2 minute read After securing a 268-run target via Tammy Beaumont’s 208 and Sophie Ecclestone’s second five wicket haul of the match, England were, if not happy, then at least steely-eyed and up for a challenge going into their second innings. Then Ashleigh Gardner took 8-66. Moeen’s Ali’s seeping spinning finger last week
Continue readingCategory: England
Ellyse Perry is a lot less bothered than you’d think about getting out for 99
2 minute read The climax of the last Ashes Test was so dramatic that they decided to play another one. No, not that Ashes Test climax – this Ashes Test climax. For England and Australia cricketers, Test opportunities come around either constantly or almost never, depending whether you’re a man or a woman.
Continue readingWhy do we complain about declarations? Maybe because declarations feel easier to quantify
4 minute read Few declarations pass without public complaint, but Ben Stokes’ first innings declaration in the first Test of the 2023 Ashes was more controversial than most. People complained when it happened and then they really complained when England lost. England were 393-8, Joe Root was on 118 and Nathan Lyon had
Continue readingA lesson from Pat Cummins: even bloody awful Ashes cricket is bloody brilliant
4 minute read It just ratchets up, doesn’t it? The climax of a tight Test match ratchets up the tension and anguish to the same point a normal sport can take you… and then it just gleefully and sadistically carries on ratcheting from there. It keeps on ratcheting for maybe another hour of
Continue readingStuart Broad says England’s all-out attack will involve a fair bit of defence
3 minute read Attacking is great and defending is boring and attack is the best form of defence. Also – we don’t know if you’re aware of this – but sometimes defending can be a great way of attacking. But that’s still a type of attacking, okay? OKAY!? Swap ‘Bazball’ for ‘Numberwang’ and
Continue readingDid you see… Harry Brook’s first over?
3 minute read The Ashes has already delivered a great many remarkable moments, but few have been quite like Harry Brook coming on to bowl early on day two. It wasn’t so much that Brook was getting a bowl – it was when. It was inside the first hour and after two quick
Continue readingKnow your Bazball – an illustrated guide
2 minute read Are you settling in for the Ashes and finding yourself a bit perplexed by all the ‘Bazball’ talk? If you’re struggling to know what is and isn’t Bazball and don’t want to embarrass yourself by making a faux pas – fear not! Simply consult our short and informative illustrated guide…
Continue readingNow TV might work out the cheapest way to watch the Ashes if all you really want to watch is the cricket
2 minute read If you’re in the UK and you want to watch the Ashes, Now TV is probably your cheapest legal option. (If you sign up as a ‘new customer’ via any of the links on this page, we’ll get a small cut. Update: No, turns out we don’t actually. Apparently we
Continue reading10 things to watch out for during the Ashes
7 minute read The 2023 Ashes is almost here! And you’re not ready! You think you are, but you aren’t. You don’t know what to watch out for. But don’t worry, we’ve done the hard work for you and come up with this list. You need to watch out for these things… 1.
Continue readingIreland now and then and maybe again
3 minute read When England first played Ireland in a Test match four years ago, we had visions of it becoming an annual fixture with a slowly developing history. We’ve followed England cricket long enough to know there was pretty much zero chance that would happen, but the prospect has only seemed more
Continue reading