The Spin | Beware the quiet man: Ashes folklore is littered with unlikely names stepping up

Cummins’ absence is not quite cause for unfettered English celebration – Boland has ripped them apart beforeHave you heard about Big Pat’s back? You must have by now. The eyes and ears of the cricketing world are zeroed in on a locus of around 10 inches of Pat Cummins’ lumbar region. Hushed whispers about the Australia Test captain’s “stress injury” after his side’s tour of West Indies in July became a rumbling concern as the weeks passed and there was no reassuring statement from the Cummins camp. Ideally it would have been delivered by the man himself with a megawatt smile, just letting everyone know that he was locked in for full part in the Ashes series.By contrast, earlier this week a more circumspect Cummins put his chances of playing at Perth in the first Test on 21 November as “probably less likely than likely”. Continue reading...

Comments

Cricket news

Former Australian Test cricket star opens up on his battle with cancer that he refuses to let end his career

Aussie cricket stars get slammed for mocking India in controversial video that was quickly deleted

Inside the curious disappearance of Paul Collingwood: The x-rated voice note, late-night antics and strip bar visit that have made the England coach a 'liability'

Freddie Flintoff reveals he has only just started driving again, three years after his horror Top Gear crash, as he opens up on recovery in new interview

Women's World Cup: England failed to show up against Pakistan, says Nat Sciver-Brunt

TNT Sports have hit a new low - their half-baked plan to cover this year's Ashes from 10,000 miles away is another dumbed-down insult to long-suffering England fans

Cricket legend delivers an ominous prediction for Nathan Lyon as the decorated off-spin bowler approaches Test retirement

England legend Alastair Cook on the big Ashes gamble captain Ben Stokes should NOT make in Australia

Ian Botham says England have already made major Ashes mistake

Stuart Broad hits back at old foe David Warner after his 'moral victory' dig at England - and claims Australia's Ashes side as their WORST team in 15 years

Where cricket fans will be able to watch this winter's Ashes as Ben Stokes' men go toe-to-toe with Australia Down Under

See the moment Aussie cricket star simulates a sex act as he faces punishment over wild celebration

Pat Cummins reveals the scary truth about how close he came to pulling out of ALL the Ashes matches this summer

England fast bowler Brydon Carse reveals unusual change he is making to his boots ahead of this winter's Ashes

Pat Cummins: Australia captain makes new admission over fitness for First Ashes Test

Nat Sciver-Brunt inspires England to Sri Lanka rout at Cricket World Cup

Australia provide Pat Cummins injury update ahead of the Ashes

Ben Stokes sends clear message to team-mates over his bowling load as England captain devises new plan to ward off injury during the Ashes

Snooker legend's grandson signs first professional cricket contract at 17 - and has already played for England!

Aussie Ashes hero urges cricket chiefs to make radical change to one of the sport's most iconic events... but here's why his team-mates don't agree

Freddie Flintoff quits coaching role over pay dispute – ‘I think I’m worth more’

Freddie Flintoff quits job in row over pay as cricket icon blasts 'I'm worth more'

'I'm worth more': Andrew Flintoff leaves Hundred role after collapsed talks with Superchargers owners

England cricket legend reveals why he WON'T be going back to coach in the Hundred - adding that he didn't feel 'valued' by the franchise's owners

The two reasons why Pat Cummins' Ashes injury is BAD news for England, writes Wisden Editor LAWRENCE BOOTH

Pat Cummins: Australia captain 'surprised' by reports he could miss entire Ashes series

Joe Root: Our fearsome pace attack will go toe-to-toe with the Aussies - this is our best chance of winning the Ashes Down Under in years

Freddie Flintoff reveals devastating injury from horror car crash left him with NO teeth

Australia dealt huge injury blow ahead of Ashes series against England

Australia dealt brutal Ashes blow as Pat Cummins could miss 'entire series' vs England

Cricket fans get the Pat Cummins news they've been dreading with the Ashes just around the corner

The ultimate XI of odious Aussies that England fans love to hate: The crying cheat, the umpire's worst nightmare, a chucker, a bloodthirsty nemesis and so many foul-mouthed sledgers... but who makes Wisden Editor LAWRENCE BOOTH's team?

England thankful for TWO controversial calls as Heather Knight cashes in to avoid shock defeat by minnows at World Cup

England captain is engaged! Harry Brook reveals he and long-term girlfriend will tie the knot with sweet post on Instagram ahead of The Ashes

Revealed: The future of cricket - a non-wood bat which will sicken traditionalists but can save the sport from its existential crisis, and the huge extra boost it would bring

Piers Morgan apologises for ‘over the top’ comment about England legend

How Worcestershire are punching above their weight: The cup glory fuelled by Josh Baker's memory, a new home and how debt-free county find stars 'at Lidl rather than Waitrose' - including Moeen Ali's nephew and a South African working behind the bar

Freddie Flintoff relives Top Gear crash hell including split-second life-saving decision

Bugs stop play! India's World Cup clash with Pakistan interrupted following an insect invasion - as a man wearing a GAS MASK comes onto the field to fix situation

Freddie Flintoff reveals how his cricket instincts saved his life with 'split-second decision' during horrific Top Gear car crash: 'Half my face is different, but I'm not dead'

USA Cricket files for bankruptcy just one year after co-hosting World Cup

England trounce South Africa in emphatic start to Women's Cricket World Cup

Pat Cummins issues major Ashes injury update as Australia announcement imminent

Glamorous daughter of a cricket legend has a brush with fame after scoring invite to exclusive event with Kylie Minogue

Watch India's BIZARRE trophy celebrations after they refused to accept Asia Cup from Pakistani official

Chris Woakes: England seamer retires from international cricket after Ashes omission

Chris Woakes announces international retirement after brutal England Ashes snub

Aussie cricket star Alex Carey pays a heartbreaking three-word tribute as he's left reeling by the death of his father

What 'barely part-time' spinner Will Jacks reveals about England's plan to take down Australia - and why there IS method to their Ashes selection madness

Dickie Bird's ordinariness was part of his charm, as was his childlike devotion to cricket, writes LAWRENCE BOOTH... it's little wonder the bowlers he infuriated ended up loving him

The Ashes: Harry Brook named England vice-captain as Will Jacks a surprise inclusion in 16-man squad

England name Ashes squad for 2025-26 series including two huge calls

England name Ashes squad - with Ollie Pope replaced as vice-captain and one big surprise inclusion as Ben Stokes' side look to upset the odds Down Under

The wit and Wisden of Dickie Bird: Shane Warne's 'Ball of the Century', flowers and chocolates from fearsome Australian bowlers... and why he never had a wife but was 'married to cricket'

Dickie Bird: Legendary cricket umpire dies aged 92

Legendary cricket umpire Dickie Bird dies aged 92

Dickie Bird dies aged 92 as emotional tributes paid to cricket legend

Why Aussie cricket great Brad Haddin was rushed to hospital for emergency surgery - 'I live to tell the tale'

Glamorous cricket commentator Grace Hayden takes another huge step up in her TV career

Jordan Cox shines as England dispatch Ireland to clinch T20 series