Ashes news: Five takeaways from the second Test as Australia outsmart weak England at The Gabba
England are on the verge of yet another series defeat Down Under following the second Ashes Test at The Gabba, where Australia claimed an eight-wicket victory to go 2-0 up in the series.
With three Tests remaining, victory is not guaranteed for the Aussies, but it does feel like an inevitability following two comfortable wins against a touring side that continues to disappoint.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Joseph Ould examines five takeaways from Brisbane.
Ashes news: What to expect in the second Test and where England must improve at The Gabba
After a hugely disappointing opening Test match in Perth, in which Australia beat England inside just two days, attention now turns to The Gabba for the second Ashes Test.
The second Test provides an opportunity for England to restore an entire nation’s belief, but only if they can put the ghosts of Perth behind them and win at The Gabba.
Here, Sports News Blitz cricket writer Joseph Ould gives his thoughts.
Ashes news: Five takeaways from the first Test as Australia trounce England and Bazball questioned
England arrived for the first Ashes Test in Perth armed with Bazball’s audacious spirit – but by the end of day two, they had been torn apart by Australia.
By all accounts, the 2025/26 Ashes opener had raised an uncomfortable question: Is the aggressive, all-guns-blazing philosophy that has defined England under Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes going to be ill-suited to conditions Down Under?
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Jameel Mulla takes a look at five things we learnt across the two-day Test match in this regard.
Cricket news: Hampshire Cricket and Castore Launch Landmark Multi-Year Partnership
Hampshire Cricket has confirmed a landmark multi-year partnership with Castore, marking the start of a new era as the club teams up with one of the most exciting and innovative sportswear brands in the game.
From the 2026 season, Castore will become the club’s Official Kit Partner, supplying fully bespoke performance wear for all Hampshire teams, from the talent pathway to the first team, and a premium lifestyle collection for supporters.
Ashes analysis: Series score prediction and the main men for Australia and England
The Ashes is finally here - and we cannot wait to watch that first ball of what should be a pulsating series in the land Down Under.
All the talk is that Ben Stokes’ England have an excellent chance to win the Ashes on Australian soil - but talk is cheap, and we will know by the time we wake up on Friday morning what reality looks like.
Here, Sports News Blitz’s cricket writer Jameel Mulla assesses the series ahead.
The Ashes news: Australia vs England – Five questions that will decide the series Down Under
The 2025/26 Ashes series between Australia and England is shaping up to be one of the most hotly anticipated cricketing battles in years.
And if England are to win Down Under for the first time in 15 years, the details are going to make all the difference.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Joseph Ould takes a look at five key questions that could decide the blockbuster match-up.
From trailblazer to mentor: Roland Butcher on changing the face of English cricket
Roland Butcher’s story is one of resilience, trailblazing achievement, and deep love for the game. A former England international and Middlesex legend, he made history as the first black player to represent his country - a moment that changed English cricket forever.
Today, as a respected cricket speaker, Roland shares the lessons learned from a lifetime in professional sport, from overcoming barriers to building winning teams and nurturing future talent.
His insights reach far beyond the boundary, resonating with leaders, athletes, and audiences alike.
In this exclusive interview with the High Performance Speakers Agency, Roland reflects on his journey through cricket, the importance of representation, and what it truly means to perform at the highest level.
Cricket news: England must overcome woeful Perth record if they are to regain Ashes from Australia
England begin their campaign to regain the Ashes for the first time since 2015 in just under a month’s time, with the opening match against Australia set for Optus Stadium in Perth.
Despite coming into the series with confidence after a battling 2-2 draw with India over the summer, the visitors may find it difficult to start the five-Test showdown off on the right foot.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Oliver Shorland takes a look at England’s woeful record in Western Australia.
Test cricket debate: Can the longest format of the game stay relevant in a T20-dominated era?
In the age of booming T20 leagues and instant sporting gratification, the fate of Test cricket has become one of the game’s most pressing concerns.
Once considered the ultimate measure of skill and endurance, Test matches now struggle to compete for both audience attention and financial priority.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Ben Phillips explores what Test cricket needs to do to co-exist with the ever-evolving new formats of the game.
Cricket news: The arrival of the sport’s fourth format - Test Twenty
A bold new era begins as cricket introduces its fourth official format: Test Twenty - a dynamic fusion of Test cricket's depth with the energy of T20.
Unveiled today by sports entrepreneur Gaurav Bahirvani alongside icons of the game, Test Twenty is more than a format - it's a global platform and movement redefining the future of cricket.
Sports News Blitz looks at all the dynamics and impact of cricket’s newest inclusion.
Cricket news: England warm up for blockbuster Ashes series with white-ball tour of New Zealand
England’s white-ball tour of New Zealand gets underway this weekend, with several members of the Ashes squad looking to sharpen their skills ahead of next month’s blockbuster showdown with Australia.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Oliver Shorland analyses three key areas of the tourists’ squad.
England women’s cricket World Cup campaign marked by spin dominance and batting inconsistency
England’s women have had a topsy-turvy start to the women's cricket World Cup.
Here, Sports News Blitz’s Oliver Shorland looks at three key talking points from the campaign so far.
ICC Women’s World Cup analysis: England Women chase fifth World Cup triumph; hotly contested opener against South Africa Women
England Women will look to bring home the ICC Women’s World Cup trophy for the fifth time this autumn as Nat Sciver-Brunt’s side kick off their campaign against South Africa Women on Friday, October 3.
The tournament is set to be a closely contested one, with plenty of challenging encounters that lie ahead.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Oliver Shorland analyses the England Women’s potential trajectory to a World Cup triumph and the key performers that will help them achieve it.
County Cricket vs The Hundred: Has the new format strengthened or weakened traditional county structures?
When the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) launched The Hundred in 2021, it promised a revolution.
Branded as a fast-paced, city-based competition with simplified rules and a family-friendly broadcast package, it was marketed as cricket’s gateway to new audiences.
Four years on, the debate over its impact on county cricket remains intense.
Has The Hundred invigorated the domestic game, or has it undermined the very county structures that built English cricket over 150 years?
The truth, as always, sits somewhere in the middle: there have been undeniable successes, but also structural costs that county cricket cannot ignore.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Ben Phillips analyses the positives and negatives of The Hundred on county cricket, and discusses whether they can continue to coexist.
SA20 news: Full list of fixtures, dates and times for 2026 edition of South Africa’s premier T20 league
The SA20 returns this December, bringing South Africa’s premier T20 league back for a fourth season of high-stakes, high-energy cricket.
Here, Sports News Blitz offers a full breakdown of the upcoming tournament’s fixtures, dates, and times.
Cricket news: When empires faced off at Lord’s – A look back at the first-ever England vs India Test
As the dust settles on another thrilling and hard-fought England vs India Test series, it’s impossible not to be swept up in the drama and history of an age-old rivalry.
Yet, long before packed stadiums, broadcast empires, and social media debates, a quieter and humbler beginning unfolded under the brooding skies of London in the summer of 1932, writes Sports News Blitz’s Ishita Trivedi.
Sport for Dummies: Guide to Test cricket – Part 1: the sport’s oldest, slowest and most elegant format
Football is a 90-minute game. Basketball wraps up in 48. Rugby takes about 80. But have you ever heard of a sport that can last five whole days – and still end in a draw?
Sounds absurd, right? Welcome to the wonderful, bewildering world of Test cricket – the sport’s oldest, slowest, and most elegant format.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Ishita Trivedi explains the genius behind Test cricket.
Sport for Dummies: Guide to Test cricket – Part 2: fielding positions, umpires, unusual rules and more
So you made it through part one? Bravo. You now know why Test cricket is a game of the mind as much as the body – a five-day war of attrition wrapped in leather, willow, and white.
But we’re not done yet. The real beauty of Test cricket lies in the layers we’re yet to uncover: quirky fielding positions, the umpires, unusual rules, and some enigmatic traditions.
Let’s dive into what makes this format so brilliant and yet surreal, courtesy of Sports News Blitz cricket writer Ishita Trivedi.
Cricket news: England vs India – Gus Atkinson returns for third Test as hosts seek redemption at Lord’s
England pacer Gus Atkinson is the latest addition to the 16-man squad for the hosts ahead of the third Test against India at Lord’s.
After suffering a devastating defeat at the hands of the tourists in Edgbaston, Brendon McCullum’s side will be hoping to bounce back at the home of cricket in this five-match series.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Bilal Patel highlights all the details ahead of the third Test in the capital.
Cricket news: Excellent Shubman Gill shines as India outclass England to level Test series
India secured a thumping 336-run victory over England to secure their maiden Test triumph at Edgbaston to tie the series at 1-1 in this epic five-match encounter.
Whether it be a bowling clinic from Akash Deep or a batting masterclass from Shubman Gill, the home side were outplayed in all departments.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Bilal Patel analyses the key moments from all the action in Birmingham.