Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Ashes without England's best would be 'farcical', says Vaughan

Ashes without England's best would be 'farcical', says Vaughan

FORMER England captain Michael Vaughan has called for Australian authorities to relax stringent pandemic entry regulations to allow players' families to travel to the country or else delay the upcoming Ashes series by a year.

Writing in The Daily Telegraph, Vaughan said the prospect of Australia facing an understrength England team "would be farcical", with senior players considering not travelling unless their families can visit over the Christmas period.


"If this situation is not sorted out quickly and the England players allowed to be joined in Australia by their families then the Ashes have to be delayed by a year," Vaughan wrote.

"If not, it would be a farcical series against an understrength England team.

"The Ashes must be the best against the best."

Australia has put in place some of the world's most stringent travel restrictions in an attempt to keep the virus at bay, with tight limits on the numbers permitted to enter the country.

England are due to start the first match of the five-Test series against Australia on December 8, with the final meeting to be played from January 14 to 18.

On previous Ashes tours, players' families have joined them over the Christmas period, but similar arrangements would be complicated by Australia's quarantine regulations.

The difficulties are amplified by key players such as Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler facing the prospect of being away from home for four months due to their involvement in October's Twenty20 World Cup.

Australia recently withdrew from the Rugby League World Cup in England in October due to Covid-19 concerns, while seven of the country's cricketers refused to take part in a just-completed West Indies tour.

"I have absolute sympathy with any player thinking of not going and I would back them all the way if they pulled out because they cannot be with their families at Christmas and New Year," wrote Vaughan.

"We need the Ashes. But we need the series to be fair and competitive."

(Reuters)

More For You

D Gukesh

Gukesh secured the title after Ding resigned during a tense endgame that many had anticipated would end in a draw. (Photo: Getty Images)

Gukesh secured the title after Ding resigned during a tense endgame that many had anticipated would end in a draw. (Photo: Getty Images)

India's 18-year-old Gukesh becomes youngest-ever world chess champion

INDIAN chess prodigy Gukesh Dommaraju has become the youngest undisputed world chess champion after defeating China's Ding Liren in Singapore on Thursday.

The 18-year-old's victory marked him as "the youngest world champion in history," according to the International Chess Federation, which made the announcement on social media platform X.

Keep ReadingShow less
Salah scored a decisive penalty in the 63rd minute to help Liverpool overcome Girona, debutants in the tournament. (Photo: Getty Images)
Salah scored a decisive penalty in the 63rd minute to help Liverpool overcome Girona, debutants in the tournament. (Photo: Getty Images)

Champions League: Liverpool extend winning run; Real Madrid back on track

MOHAMED SALAH'S penalty maintained Liverpool’s unbeaten run in the Champions League on Tuesday, while Real Madrid returned to winning ways with a victory over Serie A leaders Atalanta.

Elsewhere, Paris Saint-Germain secured a crucial win against Salzburg, and Bayer Leverkusen edged past Inter Milan to move into second place in their group standings. Aston Villa, participating in the competition for the first time in 41 years, continued their impressive form with a 3-2 win over Leipzig, leaving them in third place.

Keep ReadingShow less
The exchange occurred after Siraj dismissed Head and pointed toward the Australia dressing room. (Photo: Getty Images)
The exchange occurred after Siraj dismissed Head and pointed toward the Australia dressing room. (Photo: Getty Images)

ICC penalises Siraj, Head for heated exchange during Adelaide Test

INDIA fast bowler Mohammed Siraj and Australia batsman Travis Head were fined for misconduct on Monday following an on-field exchange during the second Test in Adelaide.

Siraj was fined 20 per cent of his match fee by the International Cricket Council (ICC) after he gave Head a send-off following his dismissal for 140 in Australia’s first innings.

Keep ReadingShow less
Cole Palmer celebrates scoring his team's fourth goal from the penalty spot during the match between Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea on December 8, 2024 in London. (Photo: Getty Images)
Cole Palmer celebrates scoring his team's fourth goal from the penalty spot during the match between Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea on December 8, 2024 in London. (Photo: Getty Images)

Chelsea come from behind to beat Tottenham 4-3 and go second

COLE PALMER converted two penalties as Chelsea overcame a 2-0 deficit to defeat Tottenham 4-3 on Sunday, moving to second place in the Premier League standings.

Early goals from Dominic Solanke and Dejan Kulusevski gave Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou a strong start. However, Chelsea capitalised on defensive lapses to extend their unbeaten Premier League streak to seven matches.

Keep ReadingShow less
For India, the defeat added to their struggles at Adelaide, recalling their 2020 collapse when they were bowled out for their lowest-ever Test score of 36. (Photo: Getty Images)
For India, the defeat added to their struggles at Adelaide, recalling their 2020 collapse when they were bowled out for their lowest-ever Test score of 36. (Photo: Getty Images)

Australia beat India by 10 wickets to level series at Adelaide

AUSTRALIA defeated India by 10 wickets in the second Test at the Adelaide Oval on Sunday, levelling the five-match series 1-1.

The hosts delivered a dominant performance with both bat and ball to secure victory on day three of the pink-ball Test.

Keep ReadingShow less