointing tour. Brook still rode his luck at times, particularly when he was tempted into pull shots by Australia's short-pitched bowling, but his 154-run partnership with fellow Yorkshireman Joe Root left England in a good position at 211 for three when bad light and rain ...

January 4, 2026 12:58 PM

Ashes: Root, Brook lift England to 211/3 as bad weather forces early stumps on Day 1 at SCG

England enjoyed one of their better days of the Ashes series on Sunday when a 154-run stand between Joe Root and Harry Brook drove them to 211 for three before the opening day of the fifth test was brought to a premature end at Sydney Cricket Ground. Play was stopped for bad light 20 minutes before tea with storm clouds threatening, and abandoned to boos from the remnants of the 49,574 crowd some 90 minutes before the scheduled close of play. At 3-1 down in what has been a mostly miserable ser...

December 16, 2025 10:04 AM

Khawaja overlooked as Australia captain Cummins, Lyon return for third Ashes test

Captain Pat Cummins and spinner Nathan Lyon have returned to the Australia XI for the third Ashes test against England in Adelaide but opener Usman Khawaja has been left out, leaving his test career at a cross-roads. Cummins returns from a back injury after missing the opening tests in Perth and Brisbane, while Lyon is back after being dropped for the second test at the Gabba which Australia won by eight wickets. The duo replace pace bowlers Brendan Doggett and Michael Neser in the Australia...

December 15, 2025 11:52 AM

Australia’s Khawaja fit for third Ashes test, unfazed by future talk

Australia's Usman Khawaja has declared himself fit for the third Ashes test against England next week, brushing aside speculation about his future and saying he will keep playing as long as he is valued by the team. The left-handed batter, who will turn 39 during the Adelaide test which starts on Wednesday, missed the pink-ball encounter against England due to a back problem, and was also unable to open in either of the innings in Perth last month. “I could have retired two years ago, or a...

November 30, 2025 11:27 AM

England captain Ben Stokes dismisses ‘arrogant’ claims in lead-up to second Ashes test

England captain Ben Stokes dismissed claims his team were "arrogant" following their capitulation in the first Ashes test against Australia in Perth last week as preparations for the second game in the five-match series continued on Saturday. Stokes' team will face the Australians in Brisbane from Thursday, having suffered an eight-wicket defeat inside two days in the highly anticipated opener to the series, with the manner of the defeat prompting widespread criticism. "Call us rubbish, call u...

November 30, 2025 11:25 AM

England’s Mark Wood likely to miss second Ashes test due to sore knee

England pacer Mark Wood is likely to miss next week's second Ashes test against Australia due to a sore left knee, media reports said on Saturday. Wood, who was out for nine months when he underwent surgery for an injury on the same knee, played his first test since August 2024 in Perth last week, bowling 11 overs across both innings and taking no wickets as England suffered a swift eight-wicket loss inside two days. The 35-year-old told Fox Cricket during the first test that he would definite...

November 28, 2025 10:08 AM

Cummins ruled out again as Australia stick with same squad for day-night Ashes Test

Pat Cummins will miss a second straight match after Australia named an unchanged 14-man squad for the day-night Ashes Test at the Gabba starting December 4. Usman Khawaja has been included despite back spasms that prevented him from batting in the second innings in Perth. Cummins, sidelined from the series opener with a back injury, has been given an additional two weeks to recover fully. The 32-year-old, in the final phase of rehabilitation from lumbar stress, will still travel with the squad ...

November 19, 2025 3:30 PM

England name pace bowler Mark Wood in squad for first Ashes Test

England have included pace bowler Mark Wood in a 12-player squad announced on Wednesday for the first Ashes test against Australia. Wood, cleared of a hamstring injury last week, returns to test action after more than a year, having last played in August 2024. The 35-year-old, who was one of England's standout bowlers in the 2021-22 series when he claimed 17 wickets, will be part of a potent pace attack also featuring Jofra Archer, Brydon Carse, Gus Atkinson and Ben Stokes. Spinner Shoaib...