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Ben Stokes is adamant he will be in the 'best possible shape' after five-month hamstring injury lay-off - as England Test captain insists 'I still want to play a full role as a bowler'

15/05/25 06:00
Ben Stokes believes he will be fitter than ever when he returns from a five-month lay-off to lead England against Zimbabwe next week - but has admitted he will need to look after his body at the start of a crucial nine months for the Test side. The England captain has not played any cricket since tearing his left hamstring against New Zealand at Hamilton in December. Back then, he reacted defiantly, insisting on X that he had 'so much more left in this tank', and signing off in colourful fashion: 'See you on the field to f*** some s*** up.' Now, after some 'very good' discussions with head coach Brendon McCullum, Stokes has promised to listen more closely to his body in a year that includes career-defining series with India and Australia....read

Who is the next Virat Kohli? These seven India stars have the best chance
13/05/25 11:00INSIDE CRICKET: The retirement of Virat Kohli from Test cricket leaves India without an all-time great batsman to worship - for the first time since the emergence of Sachin Tendulkar 35 years ago.
Virat Kohli's retirement from Tests is a dark day for cricket - but it's even worse news for England
12/05/25 11:00Virat Kohli's decision to retire from Test cricket has robbed the format of one of its most compelling practitioners - and, indisputably, its most powerful advocate.
Jacob Bethell's in limbo after flying home… now the pressure's on Ollie Pope to seize big Test chance
11/05/25 09:30LAWRENCE BOOTH: The fuss over the retention of Zak Crawley for England's one-off Test against Zimbabwe later this month allowed another tricky choice to escape scrutiny.
IPL expansion, two-tier Test cricket, cutting World Cups and an India v Pakistan Test series: Cricket's eight biggest problems to fix
06/05/25 11:00INSIDE CRICKET: Not for the first time, cricket finds itself at a crossroads, torn between those who fear for the future of Tests and those who see the white-ball game as the way ahead.
Why pace-obsessed England have called on 80mph bowler Sam Cook in legacy-defining year for Bazball
02/05/25 09:31The selection of Sam Cook in a 13-man squad for the Trent Bridge Test against Zimbabwe is belated recognition that a bowler of his kind still has a role to play for England's Bazballers.
England include Essex duo Sam Cook and Jordan Cox in squad for one-off Test against Zimbabwe while Josh Tongue is recalled
02/05/25 12:21LAWRENCE BOOTH: Jamie Smith returning from paternity leave to reclaim the gloves, Cox - who had been earmarked for the wicketkeeping role in New Zealand - looks like the spare batter.
Why the tale of 14-year-old schoolboy Vaibhav Suryavanshi and his 35-ball IPL ton shows India have an advantage over the rest of the world, writes LAWRENCE BOOTH
30/04/25 01:00LAWRENCE BOOTH: The reaction to 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi's 35-ball ton for the Rajasthan Royals has been as breathless as his innings was breathtaking. They call him the Boss Baby.
Why an 80mph seamer can lead England to Ashes glory Down Under - and what it means for Bazball's relationship with county cricket
29/04/25 11:00During the Oval Test against Sri Lanka last September, an influential member of the England team said it would be hard to squeeze Sam Cook into the Test team - he wasn't quick enough.
INSIDE CRICKET: Nine talking points from County Championship round three: Which two England stars are a concern? What do Surrey need to fix? And who sent an Ashes warning?
22/04/25 11:00INSIDE CRICKET: The third round of county championship matches finished yesterday, with Nottinghamshire and Sussex the early leaders in division one.
JACK CARSON INTERVIEW: I am combative and competitive. It's ingrained into me. Now I'm determined to play Test cricket for England
17/04/25 01:00EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW BY LAWRENCE BOOTH: Jack Carson, the Ulster off-spinner who is making waves at Sussex, sounds almost disappointed that his chosen style is no threat to life or limb.
I've been to all 18 first-class county cricket grounds in the UK... this is the definitive list from worst to best and where YOUR club ranks, writes LAWRENCE BOOTH
15/04/25 11:00TOP SPIN: There are 18 first-class county headquarters in Britain, and Mail Sport's Lawrence Booth has been to them all - many times over. Here, he ranks them in order of personal preference.
England cricket legend Alec Stewart's wife dies following 12-year breast cancer battle - just months after he stepped down as Surrey boss to support her
14/04/25 10:36LAWRENCE BOOTH AT THE OVAL: Surrey are mourning the death of Lynn Stewart, wife of Alec, their former captain and director of cricket. Flags were flying at half-mast on Monday at The Oval.
Harry Brook insists England WILL get back to competing in world competitions after taking over white-ball captaincy on the back of drab run
09/04/25 05:48LAWRENCE BOOTH: Brook's reign as limited-overs captain begins on May 29 against West Indies, where England will be seeking to end of run of seven ODI defeats - their worst run since 2006.
10 insights from County Championship round one: Tom Banton and Ben Foakes make England cases, Ashes bolter lighting up speed guns and why fixture schedule shouldn't be cut
08/04/25 11:00INSIDE CRICKET: With the new county season getting under way on Friday, here are 10 things we learned from the opening round of fixtures.
England appoint Harry Brook as white-ball captain following Jos Buttler's resignation - despite talk of Test skipper Ben Stokes being lined up for the 50-over job
07/04/25 11:26LAWRENCE BOOTH: Harry Brook has been named as England's new white-ball captain - ending speculation that Ben Stokes might be persuaded to take on the 50-over job.
Harry Brook set to be unveiled as England's new T20 captain with Ben Stokes lined up for return as ODI skipper
04/04/25 06:56LAWRENCE BOOTH: Harry Brook is set to be unveiled as England's new T20 captain, with Ben Stokes still the preferred choice as one-day skipper.
GRAEME SWANN'S blueprint to save English spinners and put Australia in a spin to win the Ashes
01/04/25 11:00INSIDE CRICKET BY LAWRENCE BOOTH: The start of the county championship usually means cheap wickets on fresh pitches for 78mph seamers - but it doesn't have to be this way.
Meet the 6ft 7in 20-year-old who wants to be England's Mitchell Starc as he sets his sights on the Ashes
31/03/25 01:00EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW BY LAWRENCE BOOTH: Six months on from the Test pick that left English cricket speechless, Hull is pinching himself at the madness of it all.
Peter Lever dead at 84: Former England bowler and Ashes-winning hero passes away after a short illness
27/03/25 01:46LAWRENCE BOOTH: Peter Lever, an Ashes-winning hero from Ray Illingworth's 1970-71 tour of Australia, has died at the age of 84 after a short illness.
Ben Duckett's brutal hounding from social media - for something that he didn't say - is a shameful indictment of our double standards towards England's Bazballers
25/03/25 12:00LAWRENCE BOOTH'S INSIDE CRICKET: In the grand scheme of things, Ben Duckett leaving Twitter was neither here nor there, but it felt like a small moment in time for Bazball.
Why Jofra Archer is being smashed around the park, writes LAWRENCE BOOTH after England star bowled the most expensive spell in IPL history
25/03/25 02:00LAWRENCE BOOTH: It is nearly six years since Archer took international cricket by storm, starring in England's dramatic World Cup win, then breaching 98mph in the Tests against Australia.
Jon Lewis SACKED as England women's head coach after disastrous winter - which included a 16-0 Ashes whitewash and woeful World Cup
21/03/25 01:45Lewis's overall record was strong, with 52 wins from 73 matches in all formats, and he leaves with England ranked second in both one-day and T20 cricket.
BEN DUCKETT interview: People think England just want to tee off with the bat and don't care about winning - it's nonsense
19/03/25 12:00EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW BY LAWRENCE BOOTH: During a winter of highs and lows Duckett became one of England's all-format linchpins, batting more times (22) than any of his team-mates.
What cricket's top bosses really make of Saudi Arabia's masterplans to 'save' the sport - and how England are fighting back, insiders reveal to LAWRENCE BOOTH
18/03/25 12:00LAWRENCE BOOTH'S INSIDE CRICKET: When Saudi Arabia come calling, few sports can resist. For cricket, then, its Saudi Moment was only a matter of time.
England are dealt MAJOR Mark Wood injury blow just months ahead of five-Test India series and Ashes tour Down Under
13/03/25 04:31A 'gutted' Mark Wood is set to miss the showpiece five-Test series against India this summer after undergoing surgery on his left knee - and may not play for England again until the winter Ashes.
Dear India cricket fans - we think your team could be the best of all time ...but here are the very good reasons why they're also the most unpopular, writes LAWRENCE BOOTH
11/03/25 12:00As India were handed the Champions Trophy by India's ICC chairman at India's new home-from-home in front of India's fans, it seemed perverse to wonder if cricket has ever been more polarised.
India cement their status as white-ball kings with four-wicket win over New Zealand in Champions Trophy final - but triumph comes with an asterisk
09/03/25 06:12LAWRENCE BOOTH: India cemented their status as cricket's white-ball powerhouse by adding the Champions Trophy to the T20 World Cup they won nine months ago.
Piling this on Ben Stokes' plate may seem insane. But here's why it can work, writes LAWRENCE BOOTH
07/03/25 02:00LAWRENCE BOOTH: 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.
Ben Stokes lined up for shock return as England's ODI captain with Harry Brook set to lead T20 side in dramatic white-ball reboot
06/03/25 04:38LAWRENCE BOOTH: Last week's resignation of Jos Buttler prompted Key to ask Stokes to consider taking on a role he has filled only once - during the Covid-hit series against Pakistan in 2021.
India will face New Zealand in Champions Trophy final after Rachin Ravindra and Kane Williamson put South Africa to the sword
05/03/25 05:47LAWRENCE BOOTH: The final will be India's fifth game in a row in Dubai following their refusal to play in Pakistan, but their coach angrily denied his side had enjoyed an 'undue advantage'.
Steve Smith survives a bizarre near-dismissal as Australia are knocked OUT of the Champions Trophy by India
04/03/25 04:56Favourites India are through to the Champions Trophy final after a serene 84 from Virat Kohli was the cornerstone of a convincing four-wicket win over Australia in Dubai.
It's time to end the Trump-esque nonsense and culture of fear that allows India's cricket team to create one rule for them and another for everyone else, writes LAWRENCE BOOTH
04/03/25 12:00LAWRENCE BOOTH: There are journeys to and from the cricket. And then there are journeys other teams are obliged to make because of India.
Why Brendon McCullum's express-pace Ashes plan is in danger of hitting the buffers, writes LAWRENCE BOOTH
28/02/25 11:21LAWRENCE BOOTH: The sight of Mark Wood flexing his left knee during the chastening defeat by Afghanistan was not just bad news for England's Champions Trophy hopes.
Why England's Ashes pace plan risks falling flat on its face after chastening Champions Trophy campaign, writes LAWRENCE BOOTH
28/02/25 12:00LAWRENCE BOOTH: The sight of Mark Wood flexing his left knee during England's chastening defeat by Afghanistan on Wednesday wasn't just bad news for their Champions Trophy hopes.
Jos Buttler must resign as white-ball captain after England's Champions Trophy elimination - it is time for a clean start and he knows it, writes LAWRENCE BOOTH
26/02/25 07:46LAWRENCE BOOTH: Jos Buttler is England's greatest white-ball batsman - and if that's how he wants to be remembered, he must step down as captain.
England's devil-may-care attitude is dangerously close to delusion - it's time for a new approach... especially with results this dire, writes LAWRENCE BOOTH
25/02/25 12:00TOP SPIN: Non-English cricket fans have rarely needed an excuse to poke fun at England. So it's a pity they're being given such rich material to work with.
TOP SPIN: The 10 big questions that still need to be answered following the Hundred sale worth £975MILLION… including what happens when the money runs out?
18/02/25 12:00The Hundred sale last week valued the eight franchises at an eye-watering £975m. The Top Spin flags up 10 questions that arose from a momentous week for English cricket.
After two botched World Cup defences, Champions Trophy failure would put England captain Jos Buttler on thin ice, writes LAWRENCE BOOTH
16/02/25 02:00LAWRENCE BOOTH: Buttler has already presided over two botched World Cup defences - the 50-over title in India 16 months ago, and the T20 edition in the Caribbean last summer.
England's once great ODI team are in disarray and heat is back on Jos Buttler after India shambles, writes LAWRENCE BOOTH
13/02/25 10:34When England start their Champions Trophy campaign against Australia at Lahore on February 22, it is safe to say they will not be carrying the nation's hopes on their shoulders.
Alex Hartley was right - England are unfit, rudderless and their siege mentality response to criticism after being embarrassed by Australia proves they still can't handle scrutiny, writes LAWRENCE BOOTH
28/01/25 12:00TOP SPIN: Whisper it, but perhaps Alex Hartley was right. Back in October, she called out the fitness of the England women - a brave decision given she had not long made the transition from player to pundit.
Why thin-skinned Australians are missing the point on Sam Konstas - and how he can be the best thing to happen to the Ashes for 20 years, writes LAWRENCE BOOTH
21/01/25 12:00LAWRENCE BOOTH: Which is why all it took for Fox Sports to declare 'Poms in Bizarre Meltdown over Konstas' was a lone remark by Barney Ronay in The Guardian.
The 10 Test cricketers with the most to prove in 2025: Four Englishmen who have it all to do before the Ashes, the India batter who's numbers are 'borderline criminal' and the Aussie who has been left behind by modern game
14/01/25 12:00LAWRENCE BOOTH: It's going to be another big year for Test cricket, with the World Test Championship final at Lord's, England hosting India for five games, and finally the Ashes.
England off-spin star Charlie Dean plays down concerns surrounding team's fitness levels as they embark on Ashes charge in Australia
10/01/25 10:38LAWRENCE BOOTH: England off-spinner Charlie Dean has defended her team's fitness levels as they embark on their latest attempt to regain the Ashes.
An Indian batting crisis, time for Australians to eat humble pie and the dangerman England must go after in the Ashes: The 10 things we learned from the Border-Gavaskar Trophy
07/01/25 12:00TOP SPIN: The series has become so hard-fought that many see it as bigger than the Ashes - and the conversations it generates rival, if not surpass, the frenzy of the oldest match-up in Test cricket.
If Virat Kohli's torrid form was a blip then there would be a case for taking him to England this summer - but this is a long-term malaise and most players would have been dropped by now, writes LAWRENCE BOOTH
05/01/25 05:56LAWRENCE BOOTH: As Australia and India picked over the carcass of a pulsating Border-Gavaskar Trophy, settled 3-1 in the hosts' favour in Sydney, England were left facing two big questions.
Test cricket team of the year 2024: Which FIVE Englishmen make it in and which record-breaker takes the armband?
31/12/24 12:00TOP SPIN: There's five from one country, none from a team that topped the WTC and a record-breaking performance is more than enough to give one player the armband.
Ollie Pope's England future is in doubt after Jacob Bethell's impressive start at No 3... as Brendon McCullum heaps praise on the 21-year-old 'talent'
18/12/24 12:03LAWRENCE BOOTH IN HAMILTON: Ollie Pope could pay the price for an inconsistent year following the emergence of Jacob Bethell during England's 2-1 win in New Zealand.
England's curve is moving upwards after a first series win in New Zealand in 16 years but the key for a HUGE 2025 will be to peak at the right time, writes LAWRENCE BOOTH
17/12/24 02:59LAWRENCE BOOTH: An Ashes series in Australia permits no passengers. Their captain, who will be 34, simply has to be in the driver's seat.
England's turbulent 2024: LAWRENCE BOOTH picks three hits and three misses from defeat by India, summer victories and a fresh squad building for the Ashes
17/12/24 02:48LAWRENCE BOOTH: The year started with a hammering in India, before home wins over West Indies and Sri Lanka. Ben Stokes' side then lost in Pakistan before beating New Zealand.
Why this needless attempted humiliation of BBC Wimbledon host Isa Guha over Jasprit Bumrah 'primate' comment must end, writes Wisden Editor LAWRENCE BOOTH
17/12/24 12:00TOP SPIN: Here we were, in the eye of a 'race storm' apparently designed to harvest clicks and stoke outrage rather than add gravitas to a subject that is both serious and distressing.
England series ratings: Which batter has emerged as a good headache to have? Who proved to be the best bowler on either side? And which star reminded us all of his enduring greatness?
17/12/24 07:23LAWRENCE BOOTH - SERIES RATINGS: The captain has left with questions swirling over his future as an international all-rounder after suffering another hamstring issue while bowling.
England suffer huge 423-run defeat against New Zealand in the third Test in Hamilton as Jacob Bethell top-scores with 76... but Ben Stokes' side win the series 2-1
17/12/24 01:25Half-centuries from Joe Root and Jacob Bethell - his third of a promising debut series - held the hosts up on the fourth morning after England resumed on 18 for two.
England on course for monstrous defeat after Kane Williamson-inspired New Zealand set the tourists a staggering 658 to win - as Ben Stokes injury raises questions about his future as an all-rounder on bruising day three
16/12/24 06:45LAWRENCE BOOTH IN HAMILTON: The future of Ben Stokes as an international all-rounder came under fresh scrutiny after he hobbled off the field in Hamilton.
England suffer shambolic third Test collapse against New Zealand that leaves Ben Stokes's side all out for 143 and on the verge of an eighth defeat this year
15/12/24 07:37LAWRENCE BOOTH AT SEDDON PARK: England, the busiest team on the Test circuit, can be forgiven the odd lapse. They have played five series this year.
Matthew Potts credits England bowling coach Jimmy Anderson for teaching him a few tricks of the trade after claiming Kane Williamson's wicket for the fourth time in three Tests
14/12/24 10:30LAWRENCE BOOTH IN HAMILTON: Williamson's dismissal took his Test record against Potts to four wickets for only 11 runs from 50 deliveries, and confirmed him as a serious Ashes contender.
Matt Potts inspires England fightback on day one as New Zealand suffer afternoon collapse to end on 315-9 - with Ben Stokes giving his side an encouraging fitness boost
14/12/24 07:34LAWRENCE BOOTH IN HAMILTON: It all seemed to happen in slow motion - and it was the moment England began to wonder whether the first day of the third Test might be turning in their favour.
ECB chief Richard Gould confident sale of the eight Hundred franchises can bankroll county cricket for the 'next 20 to 25 years'
13/12/24 10:04LAWRENCE BOOTH IN HAMILTON: ECB chief executive Richard Gould has insisted the sale of the eight Hundred franchises can bankroll county cricket for the next two decades.
Ben Stokes warns his England team not to get distracted by the Ashes as they look to end the year on a high with New Zealand whitewash
12/12/24 06:25LAWRENCE BOOTH IN HAMILTON: Victory over New Zealand in Hamilton would secure a 3-0 whitewash over a team who only recently triumphed by the same scoreline in India.
How Ben Stokes became England's Mr Nice Guy again - but still crushed New Zealand spirits along the way after Pakistan woes
11/12/24 10:30LAWRENCE BOOTH IN HAMILTON: Stokes's journey this winter has mirrored his team's. He was unhappy in Pakistan, where he felt he let the team down by becoming overly focused on himself.
Steve Harmison on why England were right to move on from Jimmy Anderson - but only if they avoid key mistake of past Ashes tours
10/12/24 12:00EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW BY LAWRENCE BOOTH: Steve Harmison believes England's growing band of fast bowlers can stun Australia next winter - but has warned they must be 'peak ready'.
The 10 best cricketers in 10 years' time - which future stars will be dominating in a decade?
10/12/24 12:00TOP SPIN: While doom-mongers continue to predict its decline, the last few months have shown what Test cricket can still be - and what might be on its way in the future.
Joe Root insists Harry Brook is 'the best player in the world' - despite leading the ICC Test batting rankings himself - after the England star's blistering 123 to change the course of New Zealand series
09/12/24 11:27LAWRENCE BOOTH: Only Root had begun the Test ahead of Brook in the ICC rankings. Yet even after Root scored a century of his own in England's 323-run win, he took issue with the algorithm.
England second Test PLAYER RATINGS: Harry Brook and Brydon Carse excelled but who scored just 3/10?
08/12/24 10:45England secured an impressive series win against New Zealand, which will provide much encouragement going forwards.
Whisper it but England's Ashes jigsaw might just be falling into place, writes LAWRENCE BOOTH as Bazballers win first away series in two years
08/12/24 10:31It is hard to imagine a more complete win than the 323-run drubbing which secured England's first series victory in New Zealand for over 16 years.
England win their first Test series in New Zealand for more than 16 YEARS after cruising to 323-run victory inside three days in Wellington - as they target unexpected 3-0 whitewash
08/12/24 07:38LAWRENCE BOOTH IN WELLINGTON: Set 583, New Zealand were dismissed for 259, giving England their first overseas series win since beating Pakistan two years ago.
Gus Atkinson takes superb hat-trick - England's first for SEVEN years - as tourists dominate second Test against New Zealand
07/12/24 07:40It was a golden day for England at the Basin Reserve, as a hat-trick from Gus Atkinson, followed by nineties for Jacob Bethell and Ben Duckett, gave them complete control.
England take control in second Test against New Zealand after Harry Brook hit another century and Brydon Carse took two crucial wickets in Wellington
06/12/24 06:33LAWRENCE BOOTH IN WELLINGTON: There appears to be no stopping Harry Brook. And on a day when his eighth Test hundred dominated, England were thankful for his class.
New Zealand captain Tom Latham backs Ben Stokes amid England's bitter row with cricket chiefs - after both sides were docked three points in the World Test Championship table
05/12/24 09:50LAWRENCE BOOTH IN WELLINGTON: Both England and New Zealand were docked three points in the World Test Championship after the series opener last week.
England head into second Test locked in a bitter row with the ICC as Ben Stokes and Co look to seal first series win in New Zealand in 16 YEARS
04/12/24 10:00LAWRENCE BOOTH IN WELLINGTON: Both teams were docked three points after England's win at Christchurch, having fallen three overs behind the hourly scheduled rate of 15.
The truth about why England cast aside county cricket - and why it's working, writes Wisden Editor LAWRENCE BOOTH
03/12/24 12:00TOP SPIN: All those pathways, academies, all that investment - and then some fella who has never batted at No 3 is handed the keys to one of the toughest positions in the Test line-up.
Jacob Bethell insists he had no doubts over making the step up to Test level as the new England star reveals where he is happiest in the batting order after 37-ball 50 against New Zealand
02/12/24 12:15LAWRENCE BOOTH IN CHRISTCHURCH: Asked if he had harboured any doubts about his ability to succeed at the highest level, his answer was as confident as his strokeplay.
England vs New Zealand PLAYER RATINGS: Which star scored just 1/10 in the first Test? How high did 'lethal' Brydon Carse score after taking 10 wickets? And who recovered from an 'insipid' start?
02/12/24 01:16LAWRENCE BOOTH IN CHRISTCHURCH: England got their series off to a solid start against New Zealand as they took the first Test by eight wickets in Christchurch.
England captain Ben Stokes plays down fresh injury concerns and insists he WILL be fit for the second Test against New Zealand despite hurting his back
01/12/24 07:57LAWRENCE BOOTH IN CHRISTCHURCH: The England captain had said before the game that his body was 'good as gold' after worries about his hamstring had limited him to 10 overs in Pakistan.
England cruise to eight-wicket victory against New Zealand in the first Test as lethal Brydon Carse menaces hosts and debutant Jacob Bethell hits unbeaten 50
01/12/24 07:39LAWRENCE BOOTH IN CHRISTCHURCH: If Ben Stokes and England could have handpicked a script for the first Test in New Zealand, it probably would have looked something like this.
Harry Brook hails 'unbelievable athlete' Brydon Carse after the fast bowler ripped through New Zealand's batting line-up to put England in command of the first Test
30/11/24 09:06The continued excellence of Carse, England's best bowler of the winter, has set the Test team up beautifully for a seismic 2025 which includes five-match series against both India and Australia.
Chris Woakes takes two wickets in two balls to move England to brink of victory in New Zealand as Harry Brook survives FIVE dropped chances to make superb 171
30/11/24 07:30LAWRENCE BOOTH IN CHRISTCHURCH: The next ball, to Tom Blundell, went the other way, straightening off the seam to kiss the outside edge so imperceptibly that Blundell called for a review.
Ollie Pope reveals his preferred position in England's batting order after returning to form in first Test against New Zealand
29/11/24 10:10LAWRENCE BOOTH: Having averaged just 11 during the series in Pakistan, Pope spent time back home chatting to Alec Stewart, his former director at Surrey, 'to get in the right headspace'.
Harry Brook leads England comeback against New Zealand on Day Two with seventh Test century while Joe Root falls to a miserable duck on 150th outing
29/11/24 06:28LAWRENCE BOOTH IN CHRISTCHURCH: Harry Brook threaded a cut through the cordon off Tim Southee for the four that brought up his latest hundred and confirmed England's fightback.
England spinner Shoaib Bashir hails the influence of Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum on his rapid rise after starring on the opening day of the first Test in New Zealand
28/11/24 09:58Shoaib Bashir paid tribute to the faith shown in him by Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum after taking four wickets on fluctuating opening day of England's Test series in New Zealand.
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Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes' 1587 Kansas City steakhouse destroyed in brutal TikTok review
After launching it back in September
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Scottie Pippen reignites his feud with Michael Jordan
As he aims brutal dig at former Chicago Bulls teammate in new soda commercial
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Fundraiser launched for NHL reporter Jessi Pierce's husband after she died with their kids in house fire
Tributes pour in for Pierce and her children
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Women's boxer Isis Sio, 19, fighting for her life in hospital after knockout loss
Placed in medically induced coma in California
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Two-time Super Bowl winner takes brutal swipe at Trump supporters
As he ruthlessly mocks MAGA in divisive online post
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Beloved NHL reporter Jessi Pierce shared heartbreaking final post of her three children
Before their tragic deaths in house fire at the weekend
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Maryland coach Brenda Frese screams in the face of star player Oluchi Okananwa in loss
Great coaching or poor judgement?
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Defending champs go down in March Madness thriller after tempers flare between Iowa and top-seeded Florida
Coaches erupt before wild finish in Tampa
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Tom Brady dodges question about Maxx Crosby after Raiders star saw Ravens trade sensationally collapse
What does the future hold in Las Vegas?
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St. John's sinks buzzer beater to stun Kansas in wild March Madness finish to advance to first Sweet 16 since 1999
Next up: Duke
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Incredible footage of 7ft 9in March Madness star Olivier Rioux towering over high-school rivals resurfaces
Unfair advantage?
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Barely-believable moment March Madness shot DOESN'T go in as clock hits zero: 'I just about died'
Nebraska survived a scare against Vanderbilt
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Terrifying moment young girl is trapped under a cart in front of Brooks Koepka at Valspar Championship
Five-time major champion helped out
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Fans convinced Tom Brady, 48, could make NFL return after legendary QB rolls back the years at Flag Football Classic
Could he return?
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Kim Kardashian and Lewis Hamilton fuel romance rumors as they enjoy stroll in Tokyo alongside stunned fans
Believed to be dating
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Stephen A. Smith loses it on Donald Trump after 'disgusting' post about 'veteran Purple Heart recipient'
Smith's political streak continues online
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North Carolina to review basketball coach Hubert Davis' performance after Tar Heels' March Madness upset loss
Turnover in Chapel Hill?
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Logan Paul slammed for disrespecting Tom Brady and taunting Team USA at flag football game
Paul's antics were ripped by angry fans
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Florida's Olivier Rioux, tallest player in college basketball history, dwarfs 6ft8 March Madness rival as defending champs roll
NCAA's 7ft9 center
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Kevin Durant passes Michael Jordan and LeBron James breaks another major record on historic night in NBA
Robert Parish is no longer the game's ironman
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March Madness star opens up on depression battle as she reveals struggles forced her to step back from basketball
Terrifying downward spiral
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New York Giants star Cam Skattebo comes under fire after controversially claiming brain disease 'isn't real'
Managed to really rock the boat with his take
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Fury as students of Ivy League Penn mock blue collar rivals Illinois while getting blown out in March Madness game
Bitter reaction
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Pittsburgh Steelers forced to clarify NFL legend is still alive after rumors he had died went viral
Shuts down vile speculation
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Simone Biles threatens to steal Caitlin Clark's best friend after husband's NFL move to Indianapolis
As she prepares to relocate
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Tennis star spills secrets of Serena Williams' shock comeback at 44
Days after she showed off weight loss in swimsuit snaps
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March Madness chaos continues as North Carolina is dumped OUT in latest first-round upset
On dramatic first day of tournament
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Jaxson Dart ripped for 'dressing like a pilgrim' in loved-up pictures with stunning girlfriend Marissa Ayers
Brutally mocked by fans online
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NFL quarterback engaged three years after messy split from model Draya Michele - who now has an NBA boytoy
Announced news online
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Livvy Dunne gives fans a behind-the-scenes look at Baywatch filming
As the cast brush off growing criticism of reboot
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More than half of March Madness brackets ruined in opening game as NCAA Tournament starts with a thriller
TCU beat Ohio State
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Kournikova's popstar husband posts rare picture of couple's four children
Latest bundle of joy arrived recently in December
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Brady makes withering joke about Daniels' mom in front of Commanders star
Ready to play in the Fanatics Football Classic this weekend
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EXCLUSIVEBaseball star McNeil reveals the BRUTAL way he was traded by the Mets after 13 years in New York
Sent from one coast to another in drop of a hat
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Ex-NBA star Griffin shows off his ripped physique during shirtless beach walk with model fiancee
Chiseled physique on full display in Malibu
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Patrick and Brittany Mahomes stun in new pictures from beach holiday
As injured Chiefs quarterback makes most of offseason
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Roy Keane in mourning as his mum - 'the only boss I listen to' - dies surrounded by family at Irish hospice
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Roy Hodgson comes out of retirement at 78 to take charge of English club he managed more than 43 YEARS ago...
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Inside Bolton Wanderers' quiet revival: Why wobbly form isn't shaking Steven Schumacher's promotion plans,...
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Former £25m Man United star faces huge ban for using his PHONE during a game under little-known rule
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Is this the most depressing set of fixtures ever? Play-off losers to meet in friendlies next week after...
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Bill Sweeney is sleepwalking into a shocking mistake. By not even picking up the phone to Andy Farrell, the...
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George Russell opens up on F1's brutal schedule - and the sacrifice his girlfriend Carmen Montero Mundt...
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Sandro Tonali bids to end Italy's exile, Viktor Gyokeres carries Sweden's hopes and the club team-mates...
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Newcastle Confidential: Shock Sandro Tonali transfer development - and Bruno Fernandes' surprising role -...
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The EFL is broken - and we've uncovered the scarcely believable proof. This is how close to oblivion YOUR...
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Slovenia boss warns Manchester United he will not be pushed around over Benjamin Sesko after stand-off
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Viral England fan reveals he's selling his £350,000 house to fund a seven-week trip to the World Cup
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John Toshack's family in row over his diagnosis: Liverpool and Wales legend and wife say he HASN'T got...
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'The place is like a big family. Everyone's in it together': Inside Oldham's promotion push - why fans are...
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England vs Uruguay preview: Sky Bet's key markets for tonight's friendly at Wembley Stadium
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Top footballers could shun Saudi Arabia due to war in Iran, warns former Premier League chief - as their...
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Liverpool Confidential Q&A special: Who are the Reds looking at to replace Mohamed Salah? Where next for the...
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Gender row boxer Imane Khelif refuses to give up on the Olympics, hitting the gym hours after trans athletes...
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'It's nowhere near where this club should be': Diogo Dalot opens up on his pain at Man United's shortest...
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Dodgy Fire Stick users' names and addresses to be handed over following High Court order which targets...
- MLB star Alec Bohm sues his own PARENTS for more than $1million in shocking case
- Paul Skenes humiliated in New York as Livvy Dunne's MLB star boyfriend is removed after nighmare first inning
- Puka Nacua accuser caught twerking near unconscious NFL star in fresh video after she claimed he bit her
- Wrestler Daniel Moody, son of WWE Hall of Famer Paul Bearer, dead at 39
- Donald Trump says Tiger Woods will NOT be playing at The Masters in bombshell claim about golf legend
- Rory McIlroy lifts the lid on his tense stand-off with Bryson DeChambeau at the Masters - and the astonishing request American star made over a putt - in new Amazon Prime documentary
- Motorsport stars make miracle escape after car is 'engulfed in flames' as driver's husband breaks down in tears reliving horrifying ordeal
- National anthem is butchered ahead of New York Mets opening game as Broadway icon suffers humiliating blunder
- Eagles hero Hollis Thomas slammed for dating ex-wife of former Philadelphia NFL star Brent Celek
- College football star has his 'a** ripped' by coach at first practice after unforgivable blunder: 'Wake-up call'
- Motorsport stars engulfed in flames after vehicle part 'EXPLODES' ahead of off-road race: 'The car is in ashes'
- Taylor Swift pays heartfelt tribute to Olympic hero Alysa Liu during award acceptance speech
- World Cup play-off RECAP: Wales AND Ireland suffer penalty heartbreak after Italy dumped Northern Ireland out
- Thomas Tuchel responds to Trent Alexander-Arnold's defiant four-word message after being snubbed by England boss for vital pre-World Cup camp
- Newcastle Confidential: Shock Sandro Tonali transfer development - and Bruno Fernandes' surprising role - update on Ecuador wonderkid, Lewis Miley contract truth and David Hopkinson's Newcastle United Code revealed!
- Utter humiliation for March Madness contender as awful coaching blunder sees team toppled in huge upset
- Bill Murray's son Luke named head coach of Boston College midway through UConn's March Madness run
- Staggering amount NBA legend Paul Pierce is being asked to pay in child support every month in bitter paternity lawsuit
- Mark Sanchez's trial delayed again after NFL star was accused of fighting truck driver high on fentanyl and cocaine
- Fans think NFL great Myles Garrett is set to be traded by the Browns after bizarre change to his contract
- MOST READ IN DETAIL
