Chris Tremlett: England need classic Lord’s conditions to level the Ashes against confident Australia August 13, 2019 Spring-like weather has hit London over the last few days and, with the second Ashes Test starting tomorrow morning at Lord’s, England will be hoping April showers don’t ruin their chances of levelling the series. Having been beaten by Australia at Edgbaston, England really need the conditions to be on their side over the next [...]
Hazards of the Dukes: Why England cannot rely on the mysterious commodity of swing to win the Ashes August 13, 2019 It’s a mystical, erratic but vital element of Test cricket. Batsmen hate it. Pace bowlers thrive on it. Swing is the backbone of the contest between bat and ball – a sought-after, match-winning commodity which flits in and out of existence throughout the ebbs and flows of a game. And yet it remains largely misunderstood. Shine [...]
Chris Tremlett: Jofra Archer has the ability to solve England’s Steve Smith problem at Lord’s August 6, 2019 When they look back on the 251-run defeat by Australia in the first Ashes Test, England will reflect on an opportunity missed. After losing the toss, England had the visitors right where they wanted them at 122-8, only for Steve Smith to claw Australia back into the game with a brilliant 144. The former captain [...]
England facing stern questions after succumbing to Australia comeback in first Ashes Test August 5, 2019 In the end England surrendered the first Ashes Test meekly. The 251-run margin of defeat was unimaginable on the opening day, when Australia were reeling on 122-8 at a raucous Edgbaston. And unimaginable for good reason: England made history, registering the biggest loss of any Test side to have claimed a first-innings lead of 90 [...]
England face monumental challenge to save first Ashes Test after another Smith century August 4, 2019 How do you solve a problem like Steve Smith? England may have dismissed the former Australian captain twice in the first Test match at Edgbaston, but it took them 426 attempts, came at the cost of 286 runs and the chance of making a winning start to the Ashes. England began day four with hope, [...]
Steve Smith’s wonderful 144 sees Australia bounce back from Stuart Broad barrage on day one of the Ashes August 1, 2019 Today was a big day for Steve Smith. The first day of an away Ashes series and, more pertinently, the first Test match 16 months on from his very public shaming, lying, tears and grovelling. The pressure was on at Edgbaston, but Smith didn’t show it, blocking out the boos with a typically patient, dogged [...]
Chris Tremlett: England’s mastery of conditions give them the edge but expect tight Ashes series July 31, 2019 Both England and Australia come into the Ashes on the back of a summer packed full of one-day internationals and far from ideal warm-up games. England’s World Cup win was followed by the shock of the crazy Test against Ireland which highlighted their inconsistencies, while Australia played out a wicket-filled warm-up game among themselves. Read [...]
Ashes preview: England’s top order woes can be exploited by Australia, says Glenn McGrath July 31, 2019 The more things change, the more they stay the same. England start another Ashes series against Australia at Edgbaston on tomorrow with different names at the top of the batting order, but names who are grappling with the age-old problem of scoring runs. Since Andrew Strauss retired in August 2012 England have used 18 different [...]
Unlikely hero Jack Leach bails England out after yet another collapse against Ireland July 25, 2019 At the start of day two of England’s one-off Test against Ireland at Lord’s, Jack Leach’s efforts with the bat as nightwatchman were merely good fun; an unsubstantial and inconsequential starter ahead of the awaiting main course. As he progressed, playing accomplished shots to get the hosts off to a steady start, his innings ticked [...]
World Cup hangover: England bowled out for 85 by impressive Ireland on day one at Lord’s July 24, 2019 After the ecstatic high, the crushing low. The dramatic nature of England’s first World Cup win lent itself to prolonged celebration, but after 10 days of jubilation the hangover hit hard at Lord’s, with Ireland arriving to break up the party and bring them back to earth with a bump. England’s Test batting has long [...]