English cricket’s complicated relationship with alcohol www.nytimes.com/athletic/730...

England name first Test squad of the summer: Crawley out; Gay, Robinson, Ahmed in www.nytimes.com/athletic/727...

Nigel Martyn. England footballer. England cricketer www.nytimes.com/athletic/726...

Nigel Martyn. England footballer. England cricketer www.nytimes.com/athletic/726...

Lancashire and Middlesex: How county cricket’s fallen giants turned mutinous www.nytimes.com/athletic/726...

Zak Crawley: From England’s golden boy to their fall guy for Ashes failure www.nytimes.com/athletic/724...

Zak Crawley: From England’s golden boy to their fall guy for Ashes failure www.nytimes.com/athletic/724...

James Coles on England, Sussex and a £390,000 fee at auction: ‘I know there will be a target on my back’ www.nytimes.com/athletic/718...

James Coles on England, Sussex and a £390,000 fee at auction: ‘I know there will be a target on my back’ www.nytimes.com/athletic/718...

From Botham to Buttler and the Rews — why Somerset set the standard for youth development in county cricket www.nytimes.com/athletic/721...

From Botham to Buttler and the Rews — why Somerset set the standard for youth development in county cricket www.nytimes.com/athletic/721...

England captain Ben Stokes admits he must work in ‘a different way’ with Brendon McCullum www.nytimes.com/athletic/719...

Gill, Pant, Jadeja and Siraj honoured as India dominate prestigious Wisden award www.nytimes.com/athletic/719...

Free walking football for women. Come and play for the O’s leytonorientwalkingfc.teamapp.com/articles/964...

Mike Gatting, Des Haynes among Middlesex greats calling for action to arrest county’s decline www.nytimes.com/athletic/716...

Ollie Robinson on England: ‘I’ve not done myself any favours. It’s up to me to force myself back in’ www.nytimes.com/athletic/715...

The state of spin bowling in England — told through the eyes of three bowlers www.nytimes.com/athletic/716...

“If you think you won’t get any help and don’t have a role in April, you shouldn’t be in the team.” Jack Leach, Somerset The state of spin bowling in England, told through the eyes of three bowlers at different stages of their careers ✍️ @paulfnewman66.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/athletic/716...

The state of spin bowling in England — told through the eyes of three bowlers www.nytimes.com/athletic/716...

The imprisonment of Imran Khan: ‘It’s hard to know, in the dark hours, what he’s going through’ www.nytimes.com/athletic/716...

Ollie Robinson on England: ‘I’ve not done myself any favours. It’s up to me to force myself back in’ www.nytimes.com/athletic/715...

Haseeb Hameed on life outside the Bazball bubble: ‘The ambition to play for England will always be there’ www.nytimes.com/athletic/715...

Haseeb Hameed on life outside the Bazball bubble: ‘The ambition to play for England will always be there’ www.nytimes.com/athletic/715...

Mike Gatting, Des Haynes among Middlesex greats calling for action to arrest county’s decline www.nytimes.com/athletic/716...

Tottenham had to part ways with Igor Tudor, but this shambles goes far beyond just him. Brilliant from Tim Spiers www.nytimes.com/athletic/710...

Ben Duckett intent on retaining England Test place and prioritises Notts over IPL www.nytimes.com/athletic/715...

England back McCullum, Stokes and Key after review of Ashes debacle, but mixed messages abound. Analysis from Lord’s for @theathletic www.nytimes.com/athletic/713...

England back McCullum, Stokes and Key after review of Ashes debacle, but mixed messages abound. Analysis from Lord’s for @theathletic www.nytimes.com/athletic/713...

How fit do you need to be to play first-class cricket? The Athletic found out www.nytimes.com/athletic/712...

Cricketing great accuses English club of ‘contributing to Indian casualties’ by signing Pakistan player www.nytimes.com/athletic/712...

The South African, the professional pole-dancer and how cricket is offering hope in war-torn Ukraine www.nytimes.com/athletic/704...

T20 World Cup: Did England do enough to make up for their winter of Ashes discontent? www.nytimes.com/athletic/709...

T20 World Cup final: Can anyone compete with India on this stage? www.nytimes.com/athletic/709...

Alyssa Healy: Classy, combative and a significant figure in women’s cricket history www.nytimes.com/athletic/710...

👏 Jacob Bethell finishes the day 142 not out 🚑 Ben Stokes sustains a groin injury and will not be able to bowl 💪 Beau Webster takes three wickets after scoring 71 not out Cameron Ponsonby and Tim Spiers dissect the key talking points from day four at the SCG ⤵️ 🔗 theathletic.com/6947360/?sou...

England coach Brendon McCullum and managing director Rob Key look likely to stay in their roles until at least after the T20 World Cup, which begins next month. Further discussions are likely to follow regarding their longer-term futures. 🔗 theathletic.com/6948920/?sou...

“Eventually, they will get you. “Sustained excellence, repeated over and over again. Pat Cummins is a freak and Nathan Lyon is a genius. You can swap those around as well if you really want.” Cameron Ponsonby, Paul Newman & Tim Spiers dissect the talking points from Adelaide Oval ⤵️ bit.ly/4akZGqu

The Sydney Cricket Ground. Where English cricket careers go to die. Across this century alone, 14 England cricketers have played their final Test here. Cameron Ponsonby talks to Scott Borthwick and Mason Crane, whose only England Test appearances came at the SCG.

“This is only the second time England have conceded a first-innings lead and then successfully chased down a target in a Test in Australia. “The only previous time it happened was back in 1895 in Melbourne.” Cameron Ponsonby, Tim Spiers and Paul Newman dissect England’s victory ⤵️ 🔗 bit.ly/4pP4J7o

It has been 5,468 days since England last won an Ashes Test match in Australia. This victory within two days in a madcap fourth Test played on a desperately poor pitch stopped yet another blighted tour Down Under spiralling completely out of control. 🔗 bit.ly/3YIpNAy

“With 20 wickets falling and the genuine possibility of a second two-day Test in the space of four Ashes matches, questions have to be asked about the state of the playing surface.” Tim Spiers and James Wallace dissect a remarkable day of cricket at the MCG ⤵️ 🔗 theathletic.com/6918885/?sou...

City Football Group executive Carlos Raphael Moersen is in advanced talks to take up the role of director of football operations at Tottenham Hotspur. Exclusive from @david-ornstein.bsky.social, @jackpittbrooke.bsky.social & Jordan Campbell ⤵️

But here we are. Things are not different. They are very the same. The process has turned out to be toilet water. The best English bowler ever, the best bowler any of us will probably ever see play for England, was sacrificed… for this? 📝 @nickmiller79.bsky.social

England called time on James Anderson’s international career in 2024. Pretty much every decision that has been made in the last couple of years was done so with this Ashes series in mind. All of it was predicated on the idea that things will be different this time. Trust the process.

The England captain said he will be having conversations with his team-mates in the nine days between now and the third Test in Adelaide and, when he goes and knocks on their doors, he must deliver some harsh truths. England cannot afford another game of just rocking up and playing the same way.

Ben Stokes has sent a message to his team. For the first time, he has made it clear in public that he is unhappy with what they are doing, particularly the way they are responding to pressure.

Australia’s grip on the Ashes has been tightened. The home side eased their way to an emphatic win to establish a 2-0 lead in the series. The tourists have been left wondering where to turn next. The key talking points at the Gabba ⤵️ 🔗 www.nytimes.com/athletic/686...

The second day at the Gabba saw Brydon Carse carted to all parts. By the time England hobbled off for tea with Australia 228-3 and only 108 runs adrift, Carse had conceded the third fastest half century by an England bowler in Test history. It was a bruising second session.

Then England spectacularly fluffed their lines. The Ashes were not over at the end of the second day of the second Test. But if they are slipping away yet again for England — and, let’s be honest, history tells you they are — then they can only blame themselves.

Three years of planning. Three years or more of trying to make sure their fastest bowlers were fit and firing at the right time. And three years of indulging the likes of Zak Crawley in the belief that his game was perfectly suited for the series that will define ‘Bazball’.