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Enable Cookies<\/a> Twitter<\/p>\n This content is provided by Twitter, which may be using cookies and other technologies. Unfortunately we have been unable to verify if you have consented to Twitter cookies. Enable Cookies<\/a> Twitter<\/p>\n This content is provided by Twitter, which may be using cookies and other technologies. Unfortunately we have been unable to verify if you have consented to Twitter cookies. Enable Cookies<\/a> “I think Ben Stokes thrives when he has a point to prove,” the former England fast bowler said.<\/p>\n “You know there are players you really don’t want to provoke because it makes them even better and even more determined. He falls into that category.<\/p>\n “I saw him a couple of weeks ago and you could see behind the eyes that he sees the significance of this tour. This leadership won’t be timid or meek.<\/p>\n “You have be wary because the Australian press want to trip you up and find chinks in your armour, but if you’re sensible and respectful I don’t see any reason you can’t embrace the challenge of playing cricket out there.”<\/p>\n Steven Finn discusses England’s chances in the Ashes and who should bat at number three.<\/p>\n Cummins targets return in second Test<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Australia captain Pat Cummins says he is “on track” to feature in the second Ashes Test against England.<\/p>\n The fast bowler will miss the series-opening first Test in Perth on November 21 due to a lower back injury, which has raised concerns about his availability for the entire series.<\/p>\n However, the 32-year-old has revealed that he has resumed bowling with a reduced run-up as part of his recovery and is targeting a return for the day-night game in Brisbane on December 4.<\/p>\n Image: “It’s all feeling really good,” Cummins said. “On track and yeah, probably better than I expected.<\/p>\n “Each session is incremental. Once I get over to Perth, I should be pretty close to a full run-up and getting some overs in.<\/p>\n “It’s probably not until you get a bit closer that you can really know where you’re at. The good thing is that I’m pulling up well and the body is great.<\/p>\n “We’re trying to keep that second Test as a live option. I’ll have a really good bowl in Perth, and by then I’ll know where I’m at.”<\/p>\n Former England captain Michael Atherton dissects Australia’s Ashes squad and the areas that England can exploit if they are to win the series Down Under.<\/p>\n ‘Might be a bridge too far’<\/p>\n Steve Smith will deputise as captain in Cummins’ absence, while Scott Boland is likely to retain his place in a three-man seam attack alongside Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc.<\/p>\n Cummins is committed to play as much Ashes cricket as his body allows but refused to outline the extent of his involvement, given the unpredictability of his recovery.<\/p>\n “I don’t really want to commit to anything this far out,” he added. “I’m pretty keen to play as much as I can.<\/p>\n “But realistically, if we have a big game and bowl 40 or 50 overs, and then there’s another game starting a few days later, it might be a bridge too far.<\/p>\n “I’m trying to get right, and if I do, then hopefully I’ll play as much of it as I can.”<\/p>\n Twitter<\/p>\n This content is provided by Twitter, which may be using cookies and other technologies. Unfortunately we have been unable to verify if you have consented to Twitter cookies. Enable Cookies<\/a> Robinson bowls at Steve Smith in pre-Ashes net<\/p>\n England paceman Ollie Robinson has been bowling at some of Australia’s batters ahead of the forthcoming Ashes series.<\/p>\n The 31-year-old, who has signed a short-term deal to play for Sydney University, has been putting Australia’s stand-in captain Steve Smith and opener Sam Konstas, who has not been selected for the first Test, through their paces in the nets at New South Wales Blues.<\/p>\n Robinson’s presence Down Under means he would be in prime position should England need bowling reinforcements during what is likely to be a gruelling tour.<\/p>\n The Sussex seamer courted controversy during the home Ashes in 2023 when he sent Australia opener Usman Khawaja on his way with an X-rated volley after dismissing him.<\/p>\n Ashes series in Australia 2025-26<\/p>\n All times UK and Ireland<\/p>\n First Test: Friday November 21 – Tuesday November 25 (2.30am) – Optus Stadium, PerthSecond Test (day\/night): Thursday December 4 – Monday December 8 (4.30am) – The Gabba, BrisbaneThird Test: Wednesday December 17 – Sunday December 21 (12am) – Adelaide OvalFourth Test: Thursday December 25 – Monday December 29 (11.30pm) – Melbourne Cricket GroundFifth Test: Sunday January 4 – Thursday January 8 (11.30pm) – Sydney Cricket Ground<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The fallout from Ben Stokes being branded a “Cocky Captain Complainer” by the Australian media on his arrival…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":247737,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[34],"tags":[1721,101,56,54,55],"class_list":{"0":"post-247736","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-cricket","8":"tag-cricket","9":"tag-sports","10":"tag-uk","11":"tag-united-kingdom","12":"tag-unitedkingdom"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/247736","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=247736"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/247736\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/247737"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=247736"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=247736"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=247736"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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\n Allow Cookies Once<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Finn](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/skysports-finn-pope_7071429.jpg\")
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\n Australia captain Pat Cummins stepping up his recovery in a bid to return for the second Ashes Test in Brisbane<\/p>\n![\"Australia](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/skysports-ben-stokes-michael_7072752.jpg\")
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