#bazball

#bazball

Amusingly, there was a brief panic in the afternoon when it was announced that Steve Smith, like Khawaja a day earlier, was bringing forward his press conference. Was this the possible signposting of a second retirement by a Sydneysider? News soon followed that this was a case of the 36-year-old looking to keep his training light. Phew. One is plenty, thank you very much. As it stands, Khawaja is the only player known to be joining those who have signed off at the SCG

In the second Test, Green was promoted to No 5 and powered his way to 45 while belting England's short-ball barrage to all corners of the Gabba. Even though his regular backing away towards the leg-stump to counter Brydon Carse's bouncers was becoming a little reckless and predictable, it didn't matter because Green was striking the ball so cleanly. Then he started telegraphing his attacking philosophy so early that all Carse had to do was aim at the pegs,

It's not a complete exaggeration to say that Australia won the 2025-26 Ashes on 15 October 2024. That was when Cricket Australia announced the schedule for the series: Perth first, Brisbane second. Starting the series on the bounciest, most Kryptonicious pitches in Australia and the only major venues where England haven't won a Test since 1986-87 was a masterstroke, especially as Australia also had a day-night advantage at the Gabba. By the time England reached more batting-friendly climes, many of their batters already had scrambled brains.

There is no doubt that McCullum meant what he said on Sunday, however, repeating it in various ways to multiple outlets as he and Ben Stokes surveyed the wreckage. On one level you almost have to admire his commitment to the bit. As much as McCullum claims to block out external noise, he will have been all too aware of an England side that has become increasingly characterised as freewheeling and underprepared; unwilling to do the hard yards,

We met Brendon McCullum and his coaching staff a few weeks ago, said Wigglesworth. We had a sit down and a coffee in Manchester which was very enjoyable. I asked him a lot around how he changed mindsets in English cricket which was really interesting. But then we got into the technicalities of coaching someone one-on-one and what that looks like.