Test cricket
‘There are always going to be challenges’: Luckless Pucovski returns, stars push for Test call up
Batting prodigy Will Pucovski, cult hero fast bowler Scott Boland, and dasher Matt Short will look to impress on what the curator hopes is a quick MCG pitch against a NSW side featuring ‘The GOAT’ Nathan Lyon.
- by Jon Pierik
Latest
Sandpaper saga in the past as Bancroft eyes Test return
Cameron Bancroft is confident his sins of the past won’t count against him as he attempts to reignite his Test career this summer.
- by Justin Chadwick
MCC expels member at centre of Lord’s altercation
Three members of the exclusive MCC have received sanctions for their “inappropriate behaviour” during the controversial final day of the second Ashes Test at Lord’s.
- by Rob Harris
Updated
Australian cricket
Pitch battle: Why Boxing Day, New Year’s Tests are up for grabs
The MCG and SCG will have to fight to keep their prized cricket Tests traditionally scheduled during the Christmas and New Year’s holiday period.
- by Jon Pierik
Khawaja fumes after Australia, England stung by over rates
A revised system for over rate penalties in Tests has still resulted in major fines and points lost for Australia and England.
- by Daniel Brettig
Two-match series are killing Test cricket: McDonald
Cricket’s leaders should set a three-match minimum for all Test series if they truly wish to keep the game’s longest format flourishing, Australian coach Andrew McDonald declared after an enthralling Ashes series.
- by Daniel Brettig
Opinion
The Ashes
A salute to Bazball: It works, damn it
England didn’t wrestle the Ashes back from Australia’s grasp, but they did validate their post-modern game. Bazball can’t be dismissed as a gimmick, and some interesting years lie ahead.
- by Greg Baum
Australian players locked out of post-series drink with England
Ben Stokes took to social media at 4:11 am local time to clarify the “misunderstanding” that prevented the two teams from meeting up for the traditional post-series drink in the dressing room.
- by Malcolm Conn, Daniel Brettig and Andrew Wu
Satire
The Ashes
If the Moral Ashes mattered: World Test championship, Ashes retention are no consolation for losing Moral Urn
Australia’s triumph in the World Test Championship final, and retention of the Ashes on English soil for only the second time since 2001, have failed to ease the anger on these shores at the failure of Cummins’ men to regain the Moral Urn.
- by Andrew Wu
‘Missed opportunity’: Cummins laments series draw as Ashes era ends
With just two Test regulars under 30, the selectors will look to start regenerating the team after Australia failed to seal their first series win in England for 22 years.
- by Malcolm Conn