Zak Crawley was "a revelation" for England in The Ashes, according to batting great David Gower.

England recovered from 2-0 down against Australia to draw the five-match series 2-2 and may have even forced a famous victory had the weather not intervened in the fourth Test at Old Trafford.

Crawley scored a magnificent 189 from 182 balls in that Manchester contest and finished the series as England's top scorer with 480 runs at an impressive 53.33 average.

Having also hit fifties at Edgbaston and The Oval, Crawley is now established at the top of the order after what had been a mixed start to his Test career.

Prior to this summer, the 25-year-old averaged just 27.60 and had only produced 10 scores of 50+ across his first 61 innings in the longest format.

Gower, who with 3,037 runs is England's second-highest run-scorer in Ashes history, hopes the opener has turned the corner.

"Look at the way Zak Crawley batted – for the last three years he has been an enigma," Gower said to Stats Perform. 

"You look at the man thinking he has got enormous talent. You look at the way he hits the ball and you think this man must make thousands of runs. And yet, he's averaging 20-odd. 

"Suddenly, in this series, that style has been proven to be worthy. 

"The trick for Zak Crawley now would be to carry on doing that wherever else he plays in the world and hopefully the lesson will have stuck. 

"There are ways he can do that because he did change his game slightly, he did become more nuanced in the way he approached the opening overs of an innings. 

"So people do learn as they go. This is the great thing – people learn throughout their careers and you have never nailed it for sure. You are learning each and every day that you are out there. 

"Zak Crawley certainly contended to be a player of the series, I think that was a revelation."

Gower felt it was difficult to select a player of the series, with Chris Woakes ultimately winning the award despite not playing in every match.

The former England captain added: "It is always hard picking a player of a series when you've seen so many performances. The official result was Chris Woakes, who came in to play only three Test matches.

"What was interesting to me was that, for all the preparation and all the planning, things fell into place – not entirely by accident, but by circumstance – with Ollie Pope having to be left out because of injury. 

"So the balance of the team changed, Woakes and [Mark] Wood came in and the Woakes-Wood partnership actually seemed to make a huge difference to England. 

"Wood's pace at Leeds was very much the difference. And Woakes [made an impact] mainly with the ball and a little bit with the bat as well. 

"Woakes just had a series that he will savour for a long, long time."

England do not return to Test action until January 2024, when they will travel to India for a five-match series.

They will now turn their attention to retaining the Cricket World Cup. The latest edition of the 50-over tournament starts in October.

England head coach Brendon McCullum branded his first taste of Ashes cricket “a great heavyweight fight” and is already anticipating a rumble Down Under in 2025.

McCullum’s side were on the ropes at 2-0 down but hit back to square a thrilling series 2-2, and would surely have been celebrating an outright victory had rain not halted England in the fourth Test at Old Trafford. If the contest had been settled on judges’ scorecards, the urn would surely have been heading home.

The hosts ultimately settled for a share of the spoils on a rousing final day at the Kia Oval, where Chris Woakes and the retiring duo of Moeen Ali and Stuart Broad toppled the tourists to seal a 49-run win and maintain their year-long undefeated streak in Test series under the New Zealander.

An Australia team who came into the Ashes as newly-crowned Test world champions provided the stiffest challenge yet of the ‘Bazball’ blueprint, and McCullum was enthralled enough by what he saw to cast his eyes towards a rematch that lies two-and-a-half years away.

“I’ve looked from afar at the Ashes and to now be a part of it and witness how special it is is something quite incredible. I don’t want it to end actually,” said McCullum, who traded a few blows with the Australians during his own time with New Zealand.

“I think we should go round again and have another five Tests, keep doing what we’re doing. It’s been an incredible six weeks and I’m really proud to be sharing a dressing room with the England boys.

“But you’re sharing this series with the Aussie boys too. They walk away with the urn but both teams walk away with two victories under their belt. I think both sides have stayed true to their styles and that’s what makes a great heavyweight fight. It’s two different styles and total conviction in them.

“When you look back to when the skipper (Ben Stokes), thinking would we be able to take on a great Australian team – and they are a great Australian team – and go toe to toe with them? I think the answer is yes and that’s a tremendous confidence booster for the group.

“The next one is obviously a little way away and there’s certainly different challenges to cross before then. If we look at the growth of the team in the last 14-15 months it has been quite significant.

“There will be some new faces for both sides in two-and-a-half years, no doubt, but I’d imagine again it could be another cracking series when the time comes. But firstly we’re letting this one sink in and enjoying it.”

England do not play Test cricket again until January’s trip to India but McCullum already has two holes to fill, with Broad and Moeen bowing out on a high. The seam bowling ranks are looking distinctly well travelled too, with James Anderson (41), Chris Woakes (34) and Mark Wood (33) the men in possession.

Word has already been passed around the county circuit that England want to see Test hopefuls put their names forward by playing the same kind of fearless, selfless cricket McCullum and Stokes favour and events of the past seven weeks have surely left plenty with an appetite to join the fun.

“I certainly hope so. Naturally places do come up when guys come to the end of their careers so there will be opportunities there,” he said.

“We’re starting to build some nice depth in batting and bowling as well, so that’s encouraging and will pose some good conversations moving forward.

“What you’re trying to do is not only inspire the next generation but the layer underneath the top team, to have them understand how we’re going to play and work out in their own heads where they fit within that and try to force a place.

“Broady and Mo for a second are two incredible cricketers but also wonderful people and great characters in the dressing room. We’ll miss them, no doubt, but they have left a huge imprint on the side. It’s been great to have them around and I’m sure their legacies will carry on to the next generation.”

In the short term, McCullum will take a back seat for the rest of the year. His white-ball counterpart Matthew Mott will take charge of English ambitions in the meantime, with this autumn’s 50-over World Cup defence the next major goal.

And despite likening his side to prize fighters, McCullum expects to see his players divide their time between the cricket pitch and the golf course until he next sees them.

“What will be really important for the time India comes will be trying to dial back into what we’ve achieved in the last 14-15 months and trying to make sure the team turns up with the same clarity of thought when we go about things,” he said.

“Until then I’m sure the boys will have a good time. They’ll score some runs, take some wickets and we’ll all make some birdies.”

England and Australia shared the spoils after an epic Ashes series ended in a 2-2 draw.

Here, the PA news agency looks at some of the key issues raised by five unforgettable Tests.

Which side comes out of stronger?

If sport is all about the end result, then Australia walk away happiest after hanging on to the famous urn. But on every other metric, England will feel like they have established the upper hand in this rivalry for the first time since 2015. There was something meek about the away side’s post-match celebrations after defeat at the Kia Oval, having last tasted victory 29 days and three Tests earlier at Lord’s. Australia have not won outright in England since 2001 and the wait will now go on for at least 26 years. Few could argue that England would have won the series had it not been for a two-day deluge at Old Trafford.

How much of a culture clash was it?

The contrast in the two teams’ methods was profound. England’s ‘Bazball’ brigade played with a freewheeling spirit that offered constant entertainment and veered occasionally into sheer recklessness. Australia, meanwhile, found themselves playing the role of traditionalists. They played conservative cricket, both with the bat and in their consistently-timid field placings, but felt vindicated at 2-0 up. The Baggy Greens now feel caught between two unappealing realities – being seen to copy English cricket or having the tone of their biggest rivalry dictated to them.

What does the next Ashes hold?

Make no mistake, Australia will still be firm favourites when the battle reconvenes Down Under. While series in England often tend to be closely fought, Australia have become dominant in their own patch. Since a brilliant away win in 2010/11, England have played 15 away Ashes Tests, losing 13 and drawing two. Getting a single victory would be an achievement of sorts, but regaining the urn looks an enormous challenge.

Was this the end of an era?

Stuart Broad and Moeen Ali both retired at the end of the fifth Test, but plenty more seasoned combatants might hit the end of the road before these nations next meet in the longest format. James Anderson is now 41 and is surely on his lap of honour, David Warner has already set his own end date in January and the list of thirtysomethings is long. Player of the series Chris Woakes has a lot of miles on the clock at 34, Mark Wood has had a dreadful time with injury, top run-scorer Usman Khawaja is 36 and even Steve Smith had to deny reports that he was set to call time. Whatever happens, the cast list of this gripping drama appears to be in flux.

Did any of the controversies really get settled?

Ashes cricket tends to heighten emotions and there were several examples. There was enormous row about the spirit of cricket when Jonny Bairstow was controversially stumped by Alex Carey at Lord’s but the main upshot was that batters should stay in their crease until the ball is dead. Sections of the Australian media, including former captain Ricky Ponting, were worked up about a ball change that benefitted England in the fifth Test, but both sides had been asking for swaps all summer and the decision-making process lies squarely with the neutral umpires. Meanwhile, some found themselves railing against Mother Nature herself after England were denied by rain in Manchester. Potential solutions, including reserve days and roofs, look certain to wither on the vine.

David Willey says his goal is to play at the 50-over World Cup even though he is “completely at peace” with being overlooked by England.

Willey missed out on World Cup selection in 2019 when Barbadian-born fast bowler Jofra Archer, having qualified on residency just before the tournament, was preferred and England went on to win the trophy for the first time.

The 33-year-old all-rounder called it the “hardest point” of his career, and four years on making the England squad for the 2023 edition in India in October and November may prove an even trickier task.

“I see myself with England as very much on the fringes,” said Willey, who has swapped Northern Superchargers for Welsh Fire in this season’s Hundred ahead of end-of-season ODI and T20 series against New Zealand.

“If everybody’s fit I probably don’t play and I don’t get picked. I’m completely at peace with that.

“Do I want to play for England? Yes. Do I want to play in the World Cup? Yes. But the priority for me is to enjoy my cricket and then international or franchise cricket will take care of itself.

“They (the selectors) know what I can do. I’m not an X-factor player, they know I’m reliable and what they’re going to get from me.

“If they want a banker I might come into the frame a little bit. I’ve done well with my resources, if you like, over the years.”

Willey was part of England’s T20 World Cup-winning squad last November, although he did not feature in the tournament.

His last ODI cap came against South Africa in January – his 107th England white-ball appearance – as he opted out of the following tour of Bangladesh to spend time with his family before playing for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League.

England limited-overs captain Jos Buttler warned players who chose not to tour Bangladesh that it would put their place at risk, but Willey insists it was “100 per cent” the correct call for both family and financial reasons.

He said: “I was going off to the IPL and I’ve got a four and a five-year-old and a wife at home. I’m not centrally contracted, I’ve got an incremental contract. Being completely honest financially, it was an easy decision with what I would get at the IPL.

“That’s the challenge presented to the ECB at the minute. They are trying to work out what the future looks in terms of those central contracts and keeping players at ECB.

“The landscape of cricket is changing and it’s very difficult for people to get that right now, and what that looks like to make sure we are still promoting not only county cricket but playing for your country as well.”

Willey returned to his home county Northamptonshire this summer after spending six years at Yorkshire.

He has embraced the life of a franchise cricketer with various T20 spells in Australia, India and Pakistan and says the new and lucrative Major League Cricket in the United States is very much in his thoughts.

Willey said: “It’s a great concept, I’d love to go and do it, and there was an offer this year.

“But I’m moving house, I’ve just moved counties and, with The Hundred, family and having just come back from the IPL, it wasn’t the right thing for me to do this time.

“Last year I just spent 11 weeks at home. It’s a fine balance and sometimes you get it wrong but, as I say, I still want to play for England and in a World Cup.”

England captain Ben Stokes moved to squash any controversy about a lack of post-series drinks with Australia after an apparent misunderstanding over the traditional get together.

The rivals usually mark the end of the on-field hostilities by joining each other in the dressing rooms to socialise and debrief, but that did not happen at the Kia Oval on Monday.

Initial reports from travelling Australian media suggested the tourists were left disappointed as they waited to be invited in following England’s series-levelling 49-run win and even knocked on the England changing room before departing around an hour later.

England’s Test coach Brendon McCullum had cast doubt on the longstanding convention earlier in the summer, declaring “I can’t imagine we’ll be having a beer with them any time soon” in the aftermath of Jonny Bairstow’s controversial stumping by Alex Carey in the second Test at Lord’s.

But the PA news agency understands the home side were simply running late, with their own internal wrap up going on longer than usual due to an extended presentation session that marked the retirements of Stuart Broad and Moeen Ali.

England, who were still at the ground at 11pm, were said to be surprised that the Australian team had left the ground.

Stokes had his own say on the matter in a tweet posted at 4.11am, responding to journalist Bharat Sundaresan who had been reporting on the missed drinks.

Stokes, who had distanced himself from McCullum’s comments previously and stated he was happy to honour the tradition, wrote: “To clarify…Our wrap took longer than expected because of multiple last time events. We decided to meet up in the night club rather than the dressing room.”

Cricket Australia were unable to clarify which of their players made it to the club with Stokes, but Fox Sports quoted an unnamed source saying: “We don’t really care, we’ve got the urn, but after a hard-fought series it is pretty pathetic. Talk about the spirit of cricket.”

Ben Stokes paid a glowing tribute to Chris Woakes after England’s perennial unsung hero walked away as the leading man of this summer’s Ashes.

Woakes’ outstanding career has often played out in the considerable shadow of the record-breaking duo of James Anderson and Stuart Broad but, when it came to handing out the prestigious Compton-Miller Medal for player of the series, it was his turn to take the acclaim.

The 34-year-old was not picked for the first two Tests, both of which Australia won, but breathed fresh life into the contest after returning to the side and inspired the hosts to a 2-2 draw.

He starred with the ball at Headingley, Old Trafford and the Oval, collecting 19 wickets at a miserly average of 18.14 and bolstered the lower order with a couple of important cameos.

Woakes was the spark behind England’s fifth-day triumph in the final Test, taking four for 50 in a sustained spell of high-class seam bowling, and his contribution was key to denying the outright series victory Australia craved.

Already beloved by his team-mates, who know him as ‘the Wizard’, he now has an achievement to match the esteem they hold him in and nobody was happier than Stokes.

“I think to play three games and walk away with man of the series proves how good a cricketer Woakesy is. Has that ever been done before?” the England skipper said.

“He’s a massive team man and he should never be underestimated for his contributions to English cricket. He might not have got the opportunities people might think he should have but that’s purely because he’s been playing in the era of James Anderson and Stuart Broad.

“Every time he has walked out for England he’s given absolutely everything. This series in particular is something he’ll be very proud of for what he’s managed to achieve and I’m very proud of him too, for coming in and putting in these performances.

“The way in which Woakesy has come in, not just with the ball but with crucial runs down at eight, has been really good for us. He’s been a massive part of the reason we are sitting here talking about why we’ve drawn the series 2-2 after being 2-0 down.”

Stokes attempted to share those exact sentiments with his fellow all-rounder when he finally took a breather after leaving Australia eight down – allowing the retiring Broad to finish things off in a dream finish – and got short shrift.

“When he stopped bowling I just said to him ‘you’ve been a massive reason we’re in this position right now’ but he wasn’t having a bar of it,” Stokes added. “He just said ‘let’s finish the job and get it done’. He’s been awesome for us. Just a quality cricketer.”

Woakes missed the first year of the ‘Bazball’ revolution due to injury problems and admitted finding his way back into the Test set-up in time to tangle with the Australians was a prime motivator.

“I’ve not been a part of this squad and team for over 12 months, so I was desperate to get back in and have a go,” he told BBC Sport.

“When you come into an Ashes series you want to perform and contribute to wins and I couldn’t have asked for it to go much better really. This is up there as one of my favourite moments in the series and probably up there with my best moments. This is the pinnacle of Test cricket so it is amazing.”

“Ballgate” and the reported lack of a post-match drink between the two sides dominated Australian press coverage following England’s victory in the fifth Ashes Test at The Oval.

The changing of the ball just before rain stopped play on the fourth day, when openers David Warner and Usman Khawaja were well set, sparked a fair amount of outrage among Australian journalists and pundits.

The Daily Telegraph in Australia described the ball change as “disgraceful”, while Peter Lalor in The Australian asked if a “blunder” by the umpires had cost Australia the series victory, saying the change “appeared to alter the course of the game” and argued it “cost the visitors dearly”.

And the Sydney Morning Herald quoted former Australian captain Ricky Ponting on Sky Sports who described it as “a huge blunder that needs to be investigated”.

He said: “The biggest concern I have is the big discrepancy in the condition of the ball chosen to replace it.

“There is no way in the world you can even look at those two balls there and say in any way they are comparable.

“That is a huge moment in this game, potentially a huge moment in the Test match. And something I think has to be investigated.

“I will put my hand up and say I have no doubt at all that [old] ball would not have done anywhere near as much as that one did this morning.”

But writing for the same title, Daniel Brettig argued “ballgate” was not to blame for Australia’s defeat.

He said: “It may be tempting to apply a conspiratorial lens to the replacement ball.

“But the underlying truth of The Oval, and indeed the second half of this Ashes series, is that Australia too often left themselves in positions where they needed to perform miracles in order to get ahead of the game.

“It will be a source of significant disappointment that a team of maturity and even temper was unable to summon a single performance good enough to win any of the last three Tests.”

Both the Sydney Morning Herald and The Daily Telegraph reported the customary post-series drinks did not happen.

The Herald quoted an England spokesman who said it had been a “misunderstanding” and Australia’s players had left the ground when they invited them in.

The report said an Australian team spokesman declined to comment, but quoted sources close to the team who said they knocked on the England dressing room door a number of times and waited for more than an hour.

The Australian’s Gideon Haigh looked beyond the drama of the five-match series and expressed concerns for the future of the format, despite England captain Ben Stokes’ assertion it was “what Test cricket needs”.

While conceding the series “contained classic matches, and imperishable passages of play, mainly from the hosts”, Haigh criticised the way the Ashes had been shoehorned into such a short period to make room for more short-form cricket.

He wrote: “This was an Ashes series not an Ashes summer. Australia have shoehorned six Tests into 54 days, England six into 60. Australia now does not play its next Test until December 14, England its next until January 25.

“Hours before the day began, one team beat another in Dallas, concluding a fortnight of T20 funded largely Indian capital and principally sponsored by an online betting company; today, one team plays another in Nottingham to commence The Hundred, in which the England Cricket Board will in due course try selling to similar corporate interests.

“Viva the Ashes! Long live Test cricket! That might be the most premature celebration of all.”

The Daily Telegraph also had some sobering news for cricket as it said viewing figures for Australia’s victory over Canada in the Women’s World Cup – which coincided with the first session – beat the final day drama at The Oval “by an enormous margin”.

An Ashes series for the ages received a fitting finale with Stuart Broad at the heart of the action on day five of the final Test at the Kia Oval.

Broad was able to write his own script with the last act of his glittering career, finding the edge of Alex Carey’s bat to hand England victory by 49 runs and earn a deserved share of the series at 2-2.

The final wicket of an enthralling Ashes fell at 6.25pm on the designated last day with Broad able to provide a Hollywood finish after he announced his intention to retire after the series on Saturday night.

Since ball one at Edgbaston on June 16, the series has ebbed and flowed with Australia drawing first blood in Birmingham and striking what could have been a killer blow at Lord’s via Carey’s controversial stumping of Jonny Bairstow.

Ben Stokes’ men fought back in another Headingley thriller and while rain ruined the fourth Test in Manchester to end the prospect of a winner-takes-all decider, there was still theatre of the highest order in south London.

England’s day one 283 was marginally bettered by 295 from Australia and despite an eventual target of 384 looking a tall order for the Baggy Greens, the tourists made it to 264 for three before Chris Woakes and Moeen Ali got on a roll to set up a grandstand finish for Broad.

View from the dressing room

Stokes conceded even he felt a sense of inevitability when he threw the ball to Broad with Australia eight down and the dismissals of Todd Murphy and then Carey followed in quick succession to end the veteran’s career in style.

Mo opens the door

When Travis Head joined forces with Steve Smith before lunch, the duo would not have expected to still be out in the middle four hours later. While rain had a part in that, the pair were ticking along nicely when Moeen got the door ajar.

Moeen, in what would prove his final Test appearance, was able to throw the ball up and watch it spin out of the rough with Head edging behind on the drive to Joe Root to leave Australia on 264 for four.

It sparked a pivotal spell of four wickets in 18 deliveries that put England in the driving seat for a series-levelling success.

Woakes wows again

After Australia reached the close on day four on 135 without loss, England knew a strong start was essential and Woakes provided it with David Warner and Usman Khawaja gone in quick succession.

Woakes’ role was not over with Smith and Head dampening spirits along with the wet weather in the capital until the Warwickshire warhorses combined for a scintillating and series-defining spell.

Two of the four wickets in three overs went to Woakes, including the key dismissal of Smith for 54 and it helped the 33-year-old finish the series with 19 scalps in total despite only playing three Tests.

After he helped England get over the line at both Headingley and Kia Oval, Woakes deserved all the plaudits he received on Monday.

Broad’s Ashes

Broad could easily have been thinking about what might have been when 24 hours after his retirement announcement Australia had batted for 38 overs without losing a wicket.

Monday’s morning session saw further plays and misses. Head was tied up in knots by Broad before lunch but wicket number 603 stayed on ice.

Broad returned for one last spell and after another switch of the bails – at the non-striker’s end – saw off Murphy and pitched another up for Carey to edge behind to bring the curtain down on a stellar career in spectacular fashion.

One more wicket to the tally

Broad wheeled off in celebration after Bairstow claimed Carey’s edge and in a wonderful moment of fate it was new ball partner James Anderson who was the closest fielder to him.

The experienced seam duo shared a touching embrace after claiming 1,039 wickets between them during the 15 years they have shared the Test stage.

If Broad had written the script, it could not have finished any better. The Ashes are over for another two and a half years but this series will be talked about for a lifetime.

Jamaica hold a 115-run lead over Barbados heading into the third and final day of their West Indies Rising Stars Under-19 three-day final at the Arnos Vale Playing Field in Kingstown, St. Vincent.

The Jamaicans were 4-0 at stumps on day two after bowling out the Bajans for 158 in 56.1 overs.

Nimar Bolden led the way for Barbados with 37 as pacer, Deshawn James, took 5-21 off 10.1 overs for the Jamaicans. Tamarie Redwood took 3-56 from 18 overs in support.

Earlier, Jamaica were bowled out for 269 off 108.4 overs in their first innings after entering day two on 217-4.

Jordan Johnson carried on from his overnight 118* to make 120 off 235 balls. His knock included six fours and a six. Captain, Brian Barnes, who entered day two on 59, was dismissed for 61 off 150 balls.

Captain, Nathan Sealy, took 5-64 off 30.4 overs for Barbados.

A win for Jamaica would see them complete the regional Under-19 double having already claimed the 50-over title.

The Cricket West Indies (CWI) Senior Men’s Selection Panel today announced the provisional squad for the five-match Kuhl Stylish Fans T20I Series powered by Black and White against India which starts on Thursday 3 August at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad.

All 15 members of the provisional squad will travel to all matches. There will then be a 13-member squad for each match from which the final XI will be selected.

Wicket-keeper/batsman Shai Hope, and fast bowler Oshane Thomas have earned recalls to this format. Thomas played his last match in this format in Pakistan in December 2021 while Hope played his last match in India in February 2022.

Lead Selector, The Most Hon. Dr Desmond Haynes said: “The squad is selected with the next ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in mind. We are looking at various plans as we try to find the right combinations. As we prepare; we are looking to build a unit which we believe can do the job when we host the global event in just under a year. We have some match-winners in our line-up and we will look to have the right kind of preparation, starting here in Trinidad on Thursday.”

Haynes added: “We also have other players who could come into consideration going forward, with the Caribbean Premier League starting next month, others will come into the reckoning.”

The Brian Lara Cricket Academy will host the opening match on Thursday. The teams then move to the Guyana National Stadium for the second and third fixtures on Sunday 6 August and Tuesday 8 August.

The series will climax with the blockbuster weekend at the Broward County Stadium, Lauderhill, Florida for the final matches on Saturday 12 August and Sunday 13 August. All matches start at 10:30am local time (9:30am Jamaica Time).

Tickets for the matches are available from box offices at Queen’s Park Oval, Port-of-Spain; the National Cricket Centre in Couva, Trinidad and the Guyana Cricket Board headquarters in Georgetown, Guyana. Additionally, tickets are available online in advance from the Windies Tickets service, presented by Mastercard at tickets.windiescricket.com .

Fans who purchase online will benefit from a 20% discount compared to the box office prices, with tickets ranging from the most premium seats with the best and shaded views in each stadium through to affordable standard seats or mounds/grounds entry.

Tickets are also available for the Tribe Party Stand in Trinidad with all-inclusive drinks and light food options. CWI has also announced that West Indies hospitality by the Red Stand will be on sale for the first time with tickets for the hospitality suites. This is a premium all-inclusive experience in air-conditioned suites, with outdoor viewing and fully inclusive premium food and drink options.

For the matches at the Broward County Stadium, Lauderhill, Florida there will be VVIP and VIP hospitality packages available providing patrons with a great experience.

FULL SQUAD

Rovman Powell (Captain)

Kyle Mayers (Vice Captain)

Johnson Charles

Roston Chase

Shimron Hetmyer

Jason Holder

Shai Hope

Akeal Hosein

Alzarri Joseph

Brandon King

Obed McCoy

Nicholas Pooran

Romario Shepherd

Odean Smith

Oshane Thomas

Match Schedule

Kuhl Stylish Fans T20I Series powered by Black and White

3 August: 1st T20I, Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Trinidad 

6 August: 2nd T20I, National Stadium, Guyana 

8 August: 3rd T20I, National Stadium Guyana 

12 August: 4th T20I, Broward County Stadium, Lauderhill, Florida 

13 August: 5th T20I, Broward County Stadium, Lauderhill, Florida 

• start time at: 10:30am (9:30am Jamaica)

Moeen Ali confirmed his red-ball retirement after he played a decisive role in England’s victory in the final Ashes Test and joked he would delete any of Ben Stokes’ text messages in future.

Moeen claimed three for 76 on a dramatic fifth day at the Kia Oval to help inspire a 49-run victory over Australia that ensured the series finished level at 2-2.

The all-rounder had been in red-ball retirement before Stokes memorably texted him, ‘Ashes?’ upon the news England’s frontline spinner Jack Leach had been ruled out of the series before a ball had been bowled on June 6.

Doubts lingered for the 36-year-old after he struggled during his previous encounters with Australia, but he answered the SOS call and was thrilled to play his part in a remarkable seven weeks of cricket in this country.

“I know I am done. If Stokesy messages me again, I’m going to delete it! But, no that’s me done.

“I think I really have enjoyed it and it’s great to finish like that,” Moeen told Sky Sports.

While there had been no official announcement about Moeen’s plans to go back into Test retirement ahead of the Kia Oval clash, he was open throughout the whole summer about the Ashes being the only series that could tempt him to put England whites back on.

Captain Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum have often spoken about creating a pressure-free environment where players can express themselves.

And Moeen told BBC’s Test Match Special: “To come back was obviously a little bit daunting because I’ve never played that well against Australia.

“It was one of those things when Stokesy asked me I thought, ‘Why not, I’m going to go into a brilliant side and I still believe I can do alright’ and it’s just great to be back part of this amazing team.

“I’m so glad I came back and said yes. Just from the first day I came back into the changing room with Baz and Stokesy and to play again with (Stuart) Broad and Jimmy (Anderson) and (Mark) Woody, it’s been amazing and I’m chuffed that I can finish with a win against Australia with a bit of a helping hand.

“They brought the best out of me but I am not complaining. I’ve had a good run and I have really enjoyed playing Test cricket with England and representing everyone in this country. It’s been amazing.”

Stuart Broad bowed out from cricket with 604 Test wickets to his name after taking the final two in England’s win over Australia at the Oval.

Here, the PA news agency looks back at the key statistics from his stunning career.

Old enemy

“I’ve had a love affair with the Ashes my whole life and the thought of being able to bowl my last ball and face my last ball against Australia fills me with joy.”

Those were Broad’s words as he announced his retirement after day three of this summer’s final Test and they are reflected in his career statistics.

Only Shane Warne (195) and Glenn McGrath (157) have taken more than Broad’s 153 Ashes wickets, at an average of 28.96, and the 12 men he dismissed seven times or more in Test cricket include eight Australians.

Opener David Warner is famously his favourite opponent with 17 dismissals across seven Ashes series dating back to 2013, including seven in 10 innings in 2019.

He has taken Steve Smith and Michael Clarke 11 times each, Usman Khawaja, Chris Rogers and Shane Watson eight and Travis Head and Mitchell Johnson seven times.

Broad took the wickets of New Zealand pair Ross Taylor and Tom Latham and South Africa’s AB de Villiers 10 times each and De Villiers’ compatriot Hashim Amla on eight occasions. He has dismissed 234 different batters in total.

Game-wrecker

Broad’s wickets came in 167 Tests at an average of 27.68, with his debut coming back in 2007 against Sri Lanka.

Known for his game-wrecking bursts, Broad has 20 five-wicket hauls and three 10-wicket matches – a best of 11 for 121 against Australia at Chester-le-Street in 2013 and two against the West Indies, at Lord’s in 2012 and Old Trafford in 2020.

He produced a scintillating best of eight for 15 at Trent Bridge to help win the 2015 Ashes and has seven-wicket hauls at Lord’s in the aforementioned West Indies clash and against New Zealand in 2013.

Broad is the only England bowler with two Test hat-tricks to his name, removing India trio MS Dhoni, Harbhajan Singh and Praveen Kumar in successive balls in figures of six for 46 in 2011 and Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara, Dinesh Chandimal and Shaminda Eranga in 2014.

Going out at the top

Broad’s golden period between 2013 and 2016 brought 196 Test wickets at 25.56, with four of his five best innings figures including six for 25 against India at Old Trafford and six for 17 in Johannesburg to bowl South Africa out for 83.

He put together a similarly impressive stretch dating from 2019 – the year he turned 33.

He has 171 wickets at 24.23 in that time and aside from a down year in 2021, with 12 wickets in seven Tests, has averaged almost 40 dismissals a year.

Among the elite

Broad sits fifth and new-ball partner James Anderson third on the list of leading Test wicket-takers, headed by two of the world’s all-time great spinners.

Sri Lanka star Muttiah Muralitharan’s 800 wickets may never be matched, with the late Shane Warne currently the only man within 100 after taking 708 for Australia.

Anderson has 690 while former India spinner Anil Kumble racked up 619 wickets to Broad’s 604.

McGrath and Courtney Walsh are the only other bowlers to take even 500 – McGrath 563 and West Indies great Walsh 519.

Only Kumble of the ‘500 club’ has a higher average than Broad’s 27.68, the Indian taking his wickets at 29.65. McGrath’s 21.64 edges out Muralitharan (22.72) for the best average.

Broad surprisingly has the fewest five-wicket innings among the septet, though on 12 of those 20 occasions he has gone on to take at least six.

More than just a Test bowler

While Broad’s batting declined in recent years, he has 13 Test half-centuries and a memorable 169 in the controversial Lord’s ‘spot-fixing’ Test against Pakistan in 2010.

A Test batting average of 18.03 does not do justice to the all-round ability he showed for much of his career, having in his teenage years followed the lead of his famous father Chris as an opening batter.

His brilliance also translated to different formats, taking 178 one-day international wickets at 30.13 and 65 at 22.93 in T20, where he captained England in 27 of his 56 appearances.

Stuart Broad got the dream finish he wanted as England signed off a memorable Ashes summer in style, flooring Australia in an intoxicating finale at the Kia Oval to square the series 2-2.

Broad took the last two wickets to fall as he headed in retirement in triumph in a 49-run win, the stage having been set by the outstanding efforts of Chris Woakes and Moeen Ali.

A rain-ruined draw at Old Trafford had already ensured the urn would be heading Down Under with the holders, but England have been an irresistible force at times and anything less than a share of the spoils would have been an injustice.

They took all 10 Australian wickets on the final day of the final Test, rallying to the cause despite losing the entire afternoon to more bad weather.

Woakes was impeccable – taking four for 50 – and Moeen bagged three vital scalps to as the tourists were rolled over for 334.

But Broad has never been one to shy away from the limelight and there was a satisfying sense of closure as he applied the finishing touches.

He left Australia nine down when he dismissed tailender Todd Murphy with the very next ball after reprising his bail-swapping superstition and nobody in the ground was in any doubt that it would be the departing 37-year-old who would end things.

England’s ultimate Ashes warrior had bowled beautifully without luck all day but found fortune in his favour exactly when he wanted it, snaring Alex Carey’s outside edge at 6.25pm.

The sun had not yet set in south London, but it has on Broad’s career, in the best way possible.

MI New York Captain, Nicholas Pooran, played one of the greatest T20 innings you will ever see to lift his side to a dominant seven-wicket victory over the Seattle Orcas to claim the first ever Major League Cricket title at the Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas on Sunday.

The day started with the Orcas making a respectable 183-9 off their 20 overs after being put in to bat by Pooran.

The bulk of their scoring was done by South African superstar, Quinton De Kock.

The opener, fresh off 88* in Qualifier 1 against the Texas Super Kings on Thursday to help the Orcas advance to the final, made a 52-ball 87 including nine fours and four sixes on Sunday.

He was supported well by Shubham Ranjane and Dwaine Pretorius who had scores of 29 and 21, respectively. Pretorius’ knock came off just seven balls and included three fours and a six.

Rashid Khan was, as usual, brilliant with the ball for MI New York with 3-9 from his four overs while Trent Boult took 3-34 from his four over spell.

MI New York’s chase got off to a rough start when Steven Taylor was bowled by Imad Wasim for a duck in the first over but then, the Pooran show started.

In what was a magnificent knock, the left-hander from Trinidad hit 10 fours and 13 sixes on his way to a 55-ball 137* to lead his team to victory. His fifty came up off just 16 balls while his century took 40 balls.

Dewald Brevis was the next highest scorer with 20 as MI New York needed just 16 overs to reach 184-3 and put themselves down in the history books as the first ever champions of Major League Cricket.

Pooran ended the tournament as the leading run scorer with 388 runs in eight matches at an average of 64.66. He was also named as the tournament MVP.

His MI New York teammate, Trent Boult, topped the leading wicket-taker list with 22, 11 more than anybody else.

Ben Stokes let a crucial catch slip through his fingers as England and Australia moved towards a nail-biting conclusion in the final Ashes Test of the summer.

Chasing a massive 384 to win the series 3-1, Australia reached lunch on day five at the Kia Oval on 238 for three, just seconds after a pivotal moment that reprieved Steve Smith on 39.

Smith had just gloved Moeen Ali to leg-slip, where Stokes leapt up and grabbed the ball one-handed only for it to tumble to the ground before he had full control.

A moment of confusion followed as Stokes called for DRS to force through the wicket, suggesting he was claiming a clean take, but the TV umpire concurred with the not out verdict and struck down the review.

There were plenty of discussions between the players, officials and batters as they walked off for the break, but the incident underlined the impression that things were moving in Australia’s favour after a bad start.

Resuming in a strong position at 135 without loss, they lost three for 29 as a Chris Woakes double strike and one from Mark Wood raised the home side’s hopes. With two sessions remaining, England need seven more wickets with just 146 runs to play with.

Play began 10 minutes late after a morning shower, but England seized the initiative as soon the covers came off taking their first two wickets for six runs.

On his last day as a professional cricketer the retiring Stuart Broad beat the outside edge with a couple of beauties, but it was Woakes who did the damage.

He had David Warner (60) caught behind with a ball that angled away from a tight line, drawing the curtain on the left-hander’s final Ashes innings, and then turned that long-awaited breakthrough into a double.

Usman Khawaja has been the most durable and productive batter in the series but fell four short of the 500-run mark when he stayed back to his 1,263rd delivery in the past seven weeks. Woakes dragged the ball back in from middle to leg and pinned the batter on the knee-roll to send him back for 72.

England had successfully reclaimed some of the lost ground and clawed back even more when Marnus Labuschagne’s unfulfilled summer continued with a low edge that settled in the safe hands of Zak Crawley at second slip.

Wood was not at his top speed, said to be struggling with a heel problem, but was bounding in with his usual heart.

At 169 for three the winning line suddenly seemed a long way in the distance, but Australia were in no mood to lie down. Smith and Head threw off the shackles, seeking out the boundaries they needed to ease the pressure.

James Anderson, a day on from his 41st birthday, over-pitched too often and saw his first three overs milked for 22 while Broad was luckless from the Pavilion End.

The fourth-wicket pair took just 61 balls to post a fifty stand but the introduction of Moeen almost stopped their charge in the final over before the break.

It remains to be seen how Stokes’ recollection of the incident will unfold, but had he held on just a few seconds longer Smith’s role in the conclusion would already be over.