The Ashes

Hussain: Deja vu, all over again

Joe Root is no fool, he has been thinking about this for quite some time. His failure to convert is not a new thing and the odd thing for Joe is that when he does get a hundred, he invariably goes on to get a big hundred, if not a double hundred.

So it has become a mental issue. Part of me still admires the consistency of the bloke. You look at his stats in the last year and they are phenomenal, he scored half-centuries in 16 of his last 18 Tests - that in itself is something to admire.

Australians are bullying us: James Anderson

Anderson has also accused the hosts of concocting, "a deliberate ploy to say things close to the stump mics so it would be picked up by the media".

Jonny Bairstow headbutted Cameron Bancroft when the pair crossed paths during England's first night on tour but the story did not break until day four of the first Test, when Australia sledged the keeper about the bizarre clash.

The visitors were disappointed with the hosts' conduct during the Ashes opener at the Gabba, where Australia were challenged early but eventually cruised to a 10-wicket win.

Mike Selvey: Same again but better

This, as the malaprop-prone American baseball coach Yogi Berra once said, is like déjà vu all over again.

Here we are but a single Test into the Ashes series and to the dismay of visiting supporters, and the contrasting merriment of Australians, England's tour appears to be unravelling before their eyes like a cricket jumper inadvertently snagged on a dressing room nail, just as it did four years ago.

Stokes flying to New Zealand, not Adelaide Oval, England says

The suspended 26-year-old was purportedly photographed at a London airport, sparking speculation England was rushing him to Australia in the wake of the visitors' 10-wicket loss at the Gabba.

A photo widely shared on social media apparently shows Stokes walking through Heathrow Airport with large equipment bags.

Australia seal win to take Ashes lead

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Resuming on 114-0 and needing just 56 more runs to win in Brisbane, David Warner (87no) and Cameron Bancroft (82no) needed just over an hour on the final day to seal a convincing win in a game that, for the first three days, seemed right in the balance.

Hussain: Aussie attack relentless

The big difference between the sides in the first Ashes Test has been that Australia's star player, Steve Smith, has played a world-class innings that wins you games.

England had their warnings from Trevor Bayliss before the series when he said pretty fifties would not be enough and that has become apparent, with Smith's 141 not out for Australia the main reason they are now only 56 runs away from a 1-0 lead.

If I'd caught you Lyon, we wouldn't feel this Paine

Sure, the wicketkeeper is part of a team, but he's alone in it.

Like whoever keeps the ships from shore, he's on an island, a small redoubt absorbing a constant tide.

Unnoticed when his job is done, only taking focus when misadventure strikes.

You have to feel for Tim Paine. He didn't ask to be picked. Of course he would be glad.

Of course as a professional he wanted it. But you wonder if there was any part of him that thought, not now. I'm not ready. Some other time.

England approaching injury crisis as another fast bowler goes down

Paceman Jake Ball sprained an ankle bowling against a Cricket Australia XI in a tour game yesterday.

Ball twisted his right ankle when in his delivery stride in the opening session and limped from Adelaide Oval.

Ball's injury comes just days after England sent home fellow quick Steven Finn because of a knee injury.