Tue, 21-Oct-2025

Langer backs struggling Harris for Melbourne Ashes Test

Marcus Harris

MELBOURNE: Australia coach Justin Langer Thursday said struggling opener Marcus Harris will play in the Boxing Day Ashes Test at Melbourne, and backed fast bowler Mitchell Starc to recover from a rib niggle. Harris’s Test career appeared in doubt after another failure in the day-night second Test at Adelaide this week, where he made just … Read more

‘Hurting’ England not giving up on Ashes: Malan

Dawid Malan

MELBOURNE: England are “hurting” but determined to rise to the challenge and claw their way back into the Ashes series against Australia, batsman Dawid Malan said on Thursday. After slumping by nine wickets in Brisbane and then by 275 runs in Adelaide, the visitors will enter the Melbourne Cricket Ground cauldron for the third Test on Sunday … Read more

PCB begins to search for NHPC coaches including batting, bowling, fielding and power-hitting coaches

NHPC

Lahore: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Friday launched its search for highly qualified and skilled coaches, who will be based at Lahore’s state of the art National High-Performance Centre (NHPC). PCB posted advertisements for the High-Performance Coach as well as batting, bowling, fielding and power-hitting coaches. Read More: PCB appoints Faisal Hussain as new chief … Read more

Australia remove openers to leave England in deep trouble

Ashes

ADELAIDE: England were battling to stay in the second Ashes Test on Friday after Australia removed both openers in a fiery spell under lights on day two to leave the visitors reeling. The home team declared their first innings on a commanding 473 for nine in Adelaide, leaving England to face a trying 40 minutes … Read more

Stokes loving being back and ready to score big in Ashes

Ashes Test

ADELAIDE: Ben Stokes told England fans that “we don’t believe we’re beaten” and said he felt ready for a big score with the bat, after another tough day at the Ashes on Friday. The visitors were forced to toil for 150 overs in the field over the past two days as Australia built an ominous … Read more

‘Pinching myself’: Head century puts Australia in firm command

Travis Head

Travis Head blasted the third-fastest century in Ashes history to crush England hopes on the second day of the opening Test at the Gabba on Thursday. At the close of play a dominant Australia were 343-7, a lead of 196 on England’s dismal first-innings total of 147. Head was on 112, alongside Mitchell Starc, who … Read more

From Smith to Stokes: Five to watch when the Ashes begins

Ashes Trophy

The first Test between England and Australia starts at Brisbane’s Gabba on Wednesday. Here, AFP Sport identifies the five players who could be match-winners in the Ashes. Steve Smith (Australia) The world’s number three ranked Test batsman — behind England skipper Joe Root and New Zealand’s Kane Williamson — was heroic during the last Ashes … Read more