Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

Starc situation for England early - Mitchell took Rory Burns wicket with the very first ball of the series

England dismissed for 147 after wretched start to Ashes

England began their Ashes tour in disarray at The Gabba, flopping to 147 all out after opener Rory Burns was dismissed by the first ball of the series to set the tone.

Cricket • 08 Dec 21

Jimmy Anderson is fit but is being kept back for the second Test in Adelaide where his swing bowling should be more effective

Ashes ace Anderson absent for Gabba opening Test

England's record wicket-taker James Anderson will sit out the Ashes opener in Brisbane after England opted to hold him back as a precaution.

Cricket • 07 Dec 21

Australia secured the 2017-18 Ashes at the WACA the last time the historic series took place in Perth

Ashes Test moved from Perth due to WA border controls

There will be no Ashes Test in Perth after Cricket Australia finally bowed to the inevitable and accepted that border controls in the region meant a new venue would be needed for the series finale.

Cricket • 06 Dec 21

Bob Willis pictured during the Ashes in 1981

Former England cricket captain Bob Willis dies aged 70

Former England captain and cricket pundit Bob Willis has died at the age of 70.

Cricket • 04 Dec 19

Captains Joe Root and Tim Paine pose with the series trophy at the end of the fifth test

England win final test at Oval to draw the Ashes

Matthew Wade's defiant century proved in vain as England bowled Australia out for 263 to win the final test at The Oval by 135 runs on Sunday and ensure the first drawn Ashes series since 1972.

Cricket • 15 Sep 19

England captain Joe Root lived a charmed life en route to a 57

Batting woes continue on mixed day for England at Oval

England's batting frailties were exposed again as they wasted a solid start and laboured to 271 for eight on the first day of the final Ashes test against Australia at The Oval on Thursday.

Cricket • 12 Sep 19

Pat Cummins is mobbed after taking the wicket of England captain Joe Root

Cummins leaves Australia on cusp of retaining Ashes

England were on the verge of the surrendering the Ashes after Pat Cummins struck a cruel double blow on the penultimate evening of the fourth Test at Old Trafford.

Cricket • 07 Sep 19

Smith returns with telling effect for Australia

Steve Smith provided a familiar face of resistance as he returned from concussion to lead Australia to 170 for three on a rain-shortened first day at the fourth Ashes Test.

Cricket • 04 Sep 19

Stokes' life will change forever, says Botham

England's Ben Stokes has become a "world box-office attraction" with his Ashes heroics in the third test against Australia and his life will never be the same again, former all-rounder Ian Botham has said.

Cricket • 27 Aug 19

Root hails 'freak' Stokes after Headingley epic

England captain Joe Root praised "freak" Ben Stokes for one of the greatest of all match-winning test innings and believes the all-rounder's epic has helped instil fresh belief in his side that they can now go on to regain the Ashes.

Cricket • 25 Aug 19

Ben Stokes's century helped England to an astonishing one-wicket victory in Headlingly

Stokes the hero as England miracle keeps Ashes alive

Ben Stokes produced his second 'once-in-a-lifetime' performance of the summer as his magnificent century powered England to an unprecedented, unthinkable one-wicket victory at Headingley to keep the Ashes alive.

Cricket • 25 Aug 19

Jofra Archer takes six wickets as England bowl Australia out for 179

Archer puts England in pole position at Headingly

Man of the moment Jofra Archer claimed a brilliant six-wicket haul at Headingley as England bundled Australia out for 179 on a rain-affected first day of the third Ashes Test.

Cricket • 22 Aug 19

Steve Smith was struck by a 92mph bouncer from Jofra Archer during Saturday's play

Smith ruled out of second test with delayed concussion

The Australian Cricketers' Association has criticised the small minority of fans at Lord's who booed Steve Smith after he was felled by a 92mph bouncer.

Cricket • 18 Aug 19

Play looks to be unlikely at Lord's today

Grey skies set to wash out first days of Lord's test

Rain looked set to wash out the first day of the second Ashes test at Lord's on Wednesday, without a ball bowled as of the scheduled lunch break and a grim weather forecast clouding the outlook for action later in the day.

Cricket • 14 Aug 19

Australia's Nathan Lyon celebrates at the end of the first Test

Nathan Lyons shines as Australia win opening Test

Australia turned 'Fortress Edgbaston' into a Lyon's den as they drew first blood in the Ashes with a thumping 251-run victory over England in the opening Test.

Cricket • 05 Aug 19

Steve Smith's second century puts Australia in a strong position heading into the final day

England face uphill task after Smith masterclass

England have been set 398 to win the first Ashes Test after hundreds from Steve Smith and Matthew Wade pushed Australia into the box seat on the fourth day at Edgbaston.

Cricket • 04 Aug 19

Australia's Nathan Lyon bowls the last ball of the day to Rory Burns

Burns ton helps England take initiative against Aussies

Rory Burns reflected on an "awesome" experience after compiling his maiden Test century in the first Ashes Test against Australia at Edgbaston.

Cricket • 02 Aug 19

Mitchell Marsh celebrates with his brother Shaun Marsh of Australia

Marsh double act sees Australia continue dominance

Joe Root's last stand was all that feasibly stood between England and 4-0 Ashes embarrassment as they diced with a landslide innings defeat at the SCG.

Cricket • 07 Jan 18

Usman Khawaja celebrates after reaching his century during day three of the Fifth Test

England facing Ashes embarrassment after further toil

England were facing an embarrassing 4-0 Ashes series defeat after a day of thankless toil in the fifth Test at the SCG.

Cricket • 06 Jan 18

Steve Smith and Alastair Cook shake hands at the conclusion of the game

Fourth Ashes Test ends in predictable draw at MCG

England yet again had no answer to Steve Smith as the Australia captain took his Ashes tally to 604 runs this winter with his third century to close out a predictable stalemate at the MCG.

Cricket • 30 Dec 17

Covers are put on over the pitch as rain falls

Rain halts England's push for win

A morning that brought two wickets for England and a sniff of a drought-breaking Ashes win gave way to a bleak afternoon for the tourists as rain washed out most of day four.

Cricket • 29 Dec 17

Alastair Cook has a previous best of 37 in 10 innings

Cook's double century keeps England in control

Alastair Cook's record-breaking double-century kept England in control of the fourth Ashes Test at the MCG.

Cricket • 28 Dec 17

England's big guns fire, but only when it's too late

Alastair Cook completed his century in the last over before stumps at the MCG as he and fellow Ashes heavyweight Stuart Broad belatedly kickstarted their campaigns this winter.

Cricket • 27 Dec 17

Jackson Bird steps into Mitchell Starc's shoes

Starc warning for England ahead of fourth Ashes Test

Mitchell Starc's bruised heel has put him out of action for the fourth Test, but he is still able to launch verbal 'bouncers' at England.

Cricket • 24 Dec 17

Ashes security beefed up in wake of Melbourne attack

Security will be boosted at England and Australia's fourth Ashes Test in Melbourne after 19 people were injured when a car was driven at pedestrians outside one of the city's major transport hubs.

Cricket • 23 Dec 17