Page 5 - First Test Match News Today

Australia are hopeful Travis Head will be the only enforced omission for the SCG Test after the rest of the squad tested negative for COVID-19. Head is isolating in Melbourne after contracting the virus, meaning he will miss the fourth Ashes Test that begins on Wednesday. There were concerns that teammates and support staff would […]

Australia are hopeful Travis Head will be the only enforced omission for the SCG Test after the rest of the squad tested negative for COVID-19. Head is isolating in Melbourne after contracting the virus, meaning he will miss the fourth Ashes Test that begins on Wednesday. There were concerns that teammates and support staff would […]

There was a lot of doom and gloom last summer when Australia lost a home series to India. The Test team was labelled, among other things, overrated and old, and were accused of having a bowling attack thoroughly undeserving of being called the best in the world. I wasn’t buying into the hysteria and felt […]

After the end of silly season and Christmas festivities, for English cricket, it marks the start of whipping out the firing board. England are quite average, even worse than that, at Test cricket. Their ongoing drubbing by their arch rivals is nearly sad for Australians, who want to witness a genuine contest. Given there will […]

England’s hapless cricketers have been described as the worst ever touring team to visit Australia, by Aussie great Ricky Ponting. Australia have guaranteed retention of the urn inside 12 days of cricket – England spent longer in quarantine before the start of the tour – after an innings-and-14-run win at Melbourne moved them into an […]

Australian coach Justin Langer has backed in under-fire opener Marcus Harris to retain his spot in the team for the Boxing Day Test, saying the Victorian is ‘not far off’ turning the corner at the highest level. Speaking to media on Thursday, just three days out from day one of the third Test, Langer also […]

Joe Root, having lost his world No.1 ranking to Marnus Labuschange and seen his team slump to consecutive defeats, appears on the brink of another crushing Ashes disappointment, but is adamant he can start a dramatic turnaround in Melbourne. Root’s Ashes record as captain is dire – eight losses, two defeats and two draws from […]

Joe Root, having lost his world No.1 ranking to Marnus Labuschange and seen his team slump to consecutive defeats, appears on the brink of another crushing Ashes disappointment, but is adamant he can start a dramatic turnaround in Melbourne. Root’s Ashes record as captain is dire – eight losses, two defeats and two draws from […]

Joe Root, having lost his world No.1 ranking to Marnus Labuschange and seen his team slump to consecutive defeats, appears on the brink of another crushing Ashes disappointment, but is adamant he can start a dramatic turnaround in Melbourne. Root’s Ashes record as captain is dire – eight losses, two defeats and two draws from […]

Australian coach Justin Langer has backed in under-fire opener Marcus Harris to retain his spot in the team for the Boxing Day Test, saying the Victorian is ‘not far off’ turning the corner at the highest level. Speaking to media on Thursday, just three days out from day one of the third Test, Langer also […]