Ashes test series
No ambition to lead England; Root shouldn't be forced to quit captaincy: Stokes
England are staring at a series washout after losing the first three Tests by huge margins. The tourists lost the opening Test at Brisbane by nine wickets, the second Test at Adelaide by 275 runs and the Boxing Day Test at the MCG by an innings and 14 runs, prompting several England greats to call for Root's ouster as captain and Stokes's elevation.
Ashes: Have got huge sympathy for Silverwood, says Gillespie
"I've got huge sympathy for Chris Silverwood. Coaching can be a very lonely place when things are not going great. I understand the feelings when teams I've coached have not performed as we'd have liked. And the fact he has to miss this upcoming Test because of COVID, on top of all the scrutiny of the tour, just makes me feel terrible for him. I'm sure he is getting all the support he can get. That is vitally important," wrote Gillespie in his column for Daily Mail.
The Ashes: I feel desperately sorry for Root, says Shane Watson
"I feel desperately sorry for Root. Things haven't gone to plan. The bowlers in Adelaide, when the ball was moving around, did not perform well; the batsmen haven't scored anywhere near enough runs. He's copping it, but I suppose that comes with being captain of an English touring team who are not doing well. I just wish they'd take a bit of heat off Root, because this England team are not the best," wrote Watson in his column for The Times.
Root stands tall among the Ashes ruins; nominated for ICC Player of the Year award
His side may have lost the Ashes after Australia took an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five Test series, but the embattled Root, with 1855 runs in 18 international matches at an average of 58.37 (six centuries), has enjoyed a year that will go down in the pages of the history books.
The Ashes: Big jolt for Australia as Travis Head tests positive for COVID-19
Cricket Australia (CA) issued a statement on Friday morning saying the batter had tested positive for Covid-19 "following a routine PCR test". "Head is asymptomatic and will remain in Melbourne and isolate with his partner for seven days in line with Victorian Government Health requirements. He will be unavailable for selection for the fourth Vodafone men's Ashes Test, starting at the SCG (Sydney Cricket Ground) on January 5," said Cricket Australia.
Just hoping it's not spreading any further, says Anderson on Covid-19 cases in England camp
After getting hammered by Australia in Ashes, England are facing all sorts of problems on and off the field. The under-pressure England coach Chris Silverwood won't be able to travel with the team for the fourth Test in Sydney as one of his family members tested positive to Covid-19 and has been instructed to isolate for up to 10 days.
Ashes: Boycott calls for Root to step down as captain
England were bowled out for 68 to lose the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) by an innings and 14 runs. The result meant Australia retained the Ashes with Root now under more pressure than ever to continue as captain. "Nobody would want to give up the captaincy, but it is not about Joe -- it is about getting guys to perform better. At the end of this series the question should be asked: would England benefit from a change of captain? That's not me trying to be hurtful to Joe or just being controversial. We all love Joe," wrote Boycott in his column for The Telegraph.
Harmison predicts inquest into England's Ashes performance, major shakeup in team
"There is going to be a big inquest. There's gonna be a lot of things blamed, people's careers on the line, but first you marvel at Australia," Harmison, who took 226 wickets in 63 Tests and set England on their way to a historic Ashes victory in 2005, told BT Sport on Tuesday. England were bowled out for 68 in the second innings, with the hosts taking an unassailable 3-0 series lead going in the fourth Test at the SCG from January 5.
It's a dream come true, never thought it would happen: MCG hero Boland
The 32-year-old Test debutant became the hometown hero after he added four more wickets to his overnight two to emerge the most successful bowler in the Australian side, giving away just seven runs in the four overs he bowled to demolish the tourists for 68 runs and earn the hosts an innings and 14-run victory.
New South Wales to tweak rules to ensure SCG Test is not moved out
On Tuesday, NSW health minister Brad Hazzard assured the fans that the SCG Test will go ahead as scheduled from January 5. While the hosts clinched the Ashes on Tuesday morning and took an unassailable 3-0 lead, the series is a money-spinner for the venues and the state governments.
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