157 articles
Michael Vaughan has made a striking claim that figures inside the ECB are actively briefing against Ben Stokes resuming the England Test captaincy, with the curfew incident during the New Zealand series providing the backdrop.
Matt Henry claimed 11 wickets in the match as New Zealand swept aside England's lower order inside the first hour of day five to win by 253 runs at The Oval, levelling the series at 1-1.
Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson have been cleared of any blame for violent conduct following a nightclub incident, with both men now named in England's squad for the deciding third Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge.
Joe Root is holding England together in the second Test at The Oval, but a world-record target of 463 makes final-day survival look the best realistic outcome for the hosts.
Joe Root has etched his name even deeper into cricket history by becoming only the second player ever to reach 14,000 Test runs, joining the legendary Sachin Tendulkar at the pinnacle of the game.
Ben Stokes fell agonisingly short of a century for Durham, making 95 against Northamptonshire, while England's hopes in the second Test against New Zealand continued to fade at The Oval.
Joe Root stood firm with an unbeaten 75 to keep England's hopes alive in the second Test against New Zealand, as the hosts closed day four on 182-5 chasing a record 463.
Ben Stokes appears to be closing in on a return to the England captaincy for the third Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge, with the ECB investigation into his curfew breach nearing a conclusion.
With England 352 runs adrift of New Zealand at The Oval, two of the country's most celebrated former captains are calling on Ben Stokes' side to shelve any ambitions of a run chase and bat for survival.
Henry Nicholls' unbeaten century has handed New Zealand an imposing 352-run lead with seven wickets remaining, leaving England facing a monumental challenge on day four at The Oval.
Durham chief executive Tim Bostock has pushed back firmly against concerns over Ben Stokes' wellbeing, insisting the England captain is in a positive frame of mind despite the ongoing fallout from a London nightclub incident.
Emilio Gay ground out a composed half-century on day two of the second Test against New Zealand, only to gift his wicket away immediately after reaching the milestone in the most frustrating of fashions.