Paul Newman
@paulfnewman66.bsky.social
Writing about cricket again @TheAthletic
Reposted by Paul Newman
The England captain said he will be having conversations with his team-mates in the nine days between now and the third Test in Adelaide and, when he goes and knocks on their doors, he must deliver some harsh truths.
England cannot afford another game of just rocking up and playing the same way.
England cannot afford another game of just rocking up and playing the same way.
Nasser Hussain: ‘England’s players will not like what they hear, but Ben Stokes must deliver harsh truths’
The England captain needs to ascertain whether his players have the strength of character and adaptability to turn the Ashes series around
theathletic.com
December 8, 2025 at 2:01 PM
The England captain said he will be having conversations with his team-mates in the nine days between now and the third Test in Adelaide and, when he goes and knocks on their doors, he must deliver some harsh truths.
England cannot afford another game of just rocking up and playing the same way.
England cannot afford another game of just rocking up and playing the same way.
Reposted by Paul Newman
Ben Stokes has sent a message to his team.
For the first time, he has made it clear in public that he is unhappy with what they are doing, particularly the way they are responding to pressure.
For the first time, he has made it clear in public that he is unhappy with what they are doing, particularly the way they are responding to pressure.
December 8, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Ben Stokes has sent a message to his team.
For the first time, he has made it clear in public that he is unhappy with what they are doing, particularly the way they are responding to pressure.
For the first time, he has made it clear in public that he is unhappy with what they are doing, particularly the way they are responding to pressure.
Reposted by Paul Newman
Australia’s grip on the Ashes has been tightened.
The home side eased their way to an emphatic win to establish a 2-0 lead in the series.
The tourists have been left wondering where to turn next.
The key talking points at the Gabba ⤵️
🔗 www.nytimes.com/athletic/686...
The home side eased their way to an emphatic win to establish a 2-0 lead in the series.
The tourists have been left wondering where to turn next.
The key talking points at the Gabba ⤵️
🔗 www.nytimes.com/athletic/686...
December 7, 2025 at 10:26 AM
Australia’s grip on the Ashes has been tightened.
The home side eased their way to an emphatic win to establish a 2-0 lead in the series.
The tourists have been left wondering where to turn next.
The key talking points at the Gabba ⤵️
🔗 www.nytimes.com/athletic/686...
The home side eased their way to an emphatic win to establish a 2-0 lead in the series.
The tourists have been left wondering where to turn next.
The key talking points at the Gabba ⤵️
🔗 www.nytimes.com/athletic/686...
Reposted by Paul Newman
The second day at the Gabba saw Brydon Carse carted to all parts.
By the time England hobbled off for tea with Australia 228-3 and only 108 runs adrift, Carse had conceded the third fastest half century by an England bowler in Test history.
It was a bruising second session.
By the time England hobbled off for tea with Australia 228-3 and only 108 runs adrift, Carse had conceded the third fastest half century by an England bowler in Test history.
It was a bruising second session.
December 5, 2025 at 1:00 PM
The second day at the Gabba saw Brydon Carse carted to all parts.
By the time England hobbled off for tea with Australia 228-3 and only 108 runs adrift, Carse had conceded the third fastest half century by an England bowler in Test history.
It was a bruising second session.
By the time England hobbled off for tea with Australia 228-3 and only 108 runs adrift, Carse had conceded the third fastest half century by an England bowler in Test history.
It was a bruising second session.
Reposted by Paul Newman
Then England spectacularly fluffed their lines.
The Ashes were not over at the end of the second day of the second Test.
But if they are slipping away yet again for England — and, let’s be honest, history tells you they are — then they can only blame themselves.
The Ashes were not over at the end of the second day of the second Test.
But if they are slipping away yet again for England — and, let’s be honest, history tells you they are — then they can only blame themselves.
England have handed Australia the initiative. The Ashes are drifting away
Three years of planning appear to have been undermined by only four days of cricket as England, already 1-0 down, play catch-up at the Gabba
theathletic.com
December 5, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Then England spectacularly fluffed their lines.
The Ashes were not over at the end of the second day of the second Test.
But if they are slipping away yet again for England — and, let’s be honest, history tells you they are — then they can only blame themselves.
The Ashes were not over at the end of the second day of the second Test.
But if they are slipping away yet again for England — and, let’s be honest, history tells you they are — then they can only blame themselves.
Reposted by Paul Newman
Three years of planning.
Three years or more of trying to make sure their fastest bowlers were fit and firing at the right time.
And three years of indulging the likes of Zak Crawley in the belief that his game was perfectly suited for the series that will define ‘Bazball’.
Three years or more of trying to make sure their fastest bowlers were fit and firing at the right time.
And three years of indulging the likes of Zak Crawley in the belief that his game was perfectly suited for the series that will define ‘Bazball’.
December 5, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Three years of planning.
Three years or more of trying to make sure their fastest bowlers were fit and firing at the right time.
And three years of indulging the likes of Zak Crawley in the belief that his game was perfectly suited for the series that will define ‘Bazball’.
Three years or more of trying to make sure their fastest bowlers were fit and firing at the right time.
And three years of indulging the likes of Zak Crawley in the belief that his game was perfectly suited for the series that will define ‘Bazball’.
Reposted by Paul Newman
But, of course, it did matter. It made all the difference.
And now he has achieved it.
And now he has achieved it.
Joe Root, an Ashes century in Australia and the end of one of cricket’s silliest narratives
The most prolific batter in English history finally scored his first Test hundred in Australia to prove he is an Extraordinary Joe
theathletic.com
December 4, 2025 at 4:32 PM
But, of course, it did matter. It made all the difference.
And now he has achieved it.
And now he has achieved it.
Reposted by Paul Newman
It really shouldn’t make any difference. So what if Joe Root had never made a hundred in Australia?
He already had a record that had seen him become statistically the greatest batter in England’s history and one of the best any country has had to offer.
He already had a record that had seen him become statistically the greatest batter in England’s history and one of the best any country has had to offer.
December 4, 2025 at 4:31 PM
It really shouldn’t make any difference. So what if Joe Root had never made a hundred in Australia?
He already had a record that had seen him become statistically the greatest batter in England’s history and one of the best any country has had to offer.
He already had a record that had seen him become statistically the greatest batter in England’s history and one of the best any country has had to offer.
Reposted by Paul Newman
In the humidity and hostility of the Gabba, England’s greatest batter broke his duck Down Under.
🔗 theathletic.com/6858031/?sou...
🔗 theathletic.com/6858031/?sou...
The Ashes Briefing: Root scores his first century in Australia, but Starc torments England again
Another blistering day of Test cricket saw Root, defiant amid the frenzy, finally reach his landmark as Australia claimed nine wickets
theathletic.com
December 4, 2025 at 12:33 PM
In the humidity and hostility of the Gabba, England’s greatest batter broke his duck Down Under.
🔗 theathletic.com/6858031/?sou...
🔗 theathletic.com/6858031/?sou...
Reposted by Paul Newman
There were daft shots to endure. There was Mitchell Starc discomforting England’s top order and threatening to run through the tail.
And, through it all, there was the defiance and brilliance of Joe Root. That tiresome statistic about not having made a Test century in Australia has been put to bed.
And, through it all, there was the defiance and brilliance of Joe Root. That tiresome statistic about not having made a Test century in Australia has been put to bed.
December 4, 2025 at 12:33 PM
There were daft shots to endure. There was Mitchell Starc discomforting England’s top order and threatening to run through the tail.
And, through it all, there was the defiance and brilliance of Joe Root. That tiresome statistic about not having made a Test century in Australia has been put to bed.
And, through it all, there was the defiance and brilliance of Joe Root. That tiresome statistic about not having made a Test century in Australia has been put to bed.
Reposted by Paul Newman
The Kent opener has come under severe scrutiny after a poor run of form which has seen him score just one century in his last 22 Tests, against Zimbabwe in May, with his Test average having dropped to 30.96.
England coach Brendon McCullum is backing Zak Crawley – but should he?
England's under-fire opener is set to play in Brisbane but time is running out for him to prove he deserves faith.
theathletic.com
November 23, 2025 at 2:34 PM
The Kent opener has come under severe scrutiny after a poor run of form which has seen him score just one century in his last 22 Tests, against Zimbabwe in May, with his Test average having dropped to 30.96.
Reposted by Paul Newman
England coach Brendon McCullum has backed Zak Crawley to find his form despite opening his Ashes series with a pair.
Crawley endured a miserable first away Test in Australia at Perth, being dismissed for ducks in both innings and facing a combined total of just 11 balls.
Crawley endured a miserable first away Test in Australia at Perth, being dismissed for ducks in both innings and facing a combined total of just 11 balls.
November 23, 2025 at 2:34 PM
England coach Brendon McCullum has backed Zak Crawley to find his form despite opening his Ashes series with a pair.
Crawley endured a miserable first away Test in Australia at Perth, being dismissed for ducks in both innings and facing a combined total of just 11 balls.
Crawley endured a miserable first away Test in Australia at Perth, being dismissed for ducks in both innings and facing a combined total of just 11 balls.
Reposted by Paul Newman
“Ben Stokes said he was shell-shocked afterwards but now he’s got to dust himself off and move on. But he has to do that by learning. He can’t just say: ‘That’s the way we play’…”
Nasser Hussain: How England can save the Ashes
England need to look at themselves and work out why their batters played the shots they did in that miserable second innings capitulation
theathletic.com
November 23, 2025 at 2:04 PM
“Ben Stokes said he was shell-shocked afterwards but now he’s got to dust himself off and move on. But he has to do that by learning. He can’t just say: ‘That’s the way we play’…”
Reposted by Paul Newman
“Defeats like this are the ones that hurt the most. The ones when you’ve been in a commanding position and somehow thrown it away leave you thinking: ‘How on earth did that happen?’
Nasser Hussain's exclusive on what went so horribly wrong for England in Perth - and how they can put it right.
Nasser Hussain's exclusive on what went so horribly wrong for England in Perth - and how they can put it right.
November 23, 2025 at 2:03 PM
“Defeats like this are the ones that hurt the most. The ones when you’ve been in a commanding position and somehow thrown it away leave you thinking: ‘How on earth did that happen?’
Nasser Hussain's exclusive on what went so horribly wrong for England in Perth - and how they can put it right.
Nasser Hussain's exclusive on what went so horribly wrong for England in Perth - and how they can put it right.
Reposted by Paul Newman
Another frantic, barely believable day of Test cricket saw Australia take a 1-0 lead in the Ashes.
Travis Head, stand-in opener for the hosts, thrashed Australia's third fastest 100 to lead his side to victory inside two days - the first time that has happened in the Ashes for 104 years.
Travis Head, stand-in opener for the hosts, thrashed Australia's third fastest 100 to lead his side to victory inside two days - the first time that has happened in the Ashes for 104 years.
The Ashes Briefing: Travis Head onslaught takes Australia to stunning win after England collapse
Another frenetic day in Perth saw the visitors fold before Head, opening the batting, delivered an Australian masterclass in Travball
theathletic.com
November 22, 2025 at 11:26 AM
Another frantic, barely believable day of Test cricket saw Australia take a 1-0 lead in the Ashes.
Travis Head, stand-in opener for the hosts, thrashed Australia's third fastest 100 to lead his side to victory inside two days - the first time that has happened in the Ashes for 104 years.
Travis Head, stand-in opener for the hosts, thrashed Australia's third fastest 100 to lead his side to victory inside two days - the first time that has happened in the Ashes for 104 years.
Reposted by Paul Newman
It was so fast and brutal it almost knocked Cameron Green off his feet and into his stumps.
It was the ball, delivered at 93mph by Mark Wood, that summed up a breathless day of extreme pace bowling that got the Ashes off to the most raw and visceral of starts.
🔗 theathletic.com/6825825/?sou...
It was the ball, delivered at 93mph by Mark Wood, that summed up a breathless day of extreme pace bowling that got the Ashes off to the most raw and visceral of starts.
🔗 theathletic.com/6825825/?sou...
November 21, 2025 at 4:32 PM
It was so fast and brutal it almost knocked Cameron Green off his feet and into his stumps.
It was the ball, delivered at 93mph by Mark Wood, that summed up a breathless day of extreme pace bowling that got the Ashes off to the most raw and visceral of starts.
🔗 theathletic.com/6825825/?sou...
It was the ball, delivered at 93mph by Mark Wood, that summed up a breathless day of extreme pace bowling that got the Ashes off to the most raw and visceral of starts.
🔗 theathletic.com/6825825/?sou...
Reposted by Paul Newman
Or at least, the version of it that breeds erratic batting, cheap wickets and vigorous shakes of the head from those who wistfully wish for five days of the majestic Test cricket of yore, writes @michaeljbailey.bsky.social in Perth.
The Ashes Briefing: England fight back with raw pace after Mitchell Starc’s career best haul
The opening day of the series saw a record number of wickets fall as the Ashes began in dramatic style
theathletic.com
November 21, 2025 at 10:56 AM
Or at least, the version of it that breeds erratic batting, cheap wickets and vigorous shakes of the head from those who wistfully wish for five days of the majestic Test cricket of yore, writes @michaeljbailey.bsky.social in Perth.
Reposted by Paul Newman
It turns out Bazball is infectious. Even in Australia.
The opening day of the Ashes in Perth was riddled with it.
🔗 theathletic.com/6819497/?sou...
The opening day of the Ashes in Perth was riddled with it.
🔗 theathletic.com/6819497/?sou...
November 21, 2025 at 10:56 AM
It turns out Bazball is infectious. Even in Australia.
The opening day of the Ashes in Perth was riddled with it.
🔗 theathletic.com/6819497/?sou...
The opening day of the Ashes in Perth was riddled with it.
🔗 theathletic.com/6819497/?sou...
Reposted by Paul Newman
steve smith, you scored 17 on your specialist subject, "getting hit by jofra archer"
November 21, 2025 at 7:52 AM
steve smith, you scored 17 on your specialist subject, "getting hit by jofra archer"
Reposted by Paul Newman
Steve Smith, Monty Panesar, Mastermind. Weird
✍️ @nickmiller79.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/athletic/682...
✍️ @nickmiller79.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/athletic/682...
Steve Smith, Monty Panesar and a weird pre-Ashes Mastermind jibe
The stand-in Australia captain gave a remarkably well-prepared answer to an ostensibly random question on the eve of the Ashes series
www.nytimes.com
November 20, 2025 at 12:44 PM
Steve Smith, Monty Panesar, Mastermind. Weird
✍️ @nickmiller79.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/athletic/682...
✍️ @nickmiller79.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/athletic/682...
Reposted by Paul Newman
“First of all you need a bit of luck, and England have had that with (Pat) Cummins & (Josh) Hazlewood going down injured.”
How do you win in Australia? James Wallace spoke to Dale Steyn, whose wickets propelled South Africa to success there in 2008-09, to find out.
theathletic.com/6816814/?sou...
How do you win in Australia? James Wallace spoke to Dale Steyn, whose wickets propelled South Africa to success there in 2008-09, to find out.
theathletic.com/6816814/?sou...
November 20, 2025 at 9:24 AM
“First of all you need a bit of luck, and England have had that with (Pat) Cummins & (Josh) Hazlewood going down injured.”
How do you win in Australia? James Wallace spoke to Dale Steyn, whose wickets propelled South Africa to success there in 2008-09, to find out.
theathletic.com/6816814/?sou...
How do you win in Australia? James Wallace spoke to Dale Steyn, whose wickets propelled South Africa to success there in 2008-09, to find out.
theathletic.com/6816814/?sou...
Reposted by Paul Newman
Came up with this idea while still in England. So much fun digging into how you go from rugby & AFL, to a cricket oval at a glorious new stadium — all while trying to recreate an iconic pitch from the opposite bank of the Swan River... #Ashes @theathletic.com
www.nytimes.com/athletic/680...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/680...
Preparing Perth Stadium for Ashes cricket: A drop-in wicket, a 40-tonne transporter and sleepless nights
The ground is hosting its first Ashes Test but will replicate the pace and bounce that made the WACA, across the Swan River, so feared
www.nytimes.com
November 19, 2025 at 9:58 AM
Came up with this idea while still in England. So much fun digging into how you go from rugby & AFL, to a cricket oval at a glorious new stadium — all while trying to recreate an iconic pitch from the opposite bank of the Swan River... #Ashes @theathletic.com
www.nytimes.com/athletic/680...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/680...
Reposted by Paul Newman
The International Ice Hockey Federation has confirmed to The Athletic that neck guards will be mandatory for hockey players participating in the upcoming Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina in February.
November 19, 2025 at 5:28 PM
The International Ice Hockey Federation has confirmed to The Athletic that neck guards will be mandatory for hockey players participating in the upcoming Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina in February.
Reposted by Paul Newman
History in the making for Australia. Hopefully. Great to hear from Scott Boland at Perth Stadium this lunchtime. Big week ahead...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/681...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/681...
Scott Boland and Brendan Doggett aim to make history for Australia in Ashes opener
If the two pace bowlers are picked in Perth, it will be the first time Australia have named two indigenous players in the same Test team
www.nytimes.com
November 17, 2025 at 8:51 AM
History in the making for Australia. Hopefully. Great to hear from Scott Boland at Perth Stadium this lunchtime. Big week ahead...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/681...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/681...
Reposted by Paul Newman
𝙏𝙖𝙡𝙚𝙨 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘼𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙨
Our writers have picked out the most memorable series from down the years to chart the history of one of sport's deepest rivalries.
▪️ The death of English cricket
▪️ Bodyline & The Don, the best the world has ever seen
▪️ Botham's Ashes & how Allan Border wrestled back control
Our writers have picked out the most memorable series from down the years to chart the history of one of sport's deepest rivalries.
▪️ The death of English cricket
▪️ Bodyline & The Don, the best the world has ever seen
▪️ Botham's Ashes & how Allan Border wrestled back control
Tales from the Ashes: A rivalry between England and Australia that has endured since 1882
The Athletic revisits some of the most memorable Ashes series to chart the history of one of the deepest sporting rivalries on the planet
theathletic.com
November 18, 2025 at 9:34 AM
𝙏𝙖𝙡𝙚𝙨 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘼𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙨
Our writers have picked out the most memorable series from down the years to chart the history of one of sport's deepest rivalries.
▪️ The death of English cricket
▪️ Bodyline & The Don, the best the world has ever seen
▪️ Botham's Ashes & how Allan Border wrestled back control
Our writers have picked out the most memorable series from down the years to chart the history of one of sport's deepest rivalries.
▪️ The death of English cricket
▪️ Bodyline & The Don, the best the world has ever seen
▪️ Botham's Ashes & how Allan Border wrestled back control