 
      
      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.
 
      
      Champions Trophy news: England dumped out in Pakistan; Jos Buttler role in doubt
England’s woes in white-ball cricket continue to mount as an eight-run defeat to Afghanistan in Lahore ended their Champions Trophy campaign with a game to spare.
After an opening-round defeat to Australia, England knew they had to win their two remaining games in order to qualify for the semi-finals but fell narrowly short in a nail-biting run chase, with Joe Root’s heroic century ultimately in vain.
Sports News Blitz cricket writer Dom Harris takes a look at the latest crisis for England.
 
      
      Champions Trophy news: Can England recapture white-ball form and bid for unexpected glory?
The ninth installment of the ICC Champions Trophy is underway after an eight-year hiatus as Pakistan welcomes back a major international tournament for the first time since 1996.
It offers an important opportunity for England to rediscover a winning formula again in one-day cricket after a disappointing 18 months.
Sports News Blitz cricket writer Dom Harris takes a look at what to expect.
