England need early wickets on day two of the fifth Ashes Test to prevent Australia fully wrestling back momentum and taking a big step towards a 3-1 series win.
After the washout at Old Trafford ensured the urn will return home with Pat Cummins’ men, England entered this Kia Oval clash eyeing a victory to earn a share of the spoils in this series at 2-2.
Cummins finally called right at the toss and put England into bat, with Harry Brook’s fine 85 the highlight in bowler-friendly conditions as the hosts were skittled for 283 in 54.4 overs.
With most of the evening session left, England could only prize out David Warner, with Usman Khawaja unbeaten to take Australia to 61 for one at the close, 222 runs behind England’s total with the match evenly-poised.
View from the dressing roomBrook’s sentiments were also echoed by Mitchell Starc, who finished with figures of four for 82 despite a shoulder problem and declared it had been a “pretty even day”. It has been that way for the majority of this closely-fought Ashes, but both teams will know the winner on Friday will go a long way to deciding the final result of this series.
Duracell bunny BroadA key figure on day two will be Stuart Broad, who is not only playing his sixth Test in the space of two months this week, but has continued a remarkable run of home Ashes appearances with this latest outing.
Since his debut against Australia in the 2009 opener in Cardiff, Broad has appeared in every home red-ball fixture against the old enemy with his Kia Oval run-out now making it 25 Ashes Tests in a row on home soil.
Broad back in May admitted it would be nigh-on impossible for a seamer to play in all six of England’s Tests – including the four-day fixture against Ireland – this summer, but he has managed it and will relish his latest chance to terrorise the Aussies on day two.
Super Mo!Question marks remain over Moeen Ali’s fitness but the all-rounder did still produce a number of superb shots in an entertaining knock of 34, including a ramp for four off Starc that landed just inside the boundary rope.
England’s emergency spinner had been watchful on his way to 11 off 36 balls before he pulled up while running through for Brook’s quick single. After he had treatment, he continued in real discomfort but proceeded to smash 23 off his next nine balls until he was bowled by Todd Murphy.
An official diagnosis arrived later that a groin injury would keep Moeen off the field during Australia’s innings on day one. He will continue to be monitored but given this will likely be his final Test, you wonder if the 36-year-old will try wheel himself out for one or two more throws of the dice. If Moeen can play some further part, it may go a long way to helping England level the series.
Brook bashes the Aussies againBrook, the youngest member of England’s XI, played a crucial hand and showed plenty of maturity to go with a strike rate of 93.40 after he clattered 13 boundaries in this fourth half-century of the series.
He walked in at 73 for three and was dropped on five by Alex Carey, but soon found his range. Mitch Marsh was heaved away for six before one Starc over went for 14 runs after another maximum.
It saw Brook accelerate to 64 off 57 deliveries to again raise the prospect of Gilbert Jessop’s quickest ever Test hundred for England being beaten, but the Yorkshire batter dropped anchor after Moeen’s injury. While he was not able to make a maiden Ashes century, Brook’s 85 could prove a match-winning knock and rubber-stamped the growing excitement around him.
407 is the magic numberZak Crawley’s 189 at Old Trafford took him to the top of the run-scoring charts of this Ashes series and he maintained his position in first place with an overall total of 407 despite only making 22 on day one of the fifth Test.
A sumptuous punch down the ground for four against Mitchell Marsh saw Crawley bring up the 400-run mark but he is not the only player to hit that milestone after Khawaja made it to the close unbeaten on 26, moving him on to 403 runs for the series.
The Aussie opener is one of six candidates realistically in the running to finish as the series highest run-scorer alongside Crawley, Ben Stokes, Brook, Travis Head (315) and Marnus Labuschagne (315), with Joe Root probably having too much to do on 321 but with only one innings left.
All eyes on PatView this post on InstagramIf anyone needed a good day one in south London, it was Cummins and he finally called correctly at the toss. Despite a debateable field to England’s openers, his change of bowling regularly worked with Marsh making the breakthrough and Murphy able to strike in his first over.
Cummins bowled impressively, especially during his first spell, but claimed one for 66 off 13 overs after watching two catches put down. Nevertheless, he can keep the critics quiet with a first series win in England since 2001 – although the seamer will know by now that Stokes’ side just keep coming back at you.
Salt century gives England winning start to West Indies T20 series
Phil Salt hit a superb century as England drew first blood in their T20 series against West Indies, with a commanding eight-wicket victory at the Kensington Oval.
Salt's unbeaten 103 off 54 balls was the highlight for the tourists, who successfully chased down their target of 183 with 19 balls to spare.
The West Indies endured a difficult start and were reduced to 18-3 and later 117-8, with Saqib Mahmood (4-34) and Adil Rashid (3-32) doing the damage.
However, the hosts managed 65 runs in the last 5.2 overs to finish at 182-8, with Gukadesh Motie knocking 33 off 14 balls along the way.
Salt kick-started England's chase with 50 off just 25 deliveries taking them to 73-1 after six overs, with Will Jacks (17) dismissed with the final ball of the powerplay.
Jos Buttler's first match after four months out lasted just three minutes, as the skipper was caught by Motie for a golden duck.
However, it proved a false dawn for West Indies, with Salt and Jacob Bethall (58 from 36 balls) safely steering England to victory.
Data Debrief: Salt completes hat-trick of hundreds as Bethell makes historic half-century
England put their disappointing ODI series behind them, making history with the highest T20 chase at the Kensington Oval.
Salt was the hero with his third T20I century, all of which have come against West Indies in the past 12 months.
Bethell also made history on Saturday. Aged 21 years and 17 days, he become the youngest England player to score a 50 in a T20I.
Asalanka leads Sri Lanka to ODI series win over West Indies
Sri Lanka wrapped up the ODI series against the West Indies with a five-wicket victory in Pallekele.
The hosts successfully chased down their opponents' total of 189, giving them an unassailable 2-0 in the three-match series.
Sri Lanka controlled the early powerplay - Asitha Fernando (3-35) and Maheesh Theekshana (3-25) took two wickets apiece to leave the tourists at 31-4 in the ninth over.
Wanindu Hasaranga (4-40) then claimed three of his four wickets as Roston Chase, Romario Shepherd, Hayden Walsh and Alzarri Joseph were all dismissed in the space of 14 balls.
However, Sherfane Rutherford (80 off 82 balls) and Gudakesh Motie (50 not out) steadied the ship to take the Windies from 58-8 to 189.
Although Joseph claimed Avishka Fernando (9) in the fourth over, Nishan Madushka and Sadeera Samarawickrama both chipped in with contributions of 38 to get the hosts to 112-4.
Skipper Charith Asalanka (62 not out) led the charge thereon, while Kamindu Mendis (11) comfortably got them over the line with 34 balls remaining.
Data Debrief: Rutherford-Motie historic stand proves academic for tourists
West Indies were looking to level the series, but their hopes were not aided by Sri Lanka's impressive bowling.
Rutherford and Motie did their best. Their partnership brought 119 runs, which is their nation's highest ninth-wicket stand in ODI history, breaking the previous record of 85 between Yannic Cariah and Alzarri Joseph.
However, it ultimately proved in vain as the hosts secured the series with a game to spare.
'I was a tired, grumpy old man' - Stokes apologised to England team-mates after Pakistan defeat
Ben Stokes says he apologised to his England team-mates after his frustrations were evident during the second-Test defeat by Pakistan.
The hosts levelled the three-Test series on Thursday after wrapping up a 152-run win in Multan.
However, it could have been a different story but for fielding errors at crucial stages for the visitors, Jamie Smith and Joe Root notably dropping catches to dismiss Salman Agha, whose subsequent knock of 63 helped Pakistan seal victory with a day to spare.
Stokes, who returned to action following a hamstring injury, could not hide his frustration during a difficult day for England, but insisted he would not let his emotions get the better of him again.
"No one means to drop catches, but it just proves how important catches are in these subcontinent conditions, they don't come along that often," he told Sky Sports.
"I actually apologised to the group last night. It's the first time in my captaincy that I've let my emotions and how I was feeling with the way the game was unfolding show in my body language.
"I owned up to that and was very annoyed at myself for letting that out. It's something that I don't want to do or be seen to be doing, so I apologised to the group about that.
"Poor old me, I was a tired, grumpy old man last night! You won't see that happen again."
However, England coach Brendon McCullum defended the actions of his skipper.
"We all know how passionate Ben is, how much it means for him to play for England," he said.
"We've seen that through his bloody-mindedness to get back from injury, which was significant, and to do so in a nine-week timeframe and to have his first TM [Test match] in extreme conditions, 40 degrees, and be able to give what he gave to the side.
"I think, maybe, that's where some of that frustration led to - certainly, it wasn't directed at any of the players. It was more about trying to assess the rhythm of the game, and to impact on it."
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