IMAGES from Day 1 of the opening Ashes Test played between England and Australia at Edgbaston in Birmingham on Friday.
England paceman Stuart Broad is aiming to recover from an ankle injury in time to play domestic first-class cricket for his county Nottinghamshire later this month, days before the first Test against India.
'The facts are staring us all in the face, except Joe doesn't want to see it'
Usman Khawaja celebrated his recall to the Test arena after two years in the wilderness with a stylish 137 to drive Australia to a declaration on 416 for eight shortly before the close of play on the second day of the fourth Ashes Test on Thursday.
"It's not the first time I am doing it, I am used to doing it, so obviously I knew what I had to do, and I knew what I had to ask from the other players. I got really good support in the middle. Being a senior player, I had to deliver in the crucial stage," he added.
England Test captain Ben Stokes on Tuesday said he had feared he might not play again after taking an extended break from cricket last year to focus on his well-being.
Senior India batter Cheteshwar Pujara, set to play his 100th Test in Delhi on Friday, is not concerned about the chatter regarding his age and how long he will continue to play. The 35-year-old says he hasn't set a retirement date and would like to take it one match at a time.
England levelled the three-Test series against West Indies after bowling the tourists out for 198 in the second innings to win by 113 runs in the final session of the second Test with Ben Stokes in inspired form at Old Trafford on Monday. England had declared their second innings at 129-3 in the first session in Manchester after sizzling all-rounder Stokes smashed 78 off 57 deliveries, setting West Indies a target of 312 with 85 overs left in the day.
The days of James Anderson and Stuart Broad spearheading England's fast bowling attack are over, according to former captain Michael Vaughan.
Nasser Hussain reckons James Anderson will pip Stuart Broad for a place in the 2nd Test starting on Thursday in Adelaide.
Stuart Broad took 10 wickets in the Test -- for only the third time in his career -- and was named man of the series despite his surprise omission from the first Test in Southampton.
The 34-year-old debuted for England in 2007 at Colombo with Chaminda Vaas his first, and only, wicket in that Test at a cost of 95 runs and logged his best figures of 8-15 when he rampaged through the Australians at Trent Bridge in the Ashes five years ago.
England's most successful bowler James Anderson feels he and Stuart Broad should be paired together to lead the bid for a series win in the decisive Test against the West Indies. The hosts are spoilt for choice ahead of Friday's start of the third Test at Old Trafford with Anderson, Jofra Archer and Mark Wood all looking to return to the team.
Veteran England pacer James Anderson on Wednesday said he is keeping his 'fingers crossed' for a return against India in the rescheduled fifth Test match, starting at Edgbaston on Friday.
'But when you get that click, that six or seven overs where everything is in sync and you see the ball flying down at 90mph-plus causing chaos, that's why you put Jofra Archer in your team.'
Images from Day 4 of the first Test between England and New Zealand at Lord's in London on Saturday.
Becomes first England fielder to take 5 catches in an innings.
With Stuart Broad, Jofra Archer and Chris Woakes already missing the series due to injuries and Ben Stokes taking an indefinite break to focus on his mental well-being, England fielded a depleted team, and now Wood, too, could join the list of absentees.
Broad missed the opening Test in Brisbane and the most recent encounter in Melbourne
'They will bowl short at you. Therefore, you will have to come out with a plan.'
A selection of musings from around the cricket World Cup.
Since 2011, England have managed to eke out just a single draw in 13 Ashes Tests over three tours and their last two Tests in Sydney have resulted in humiliating defeats.
Scott Boland will become the first indigenous Australian Test player since Jason Gillespie played his last match in 2006 when he receives his baggy green cap on Sunday.
Victory for England would see them take the series, which is poised at 1-1.
Wood was also given a break after the series in the island nation where he went wicket-less in the first Test and took three wickets in the second.
Another England bowler to advance in the rankings was Chris Woakes, whose five-wicket haul in the second innings lifted him to 20th position and a career-best rating points tally of 654.
Commenting on the batsman who troubled them most, both named former South Africa skipper Graeme Smith.
Team combination a worry for India
The 26-year-old returned to action for county side Sussex against Kent last week in a bid to regain match fitness but he only bowled five overs in Kent's second innings due to pain in the elbow.
The England team caused a flutter when two of its players tried playing a bit of 'football' with the ball during the post-lunch session on the fourth day of the second Test at Lord's on Sunday.
The two-match series ended in a 1-1 draw, with England having won the first Test in Mount Maunganui by 267 runs.
Kohli, Dhoni named captains of Test and ODI team of the decade by Aussie website
Royal Challengers Bangalore spinner Yuzvendra Chahal said he felt like Stuart Broad when Mumbai Indians veteran swashbuckler Yuvraj Singh smashed three sixes in one of his overs.
A fiery spell from captain Ben Stokes dragged England back into the match but South Africa remained the happier side as they reached 289/7 at the close on the second day of the first Test at Lord's on Thursday.
England pace bowler Stuart Broad swept aside the India middle order batting in an inspired spell on Sunday to propel his team to a crushing innings and 159 runs victory on the fourth day of the second Test at Lord's.
Steve Smith continued his outstanding Ashes form, striking an unbeaten 60 as Australia recovered from another failure by their openers to reach 170-3 at the close of the rain-affected first day of the fourth Test against England.
The batting was a big letdown for the Indians with Virat Kohli, Hanuma Vihari, Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer failing in both innings, while Shardul Thakur's selection over Ravichandran Ashwin turned out to be a big mistake.
New Zealand captain Kane Williamson (919) continued to lead the batting charts, with the Australian duo of Steve Smith (891) and Marnus Labuschagne (878) rounding up the top three.
He will become the seventh bowler overall and only the second England bowler, after James Anderson, to reach the landmark figure.
Yuvraj Singh made history by hitting England pacer Stuart Broad for six sixes in an over in the first World T20 championship in 2007.
© 2026 Rediff.com - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances