Browsing: England

England did not need to win this game to reach the semis – they play Australia next on Wednesday, who look close to unbeatable, followed by New Zealand where they would be strong favourites.

But they did need the win to prove to themselves they could win games like this.

After removing Pratika Rawal and Harleen Deol early, England were faced with one of the most formidable partnerships in Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur – and struggled.

Their partnership of 125 was a masterclass, Harmanpreet’s power combined with Mandhana’s finesse.

England bowled too wide to the left-handed opener, who scored heavily on the off-side, but the biggest difference between India and England’s other opponents so far is that they do not fear Sophie Ecclestone.

Mandhana was exceptional in sitting deep in the crease and playing the ball late, while Harmanpreet and later Deepti Sharma took the world number one bowler down the ground.

India threw the game away via their own mistakes but England deserve credit for how they closed it out, because until they needed nine from the last ball, victory was never certain.

But a notable difference from the past year is that England’s body language did not dip. They held their standards – the fielding fumbles did not creep in, they worked as a unit and fought until the last ball.

Ecclestone won the battle with Deepti, who slog-swept to Sophia Dunkley. The ball hung high in the air for what felt like an age, the crowd behind Dunkley roaring for it to be put down.

It was a straightforward chance but with the context of pressure, we have seen England drop many recently, with Alice Capsey and Emma Lamb also holding on to high-stakes chances earlier to dismiss Mandhana and Harmanpreet.

Basics, yes – but executing them has not always been the case for this side. This win is an important hurdle to overcome, one which should serve them well with the pressure cooker turning up a notch from now on.

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India suffered a heartbreaking loss at the hands of England in the ICC Women’s World Cup in Indore (Images via AP) Indore: What transpired here has to be one of the most heart-breaking defeats ever suffered by the Indian Womenâ€s cricket team, and it puts their qualification to the semifinals of the 2025 Womenâ€s ODI World Cup in real danger.Riding on fine half-centuries by senior batters Smriti Mandhana (88 from 84 deliveries), captain Harmanpreet Kaur (70 runs from as many balls) and Deepti Sharma, who produced a brilliant all-round performance (50 from 57 deliveries and 4-51 in 10 overs), India looked set to chase down 289, which wouldâ€ve been their highest-ever run chase in WODIs, but fell just four runs short on a smoggy night at the Holkar Stadium on Sunday.Pulling off a thrilling win by keeping their nerves, England became the third team after Australia and South Africa to qualify for the semifinals, while India, who suffered their third loss in a row, must now defeat New Zealand at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on October 23 to sneak in as the fourth semifinalists. This was also the first time that the Indian women’s team played a WODI at the Holkar Stadium.The star of Englandâ€s victory was their former captain Heather Knight, who was removed as the skipper last year after England exited the semifinals of the Womenâ€s T20 World Cup and lost the Ashes to Australia 16-0. Playing in her landmark 300th international match, Knight indeed proved to be England’s ‘Knight in shining armour’ as she smashed a splendid century (109 off 91 balls, featuring 15 boundaries and a six) which helped her team post a competitive 288 for eight against the hosts. India needed 14 off the last over with allrounders Amanjot Kaur and Sneh Rana in the middle, but left-arm spinner Linsey Smith, who conceded just 1-40 in 10 overs in a high-scoring game, gave away just nine. Chasing 289 under lights, India suffered two early blows when opener Pratika Rawal (6) was caught behind off Lauren Bell in the third over, who returned to action after missing the last match due to illness and number 3 batter Harleen Deol (24 off 31 balls) caught plumb in front while trying to play across to off-spinner Charlie Dean. The duo of Harmanpreet and Mandhana put on 125 in 122 balls for the third wicket to raise visions of an easy win, but India kept losing wickets at the wrong time. Trying to cut the ball repeatedly towards third man, Harmanpreet was caught at short third off England captain Nat-Sciver Brunt in the 31st over. Tiring due to cramps, Mandhana holed out to long off off Smith in the 42nd over. Sciver-Brunt then had Richa Ghosh (eight off 10 balls) caught at cover in the 46th over, and suddenly, India, falling behind the required run rate, had no one to force the pace. Once Deepti slog-swept Sophie Ecclestone to deep mid-wicket in the 47th over, the game was in Englandâ€s hands. Earlier, displaying her amazing prowess at sweeping the spinners, the 34-year-old Knight powered to her third ODI ton and highest-ever score in WODIs. Rotating the strike brilliantly while unleashing boundaries too, she stitched a 113-run stand off 106 deliveries with skipper Nat Sciver-Brunt.Earlier in the competition, against Bangladesh in Guwahati, England had slipped to a precarious 103 for 6, before their former captain took them home with an unbeaten 79.However, it wasn’t just Knight alone who stamped her authority on the game. At a time when India were searching for answers after ‘keeper-bat Amy Jones (56 off 68) and Tammy Beaumont (22 off 43) provided England with a steady 73-run start in 97 balls, Deepti brought India back in the game by scalping both the wickets. Deepti finished with her best-ever figures in ODI World Cups and with 13 sticks in five matches, stands apart as the highest wicket-taker in the tournament.After Knight was finally gone – run out due to a brilliant work at deep square leg by Amanjot Kaur, who recovered quickly after a misfield and fired in a pin-point accurate throw in the 45th over – India bounced back in sensational fashion, taking five wickets for 39 runs. In fact, all that England, with their middle-order frailties exposed once again, managed to score, was 42 runs in their last six overs, losing five wickets, with two of them being run outs. Things wouldâ€ve been worse for England had they not managed to take 11 off the final over of the innings, bowled by Shree Charani.

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How do you feel about India’s chances of qualifying for the semifinals after this loss?

Introduced into the attack in the 16th over, Deepti dislodged Beaumont’s leg stump after the batter missed a sweep, thus recording her 150th WODI scalp in her 117th WODI.Making a comeback at the expense of batter Jemimah Rodrigues, seamer Renuka Singh Thakur justified Indiaâ€s decision to play six bowlers by conceding 0-37 in eight overs, though she failed to make an early strike.

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India’s losing streak at the 2025 ICC Women’s ODI World Cup extended to three matches as they went down to England at the Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore on Sunday.

Half centuries from Smriti Mandhana, skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, and Deepti Sharma went in vain as the hosts snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.

Having been asked to bowl first, India restricted England to 288/8 in their quota of 50 overs.

It was a brilliant comeback from the Indian bowling unit after the experienced Heather Knight blasted her way to a 91-ball 109.

The former England captain was well supported by opener and wicketkeeper Amy Jones, who scored a 68-ball 56 before falling to the off-spin of Sharma.

Sharma was the standout performer with the ball for India, finishing with figures of 4/51 in her ten overs. The young Sree Charani was expensive but picked up the other two wickets.

Asked to chase down what would have been a record Indian chase in Women’s World Cup history, India fell short by the barest of margins.

This was after Mandhana (88) and Harmanpreet (70) stitched a 125-run stand for the fourth wicket.

#News | India fall to third straight loss at 2025 ICC Women’s World Cup🇮🇳💔

Half centuries from Smriti Mandhana, Harmanpreet Kaur, and Deepti Sharma in vain as the hosts fall short by 4 runs

ENG: 288/8 (50)
IND: 284/6 (50)#Cricket #CWC25 #INDvENG pic.twitter.com/1yRTWIOWPZ

— The Bridge (@the_bridge_in) October 19, 2025

After Harmanpreet fell to Nat Sciver-Brunt, Mandhana found an able ally in Sharma (50).

But once Mandhana was snapped up by Linsey Smith in the 42nd over, the Indian chase derailed spectacularly.

India needed just 55 runs to win at the fall of Mandhana, but eventually fell short by four runs.

The win assured an unbeaten England of a semi-final spot, joining Australia and South Africa.

The loss for India, on the other hand, leaves them at a precarious spot with their next match against New Zealand on Thursday essentially turning into a quarter-final.

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England booked their place in the semi-finals of the Women’s World Cup with a thrilling four-run win over co-hosts India in Indore.

Set 289 to win, India were cruising at 234-3 with opener Smriti Mandhana well-placed on 88.

But the opener’s soft dismissal, caught down the ground off spinner Linsey Smith in the 42nd over, was the turning point as the co-hosts completely threw away their winning position.

The run-rate climbed and although Deepti Sharma’s gritty half-century kept India hopes alive, the middle order buckled under the pressure and with 14 needed from the last over, Smith held her nerve with India finishing on 284-6.

England’s 288-8 was set up by former captain Heather Knight’s masterful 86-ball century, after they started cautiously, reaching 44-0 off the powerplay but crucially kept wickets in hand.

Tammy Beaumont was again scratchy for 22 from 43 balls but Amy Jones found valuable form with her 56, before Knight and Nat Sciver-Brunt set a platform with a fluent stand of 113.

Knight was the aggressor, whacking 15 fours and a six in her third one-day international century, and they put England in a brilliant position at 211-3 with just over 11 overs to go before Sciver-Brunt fell for 38.

England looked to be a few runs short, however, as they could not capitalise on the partnership with another middle-order wobble, losing three wickets for eight runs in the space of 12 balls.

Sophia Dunkley, Emma Lamb and Alice Capsey all fell cheaply to spin again, which looked like it might be costly once Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur started to cruise through the middle overs, notching a similarly flawless partnership of 125 which had a raucous crowd roaring for every run.

Mandhana’s knock was sublime and looked certain to eclipse Knight with a match-winning century but her one lapse in concentration cost India, who need to win their last two games to confirm a semi-final spot, having suffered three consecutive defeats.

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England coach Charlotte Edwards says they “got away with it” after the washout against Pakistan, but insists their best is still to come.

Pakistan, who are bottom of the Women’s World Cup table, reduced England to 79-7 and then reached 34-0 in pursuit of 113 to win before rain rescued Nat Sciver-Brunt’s side from a shocking defeat.

Edwards says they have reflected and moved on from that match in Colombo, but is hoping for an improved performance as they take on co-hosts India in a crunch fixture on Sunday.

“We haven’t played our best cricket, which is think encouraging for us as a group and we get to play now against some of the best teams in the world,” Edwards told BBC Sport.

“So I think we’re ready to take that challenge on.

“We were outplayed against Pakistan and we know that, we’ve spoken about it. We did get away with it, but we’ve got to move on.”

England are in a commanding position to reach the semi-finals, likely to only need one win from their last three to confirm their spot, but their results so far have flattered them, particularly in the batting department.

Since the dominant opening win against South Africa, England were 78-5 against Bangladesh, a standalone Sciver-Brunt masterclass ensured a comfortable win against Sri Lanka and then came the lucky escape against Pakistan.

“We probably weren’t as adaptable as I’d have liked,” Edwards added.

“I think there’s been some concerns around our batting, but I haven’t got many. When I came into this role it was about winning first and foremost, and the only game that we haven’t played well is against Pakistan.”

The real test begins now. India have been inconsistent so far but are expecting a sellout crowd in Indore, and impressed beat England away from home this summer.

On Wednesday is the tantalising grudge match, with England face defending champions Australia – the first time they have played one another since the Ashes humiliation at the start of this year before Edwards took charge.

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Cummins was ruled out of Australia’s limited-overs series against New Zealand and India last month after scans revealed a lumbar bone stress in his back.

He has a history of back injuries, with flare-ups in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 causing him to miss three Australian summers in four years.

He said he would be “aggressive” and “take risks” in his recovery in order to play in the Ashes.

Bailey said he did not know if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his rehabilitation but that it was “getting tight” for him to be fit for the first Test.

Should Cummins not be fit in time for the opener in Perth, former captain Steve Smith will skipper the side.

All-rounder Cameron Green was recently pulled out of Australia’s squad for their one-day international series against India as a precaution because of soreness in his side.

Bailey described it as a “minor” injury and said Green will play in the Sheffield Shield, so will be “in a good place to be ready to bowl”.

“We put so much time and energy into building out the plan for him to be available for the first Test as an all-rounder,” Bailey said.

“He was only going to play the first two ODIs anyway. The way he swings the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, even if it just sets him back for 24 more hours, we just made the decision to approach this more conservatively.”

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Most eyes are, understandably, on the Ashes rather than this series.

It should not be forgotten, however, that this was the first of only six T20s England have before the T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka begins in February.

While Bethell, who flickered in striking a fine straight six before falling to a top edge for 15, can press their case to play against Australia, Curran is one of those with the most to gain before the World Cup.

The 27-year-old was picked for the first time in any format under coach Brendon McCullum last month and offers a second seam-bowling option in the batting-heavy side Brook’s England favour. He was told by the England hierarchy earning a place as an all-rounder who could bat in the top six was his route back into the side, rather than as a bowler.

Having seen Bethell, Buttler, who made 29, Jordan Cox and Tom Banton tamely chip catches into the air on a surface that nipped for the quick bowlers and held for the spinners, Curran was fortunate to be dropped on 14 by bowler Jacob Duffy and at deep extra cover by Tim Robinson when he had 26. Both were straightforward chances.

While at no point did he find his best batting rhythm, Curran remained calm to power the impressive left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner for one six over long-off and flicked a full toss over square leg in a final over from which he took seamer Duffy for 19.

This match will not last long in the memory, but Curran at least took advantage of what limited opportunity he was given.

“Baz [McCullum] gave him a very honest reason for why he wasn’t selected in the first place,” Brook said.

“He went back, practised hard and he’s put out those performances and done really well in the last year and a half.

“Everybody in world cricket knows he’s done it pretty much everywhere. He’s a very valuable player to have in the middle order, a left-hander as well. He’s going to be around for a while, I think. It’s good to have him back.”

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England fast bowler Mark Wood says he is “quietly confident” of being fit for the first Test of the Ashes series in Australia.

Wood has not played since a Champions Trophy defeat by Afghanistan in February and had an operation on a left knee injury in March.

The Champions Trophy and tour of India that preceded it was the 35-year-old’s return from an elbow injury that had kept him out of action since August 2024.

“It was a frustrating summer,” Wood told the Wisden Cricket Weekly podcast., external “I didn’t get to play any cricket and my knee, at times when you think that you’re just about ready to play, it was not just quite there.

“I got knocked back a couple of times, but in the tent [training camp] it’s been going well. I’ve had the speed gun out and the pace is getting up there.”

The first match of the Ashes starts on 21 November in Perth, with England aiming to win their first Test series in Australia since 2010-2011.

“Hopefully, I’m in form, bowling well in the practice games and in the nets, and can put my hand up for that game [Ashes opener],” added Wood, whose last Test outing was against Sri Lanka 14 months ago.

“The rehab hasn’t just been a straight curve, it’s been a bit up and down, but I’m in a good position now where i’m hoping to kick on for that game.

“I never want to give an answer where I say, ‘Yes, I’m pumped, I’m ready’. I’m in a confident place at the minute and feeling a lot more positive, so I’m quietly confident.”

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October 16, 2025 | Paul Stimpson

Englandâ€s stars are relishing the chance to get under the spotlight at the biggest table tennis event in London since 2018.

WTT Star Contender London brings together Olympic medallists, top-20 world stars and a battalion of English athletes at the iconic Copper Box Arena on Londonâ€s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

With hundreds of spectators cheering them to the rafters, the Box That Rocks will ignite!

It all starts with the qualifying rounds on Tuesday and Wednesday, with established and up-and-coming England stars bidding to join the leading lights in the main draw.

England will also be well represented at that stage, with the likes of Tom Jarvis and Tin-Tin Ho aiming to get in amongst the top seeds as they start their campaigns from Thursday morning.

We caught up with Tom, Tin-Tin and some of the other English stars and found out they canâ€t wait to show their skills in front of a passionate home crowd.

For Tom Jarvis, there are happy memories of the ITTF Team World Cup at the same venue in 2018, when England won bronze medals for reaching the semi-finals, where they were knocked out by all-conquering China.

And he believes home crowds, building on the successful WTT Feeder Manchester events in the past two seasons, will help the players.

Tom said: “I think the Manchester Feeders have been a massive success and weâ€ve all really, really enjoyed them. Weâ€ve had big crowds and I think for all of us it doesnâ€t get more fun that playing in front of a home crowd.

“Obviously, theyâ€ve taken it up a notch from Manchester in a bigger arena. Weâ€ve played in that before at the World Cup. Itâ€s really big for all of us and hopefully some of us can put up a good run.

“WTT is very tough, especially starting in the main draw. You canâ€t really play anyone outside the top 70 or 80 in the world, so any win you get there is going to have to be a real battle.

“I think that home crowd gives you that extra little boost of energy, it makes it mean more. Some people get maybe get nervous in it, but I find it more fun to play in that. Itâ€s what we practise for, to play in front of big crowds at big tournaments.â€

Womenâ€s No 1 Tin-Tin Ho, who also played at the Team World Cup in her home city in 2018, says having family and friends in the crowd will also make a big difference.

“Itâ€s so exciting having a big WTT in London and really exciting to go back to the Copper Box,†she said. “We played World Cup there and it was a really good experience playing so close to home and having the players from other countries visit London as well.

“Itâ€s nice just knowing the crowd have got your back and Iâ€m excited for hopefully my parents and friends to watch as well.â€

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England striker Michelle Agyemang and nine Premier League stars are in the running for honours that recognise the best young players in Europe.

Agyemang has been nominated for the Golden Girl award, while the Premier League contingent are on the 25-player Golden Boy shortlist.

The awards, created by Italian newspaper Tuttosport, are given to the best under-21 footballers each year, with Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal becoming last year’s Golden Boy winner. Vicky Lopez, also of Barcelona, is the Golden Girl holder.

The likes of Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland and Wayne Rooney are previous winners of the men’s award, while Germany’s Jule Brand and Colombian Linda Caicedo have taken the women’s award.

For a player to be considered in 2025, they must have been born on or after January 1, 2005, and belong to a squad in one of Uefa’s top 25 leagues.

Despite remaining eligible by age, Yamal, 18, is not named among the nominees because a player cannot win the award twice.

The nine Premier League nominees are Arsenal left-back Lewis-Skelly and midfielder Ethan Nwaneri, Tottenham Hotspur midfielders Lucas Bergvall and Archie Gray, Chelsea forward Estevao and defender Jorrel Hato, Manchester United defender Leny Yoro, Manchester City full-back Nico O’Reilly and Liverpool centre half Giovanni Leoni.

O’Reilly, 20, was named in the senior England squad for the first time for the recent internationals but has yet to make his debut for Thomas Tuchel’s team.

Defender Dean Huijsen, who joined Real Madrid from Bournemouth in the summer, is also nominated.

A leading contender for the Golden Boy award is Paris St-Germain forward Desire Doue, who finished 14th in the Ballon d’Or vote after winning the Champions League with his club side.

Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jobe Bellingham is also a nominee after helping Sunderland reach the top flight via the play-offs before a move to the Bundesliga. Brother Jude of Real Madrid won the award in 2023.

Agyemang was a Euro 2025 hero for England, with the 19-year-old coming off the bench to score vital late equalisers against Sweden and Italy in the knockout stage as the Lionesses went on to successfully defend the trophy.

Those notable contributions earned her the Young Player of the Tournament award.

She joins Chelsea midfielder Wieke Kaptein and Manchester City midfielder Iman Beney on the 10-player shortlist for the women’s award.

Award winners are decided by a poll of 50 selected sports journalists from across Europe.

Golden Boy 2025 nominees:

• Pau Cubarsi – Barcelona

• Dean Huijsen – Real Madrid

• Arda Guler – Real Madrid

• Franco Mastantuono – Real Madrid

• Desire Doue – Paris St-Germain

• Warren Zaire-Emery – Paris St-Germain

• Senny Mayulu – Paris St-Germain

• Kenan Yildiz – Juventus

• Ethan Nwaneri – Arsenal

• Myles Lewis-Skelly – Arsenal

• Jorrel Hato – Chelsea

• Estevao – Chelsea

• Lucas Bergvall – Tottenham Hotspur

• Archie Gray – Tottenham Hotspur

• Geovany Quenda – Sporting

• Leny Yoro – Manchester United

• Nico O’Reilly – Manchester City

• Jobe Bellingham – Borussia Dortmund

• Francesco Pio Esposito – Inter

• Rodrigo Mora – Porto

• Giovanni Leoni – Liverpool

• Aleksandar Stankovic – Club Brugge

• Eliesse Ben Seghir – Bayer Leverkusen

• Victor Froholdt – Porto

• Mamadou Sarr – Strasbourg

Golden Girl 2025 nominees:

• Michelle Agyemang – Brighton, on loan from Arsenal

• Iman Beney – Manchester City

• Giulia Galli – Roma

• Eva Schatzer – Juventus

• Signe Gaupset – Brann

• Smilla Holmberg – Hammarby

• Felicia Schroder – Hacken

• Wieke Kaptein – Chelsea

• Nina Mtaejic – Zenit St Petersburg

• Lily Yohannes – Lyon

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