Rob Key’s decision to sound out Ben Stokes about the vacant ODI captaincy may sound like a desperate measure at a desperate time. And, for England’s one-day side, these really are desperate times. But as with the Test team’s Bazball revolution, there may just be method to the madness. First, of course, Stokes must be … Read more
At 9.30am on Sunday, the morning after hammering England, the South African team left their Karachi hotel, boarded a midday flight for Dubai, and checked in to their new accommodation at 3pm. Seventeen hours later, having barely had time to peruse the room-service menu, they checked out, and boarded a flight for Lahore, landing at … Read more
Back in 1999 when I was appointed England captain, we had hit rock bottom in the Test rankings after underperforming for a very long time. Duncan Fletcher, the new coach, turned to me and said: ‘You’re not the best side in the world, but you shouldn’t be the worst side, either.’ Now England have slipped … Read more
From an eternally-packed Twickenham to the queues snaking around Lord’s, Wimbledon and Wembley. From American advances on the Premier League to hordes of children around the world proudly wearing shirts of Premier League teams. There may be the sense that this country is going to hell in a handcart, but sport in the UK is … Read more
The man with the most to ponder while sifting through the wreckage of England’s Champions Trophy campaign has already fled the scene. Rob Key, England’s managing director of men’s cricket, was on a flight home within five hours of Afghanistan’s eight-run victory earlier this week. The 45-year-old’s departure was in keeping with his schedule and … Read more
Mark Wood hurt his left knee during England’s defeat by Afghanistan this week Ben Stokes missed the ICC Champions Trophy following hamstring surgery By LAWRENCE BOOTH Published: 18:21 EST, 28 February 2025 | Updated: 18:42 EST, 28 February 2025 The sight of Mark Wood flexing his left knee during the chastening defeat by Afghanistan was not just … Read more
The sight of Mark Wood flexing his left knee during England’s chastening defeat by Afghanistan in Lahore on Wednesday wasn’t just bad news for their Champions Trophy hopes. It was a reminder that Ben Stokes’s plans to hit Australia with express pace this winter remains delicately poised between reality and fantasy. And fantasy currently has … Read more
During the latest calamitous performance of Jos Buttler’s reign as England captain it was hard to know whether to laugh or cry. ‘Buttler Brigade: charging towards glory,’ read a female fan’s homemade sign in the Gaddafi Stadium crowd. They do gallows humour rather well here in Pakistan. For the only thing England were charging to, … Read more
Ben Duckett hit the highest score by an England batsman in a global tournament, but it came in a losing cause after Leeds-raised Josh Inglis charged under-strength Australia home by five wickets at the Gaddafi Stadium. There was no better time to face Australia, given they were without five of their first-choice XI, but on … Read more
After promising to smile more and relinquishing the wicketkeeper’s gloves, the decision to drop himself back down the order appears to be a last throw of the dice in Jos Buttler’s bid to revitalise his England captaincy. Sporting a fresh hair cut on Friday in explaining the logic behind the latest tinkering, he did his … Read more