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December 29, 2025 3:02 PM

Ashes: Matthew Potts in line for Sydney test after Gus Atkinson injury

England's ever-changing attack will have yet another iteration in the Ashes finale in Sydney with Matthew Potts expected to replace injured fast bowler Gus Atkinson for the fifth and final test. Atkinson was ruled out of the match, which starts on January 4, having strained his left hamstring soon after picking up his third wicket during England's victory at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Saturday. Atkinson is the third England seamer to return home early following Mark Wood and Jofra Archer ...

December 29, 2025 11:53 AM

Curator ‘shocked’ by Melbourne pitch performance in Ashes

The Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) curator who prepared the widely criticised pitch for the fourth Ashes test said he was in a "state of shock" as wickets tumbled in the two-day match. England completed a four-wicket victory after tea on Saturday, triggering a round of condemnation of the pitch for being too much in favour of the bowlers. "I was in a state of shock," curator Matt Page told reporters at the MCG on Sunday. "I've never been involved in a test match like it and hopefully never in...

December 26, 2025 4:42 PM

Ashes: Michael Neser savours dream Boxing Day debut on nightmare pitch for batters

After a four-wicket haul in front of a record Melbourne Cricket Ground and Australia's top score on a tough pitch, little wonder Michael Neser found day one of his maiden Boxing Day test a dream come true. The recalled seamer was dropped for the series-deciding third Ashes test in Adelaide but was back in action on Friday in front of a whopping crowd of 94,199 that saw 20 wickets tumble on a manic day one. Neser scored a vital 35 as Australia were skittled for 152 in the first innings, then to...

December 26, 2025 3:08 PM

Ashes: Batters run for cover on manic day one in fourth Test in Melbourne

Australia finished marginally on top at the end of a chaotic opening day of the fourth Ashes test after an extraordinary 20 wickets fell in front of a record crowd at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Friday. Australia nightwatchman Scott Boland was four not out with Travis Head yet to score as the hosts went to stumps at four for no loss in their second innings, carrying a 46-run lead over England. With England bowled out for 110 in reply to Australia's first innings 152, it was the highest num...

December 23, 2025 1:53 PM

Punjab power hitter Cooper Connolly targeting Australia T20 World Cup spot

All-rounder Cooper Connolly hopes his blazing Big Bash League form can help him earn him a recall to Australia's Twenty20 squad for next year's World Cup in India and Sri Lanka. The 22-year-old, who was picked up by Punjab Kings at last week's IPL auction for 30 million Indian rupees ($334,224), got off to a flyer with Perth Scorchers in this year's Big Bash T20 competition with scores of 59 and 77. Connolly, who also chips in as a left-arm spinner, made his T20 debut for Australia last year b...

December 23, 2025 1:25 PM

England’s McCullum wants to keep ‘pretty good gig’ despite Ashes defeat

England head coach Brendon McCullum says he wants to stay in his job despite a three-test defeat in the Ashes series but says his future is not in his hands. The New Zealander has come in for criticism during the series with England's 82-run defeat in the third test at Adelaide giving Australia an unassailable 3-0 lead. McCullum is contracted through to the end of the World Cup in 2027 so would get another opportunity to reclaim the Ashes in a home series that year if he stays in his post. "I...

December 22, 2025 12:12 PM

Experience the key for Australia’s Ashes win: Mitchell Starc

The wealth of experience in Australia's ranks helped them remain calm in a difficult lead-up to the Ashes, fast bowler Mitchell Starc said after they defeated England on Sunday to win the series with two matches to spare. Australia wrapped up an 82-run win on day five of the third test in Adelaide to take an unassailable 3-0 lead in the series and retain the urn, putting an end to the criticism of the team's age profile that dominated the pre-Ashes discussion. Starc said it was Australia's kno...

December 22, 2025 12:04 PM

Ben Stokes seeks solace in positives from England’s Adelaide Ashes loss

Captain Ben Stokes believes England can build on the positives from their loss in the third Ashes test to Australia in Adelaide as they look to claim the country's first win Down Under in almost 15 years in the series' two remaining tests. Australia's victory at the Adelaide Oval on Sunday ensured they retain the urn with an unassailable 3-0 series lead but an improved England batting performance in their second innings has given Stokes hope for the matches in Melbourne and Sydney. "I think so...

December 22, 2025 12:01 PM

Injury raises doubts over ‘irreplaceable’ Nathan Lyon for Boxing Day test

Australia captain Pat Cummins cast doubt on Nathan Lyon's ability to recover in time for the fourth Ashes test in Melbourne after his side celebrated retaining the urn with two matches to spare against England in Adelaide on Sunday. The spinner injured his right hamstring on the final day of the third test, which the Australians won by 82 runs to go 3-0 up in the five test series, and left the Adelaide Oval on crutches just five days before the next meeting on Dec. 26. "It doesn't look great,"...

December 22, 2025 11:59 AM

‘Hubris has taken over’: England’s McCullum under fire after Ashes defeat

England's red-ball coach Brendon McCullum faced a barrage of criticism from former players and captains on Sunday after his team slumped to another crushing Ashes defeat by Australia. The hosts swept to an 82-run win in the third Ashes test at Adelaide Oval to retain the urn with two matches to spare. After eight-wicket defeats in Perth and Brisbane, England have lost the Ashes in three matches for the fourth consecutive tour, while losing 16 of their last 18 tests in Australia. The thrashing...