Ashes 2015: England lead series after Ian Bell seals Edgbaston win

Third Test, day three, Edgbaston:

Australia 136 & 265: Warner 77, Nevill 59, Finn 6-79

England 281 & 124-2: Bell 65 not out, Root 38 not out

England won by eight wickets; lead series 2-1

England completed a crushing eight-wicket victory over Australia to take a 2-1 Ashes series lead at a jubilant Edgbaston. 

Ian Bell led the way with 65 not out and Joe Root chipped in with an unbeaten 38 as the hosts chased down 121 in 32.1 overs to win with ease on the afternoon of the third day.

Australia's last three wickets had added 97 runs as they were bowled out for 265 to leave England a testing target, with Steven Finn completing a Test-best 6-79.

But the hosts overcame the early loss of captain Alastair Cook for seven to clinch the victory that moves them within one win of claiming back the Ashes urn.

Misery to mastery

 

                           Michael Clarke dropped Ian Bell with the Warwickshire batsman on 20 

England's three-day victory capped an incredible turnaround since their 405 run hammering in the Second Test at Lord's.

And for Bell, half-centuries in both innings on his home ground were a fitting retort to those who were calling for him to dropped after a run of low scores.

The Warwickshire batsman had cracked five boundaries from his first eight balls from Mitchell Starc when he offered his only chance.

An edge off the left-arm bowler flew towards second slip where beleaguered Australia captain Michael Clarke dropped a routine catch.

Starc had earlier bowled Cook with a fast, full away-swinger before Josh Hazlewood upped the pressure on out-of-form opener Adam Lyth by pinning him lbw for 12.

  Songs and cheers

From 51-2, Root dispelled fears of a wobble by cutting his first ball for four and England hardly looked back.

As the tea interval was delayed, Australia resorted to bowling wide outside off stump in an attempt to induce errors by preying on England's impatience.

But with a sell-out crowd of 24,500 singing songs and cheering every run, Bell and Root calmly closed in on the target.

After Bell's single had levelled the scores and brought in the field, Root flicked the winning runs through a gap on the leg side before leaping into the air with fists clenched and engulfing his batting partner in a bear hug.

Australia's tail wags

 

  
 Australia bowler Mitchell Starc hit his fifth Test fifty to give the tourists some hope 

England's day had begun with the deflating news that James Anderson's side strain will rule him out of the Fourth Test at Trent Bridge, and the home crowd's mood remained subdued as Peter Nevill and Starc lashed five boundaries in the first four overs of play.

Nevill should have been out for 53, brilliantly caught down the leg side by Jos Buttler, but England's lack of remaining reviews cost Stuart Broad what would have been his 300th Test wicket.

Nevill's next swish at a leg-side delivery brought his downfall as a thin edge was expertly taken by Buttler to give Finn, who enjoyed a fine match on his return to the side after a two-year absence, his sixth wicket.

The ninth wicket added another 28 runs as Starc, with some lusty cover drives, passed fifty for the fifth time in Tests. But a superb diving slip catch by Root accounted for Hazlewood and gave Ben Stokes his first wicket since the first innings of the Cardiff Test.

Nathan Lyon helped add 20 for the final wicket before Starc chipped Moeen Ali to extra cover to bring roars of relief from England's supporters.

From then on, the volume was rarely below maximum as the crowd cheered England to a glorious Ashes win.

 

 

What they said

England captain Alastair Cook: "The Edgbaston atmosphere is unique and it was as loud as I can ever remember it. The way Jimmy [Anderson] bowled in that first innings was fantastic, but I don't think it was a 140-all out pitch.

"It's been an amazing comeback from Steven Finn. Standing there at slip, you thought he was going to get a nick every ball. The character he has shown to come back after a lot of hard work is incredible."

Australia captain Michael Clarke: "It's very hard to explain. Credit has to go to England, they bowled well on day one and we didn't bat anywhere near we'd have liked. I still would have batted first, you can see the wicket has deteriorated.

"It swung and seamed throughout the whole game. We probably had the best batting conditions, we just didn't execute with bat and ball."

England bowler Steven Finn: "This week been fantastic and I'm thoroughly enjoying Test cricket again. There were a few nerves in the first few balls and you question yourself but after that it was focusing on getting people out.

"It is as nice a feeling as I have ever had taking a wicket [dismissing Steve Smith in the first innings]. It is the most I have ever celebrated a wicket. I did doubt at times if I'd play again but knew I could be good enough again. To be stood here now, there is no better feeling."

Former England batsman Geoffrey Boycott on BBC Test Match Special
"It was amazing how England came back [from defeat at Lord's]. Michael Clarke must go away with his team and worry that if the pitch at Trent Bridge is one that moves they will struggle again.
"They have struggled against the moving ball. They have been pathetic. They didn't graft and didn't work. If they play like they did here again, the Ashes are gone. They have to adapt to the situation."

Australia captain Michael Clarke on Test Match Special: "It is really hard to be honest. This is the way it has gone. This is similar to Cardiff. It is as simple as we need to make more runs as a unit and execute better with the ball. I was happy with the way the tail wagged this morning and fought hard. That is a good sign and something we need to do more of.

"The spirit is good. I couldn't be happier with the preparation. It is not as simple as saying one man is to blame. We need to try our best and that is what this team is doing. I need to turn my form around because at the moment we are playing with 10 players.

The number four has not turned up. I need to find a way to score runs. I will prepare hard and keep the faith it will happen in the middle.

"We don't wish injury on anyone but Jimmy Anderson missing could be a bit like 2005 when we lost Glenn McGrath. But I'm sure whoever comes in will do well for England."

More from man of the match Steven Finn: "When I dreamt about it before the game I didn't quite think it would go as well as it has. I was just happy to be playing.

"I felt in good rhythm. You have to trust the work you've done. An early wicket settled the nerves.

"Yesterday was probably as good as I've bowled in Test match cricket, thankfully the ball came out in nice areas."

More from Steven Finn: "I try to appreciate every moment that I wear the England cap and shirt. The crowd was incredible, so thank you to them.

"The dark times teach you to enjoy the highs a little bit more. To be here at the moment and help win a Test match for England is a great feeling.

"I feel good at the moment with the ball in my hand, but who knows what might happen in the future? I'm happy and glad to be playing for England again."

England bowler James Anderson, who will miss the next Test through injury, on Sky Sports: "I'm hoping to be fit for The Oval. It is not an intercostal injury. That is not the word I heard when they told me what it was. Broady, who has experience of these kind of injuries, told me not to bowl another ball. I set off but pulled up and didn't want to risk it.

"I've been fortunate with injuries so you just have to take it on the chin. The medical team were happy with me and didn't think it was too serious.

"Finny was fantastic. He has been bowling well in the nets and looked like he had never been away. Credit to him because he has worked so hard."

Shaw Post believes that the England Cricket will be feeling very elated after they've managed to bounce back from their horrible defeat at Lords in the Second Test to beat Australia at Edgbaston by eight wickets to go 2-1 up in the series with two games to go. It's been great to see Steven Finn come straight back to form by taking eight wickets in this test match. Hopefully he can keep it up for the Trent Bridge Test match where James Anderson won't be available because of his injury.

Just as great was to see Ian Bell come back to form on his home ground batting a Number Three by hitting a convincing 53 runs in England's first innings and then a match winning 65 runs in the second innings

A lot of credit also has to go to James Anderson who took amazing 6/47 in Australia's first innings to help skittle them for just 136 runs. After that England played a brand of attacking and risk taking cricket to get bowled out for 281. Bell's 53 and Root's 63 proved key as did Moen Ali's 59 and Stuart Broad 31.

England then peppered the Australian's once again with Steven Finn the pick of the bowlers in this innings as he ended the second innings of Australia with 6 for just 79 runs.

The only change that we would make for the next Test Match would be to replace James Anderson with Mark Wood.

The Australian Team will be wondering what went wrong in this Test Match as they were never in control of this match at all. They couldn't seem to negotiate the pitch or bounce and ultimately paid the price for some pathetic shot choices. 

The Australian Selectors will probably have to look at some changes as Adam Voges looks out of his depth and maybe Michael Clarke should move lower down the order to try and find some form.

Ashes 2015: Steven Finn puts England on brink of victory

Third Test, day two, Edgbaston:

Australia 136 & 168-7: Warner 77, Finn 5-45

England 281: Root 63, Moeen 59, Lyon 3-36

Steven Finn took a five-wicket haul as England moved to the brink of victory over Australia on another barely believable day of Test cricket at Edgbaston. 

The Middlesex fast bowler continued his remarkable resurgence as England tore through Australia's batting for the second time in as many days on a sun-kissed Birmingham afternoon.

Only David Warner's swashbuckling 77 and Peter Nevill's gutsy 37 not out off 117 balls spared Australia the ignominy of a two-day defeat but the tourists perilously poised on 168-7, 23 runs ahead of England with just three second innings wickets in hand.

England, who earlier scored 281 all out for a first innings lead of 145, will now expect to wrap up a victory inside three days that would put them 2-1 ahead in the series with two matches to play.

Alastair Cook's men must triumph outright to win back the Ashes, while Australia only need to draw to retain the urn.

The sole negative from England's point of view was the sight of  James Anderson leaving the field mid-over in the evening session to receive treatment on a tight side.

 

Change of ends transforms Finn's fortunes

Steve Smith recorded two single-figure scores for the first time in 22 Tests 

Setting about the business of bowling out Australia midway through the afternoon session, England made an early breakthrough when Stuart Broad removed Chris Rogers lbw for six to reach 299 Test wickets.

But where there is Warner there is danger. The left-hander's 35-ball half-century - equalling Graham Yallop's record for the quickest Ashes fifty - saw Australia race to 62-1 and threaten to make major inroads into England's lead.

A clever piece of captaincy from Alastair Cook turned the tide England's way.

After Finn's first over went for 14 runs, Cook responded by switching him from the City End to the Pavilion End, and his decision brought immediate reward.

For the second time in the match, Finn dismissed Steve Smith, with the Australia batsman top-edging a pull shot high into the Birmingham sky and leaving Jos Buttler with the straightforward task of watching the ball into his gloves.

Aussies crumble after tea

 

Better was to follow for Finn and England after tea as the Middlesex fast bowler ripped through Australia's middle order with three wickets for 12 runs in 17 balls.

Out-of-form duo Michael Clarke and Adam Voges edged to keeper and slip respectively in successive balls before Mitchell Marsh was clean bowled.

Anderson, whose 6/47 set England rolling, then took the crucial wicket of Warner, who looped a catch to cover off a leading edge to leave Australia on 111-6.

Nevill leads resistance

 

Nevill is within eight runs of his highest Test score of 45, set on his debut in the Lord's Test

With nearly two hours remaining in the day's play, Australia were staring at a two-day defeat.

But a partnership of 42 between Nevill and Mitchell Johnson took the match deep into the final session and ensured England would have to bat again.

Finn, whose 5-45 was his first five-wicket haul since March 2013, showed his golden touch once again, when he had Johnson caught at backward point for 14.

But wicketkeeper Nevill, whose retention ahead of Brad Haddin, has reportedly caused disquiet in the Australian Camp found another willing ally in Mitchell Starc as they battled through the final 8.5 overs of the day.

England counter after Johnson double strike

 

Australia had actually made the perfect start to the second day when Mitchell Johnson removed Jonny Bairstow and Ben Stokes in the space of three balls to pass 300 Test wickets.

Both deliveries were short, fast and rearing up towards the batsmen's throat, and were gloved through to Nevill.

When 145-5 became 190-7 as Joe Root and Jos Buttler fell in quick succession, Australia were back in the game, only for Moeen and Broad to swing the momentum back England's way.

Their counter-attacking partnership of 87 off 117 balls featured 14 boundaries, 11 from the blade of Moeen, who reached his fifty off 66 balls.

By the time both were dismissed in successive over from Josh Hazlewood, Australia's downbeat body language told of a side who knew they were beaten.

Michael Vaughan
Ex England Captain on Test Match Special

"It has been a terrific two days for England. You don't really want to be applauded for taking a game into day three. Australia have been found out technically on this pitch. England have produced a well-drilled performance."

Geoffrey Boycott 
Former England Cricketer on Test Match Special

"Cook and Clarke both said they didn't have any doubt about winning the toss and batting first. Really?! Batting first is only the right call if you bat well."

England bowler Steven Finn on Sky Sports: "We knew it was going to be a lot of hard work so to get the lead and put the pressure on was great.

"It has been a while since I've played Test cricket so to come here and take wickets was great. The rhythm was good. When you've played a fair bit of cricket you try to treat it like another game. It obviously isn't and it is tiring but it has been a good day.

"The game is definitely not won yet. They have players who can bat. There will still be pressure and we need to do a professional job tomorrow."

Australia pace bowler Mitchell Johnson on Sky Sports: "It's not ideal, not something we're happy about. We're 23 runs ahead and we need a big partnership in the morning to get the ball rolling. England might be one bowler down, but we've got to stop this rot. It's definitely been doing it a little bit, we played some shots we didn't need to and the guys will be disappointed. We need the tail to wag."

More from Australia pace bowler Mitchell Johnson on Sky Sports: "If we can get to 120 or 130 ahead we'll have a really good crack at them. It would give us more of a chance than 23 - it looked at one stage like we wouldn't make them bat again. The start of the series wasn't great, we didn't bowl or bat in partnerships at Cardiff and we did that again in this Test."

Shaw Post believes that the England Cricket Team will be feeling fantastic about how the days has went as they've managed to rip through the Aussie's top seven batsmen with relative ease to leave the Australian's only 23 runs ahead of England's first innings score.

 They will hope that they can come back tomorrow morning and pick up the last three wickets for just 15 runs  and then hit the 38 runs to win with ease. It's been great to see Steven Finn come back to form in the Test Arena after a two year absence.

 The only downside for the England Cricket Team was the fact that James Anderson went off injured in the evening session on his birthday with a side strain and could be a potential doubt for the rest of the Ashes.

Former England and Essex swing bowler Mark Ilott tells BBC Essex: 

 "It looks a bad one. If it's an intercostal it could be seven weeks [for him to recover]. Other than a stress fracture of the back there's not much worse than a side strain for a quick bowler.

"Potentially he could be out of the Ashes. When it swings there's no one better than Jimmy so I don't how you'd replace him if it's as bad as it looked, but let's hope it's not."


If Anderson is to miss the rest of The Ashes then we believe that Trevor Bayliss should pick either Mark Wood or Liam Plunkett as they're both very good fast bowlers who could cause the Aussies handfuls of trouble. There's going to be a full prognosis of Anderson's injury tomorrow morning. Let's hope that he'll be okay to play in the 5th Test at The Oval

As for the Australian side their performance throughout this test match has been nothing but atrocious. They've barely turned up in this Test Match as they were skittled cheaply in the first innings after they couldn't show any patience or care. It looks like it's happened again in this innings. 

Maybe the Aussie's came to Edgbaston yesterday thinking they would walk this Test Match. It looks like they've learnt a big lesson in not ever underestimating England. 

Ashes 2015: James Anderson burst helps England take charge

Third Test, day one, Edgbaston:

Australia 136: Rogers 52, Anderson 6-47

England 133-3: Bell 53, Lyon 2-3

England bounced back from their Lord's humiliation to seize control of the third Ashes Test in an astonishingly one-sided day first day at Edgbaston. 

Feeding off the passion of a boisterous crowd at the venue where they famously ignited their 2005 Ashes campaign, England bundled out the tourists for 136 on a seaming pitch and reached 133-3 at the close.

A potent James Anderson took his best Ashes figures of 6-47, and Steven Finn marked his first Test appearance for two years with the wickets of Steve Smith and Michael Clarke, who had earlier won the toss and chosen to bat.

On a day punctuated by short rain delays, the mood of England and their supporters was lifted further still by the sight of Ian Bell flaying the Australia attack around the ground under floodlights in the evening session.

Five balls after reaching fifty, however, Bell tossed his wicket away with a needless heave at Nathan Lyon that took a fraction of the gloss off England's near-perfect day.

New match, new England

Despite Bell's frivolousness, England were unrecognisable from the meek outfit that had been bowled out for 103 on the fourth day of the Lord's Test as Australia romped to the 405-run victory.

The tourists, whose innings duration of 36.4 overs was two balls fewer than England's at Lord's, will rue some injudicious shots from their middle order.

But on a pitch offering just enough sideways movement and carry to assist their bowlers, England put themselves well on course to take a 2-1 lead in the series with two matches to play.

Unselectable to unplayable

                     Steve Smith was Steven Finn's first Test wicket since Ed Cowan in July 2013 

An ankle injury to Mark Wood gave Finn the opportunity to play Test cricket for the first time since he was dropped after the first Ashes Test in 2013 and later sent home from the 2013-14 tour down under, having been deemed "unselectable" by then coach Ashley Giles.

Some 18 months later, on an overcast morning at Edgbaston, Finn was closer to unplayable as he accounted for Smith and Clarke inside his first three overs.

Smith was caught behind for seven off a gem of a delivery which moved away off the seam, while Clarke was bowled by a superb yorker for 10, making it eight innings since the Australia captain last passed fifty.

Looking every inch the bowler who in 2011 became the second fastest Englishman after Ian Botham to take 50 Test wickets, Finn continued to unsettle the Aussie batsmen with sharp, short balls and fuller deliveries that had them groping outside off stump.

Oh Jimmy, Jimmy….

James Anderson has now claimed four five-wicket hauls against Australia - more than against any other team 

With Finn softening up the Australia batsmen from one end, Anderson began knocking them out from the other.

In an extraordinary spell of seam bowling after lunch, the Lancashire bowler - who went wicketless at Lord's - took 4-7 in 19 balls to leave Australia in ruins on 94-7.

Adam Voges and Mitchell Marsh were both caught behind, Peter Nevill was bowled without playing a shot and Mitchell Johnson edged to fourth slip.

Stuart Broad trapped Rogers lbw and found Mitchell Starc's edge before Anderson bowled Lyon to wrap up a barely believable innings.

Misfortune and madness

Adam Lyth has now failed to pass 40 in eight of his nine Test innings 

England's dismissals featured a mixture of bad luck and recklessness on the batsmen's part.
Adam Lyth fell firmly in the latter category as he swiped at a wider ball from Josh Hazlewood and was caught in the slips.

Alastair Cook added 57 for the second wicket with Bell, but fell in bizarre circumstances when a full-blooded pull off a Lyon long-hop somehow lodged in the arms and belly of Adam Voges at short leg.

Bell, promoted to three after Gary Ballance was dropped, delighted his home crowd as he drove and pulled his way to a half-century off 51 balls.

But his attempted assault on Lyon failed miserably as he lost control of his bat and ended up with it dangling from one hand as David Warner ran back from short midwicket to take the catch.

Australia opener Chris Rogers on Sky Sports: "Very disappointing, we won the toss but England put us under pressure and we didn't respond. You have to give their attack credit, but there's times when you have to fight, and some of the shot selection... we needed to have a better day.
"The pitch was quick enough, it took the edge and carried and England exploited it well and hit the right lengths. It's going to be tough throughout the game, there's enough grass on the pitch but there's cracks in it too so it could be difficult in the fourth innings, but we're behind the game at the moment."

England paceman James Anderson on Sky Sports: "We're very happy, especially after losing the toss, we created pressure to get them out for a low score and then the guys batted well.
"There was a large percentage of bad shots from them, but saying that, Chris Rogers was watchful and then put away the bad ball.

"The pitch carried more than Lord's, so Broady and I discussed that trying to hit the pitch hard, wobble the ball and hit the seam on a full length was going to do more than swinging it, and it worked well for us."

More from England paceman James Anderson on Sky Sports: "I've done some great work in the nets with Ottis Gibson over the last few days.
"Steven Finn has had a tough 18 months and worked so hard to get back in the Test side, so everyone in the dressing-room's delighted for him and he looked a threat.
"Conditions were in the bowlers' favour here today with the rain and the lights on, the more sun gets on the pitch it'll be easier to bat, so hopefully the sun will come out tomorrow."

Geoffrey Boycott
Ex England Batsmen on Test Match Special

"I am pleased for Steven Finn. Two years ago I saw him and thought we were lucky to have him and then he had all that trouble clipping the wickets that caused them to try and change his action.

"He gets wickets and he gets them at a cheap rate. Anyone like that, you have him in your team, you put him in your pocket and carry him around with you.

"It is a God-given gift to get wickets."

Shaw Post believes that the England Cricket Team will be very happy with how the first day of the Third Test went. They managed to bowl beautifully to get Australia out for just 136 before closing the three runs behind with seven wickets in hand. For England to win this match they'll be hoping that Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow and Ben Stokes all manage to get centuries tomorrow to help steer the England Cricket Team to a lead of 300.

As for the Australian Cricket Team they'll be feeling very awful with how the day has gone as they turned up on the morning of the this test match with sheer arrogance. Instead of being patient and knowing when to leave the ball they persisted in trying to flog it around the field. They should never have underestimated the bowling of Stuart Broad, James Anderson and Steven Finn as it has left them in a very sticky situation.

Abou Diaby: West Brom target signs for Marseille

 

Former Arsenal midfielder Abou Diaby has signed for Marseille after rejecting a contract at West Brom. 

The France international, 29, had a medical at the Hawthorns last week but has instead returned to Ligue 1 nine years after leaving Auxerre. 

Diaby was released by the Gunners last month after making 182 appearances for the club since 2006, but just two in the last two seasons. 

Marseille signed another former Arsenal midfielder, Lassana Diarra, last week. 

No details were revealed by Marseille over the length or terms of Diaby's contract.

Shaw Post would like to offer Abou Diaby the best of luck at Marseille this season. We hope that he can stay injury free this season and get back to his best form so that he can gatecrash France's Euro 2016 team.

 

Ashes 2015 : Ian Bell says Test Cricket is a 'brutal environment'

Under-pressure England batsman Ian Bell has described Test cricket as a "brutal environment" ahead of the third Ashes Test at Edgbaston - but says there is no reason he cannot return to form.

Bell has scored just 117 runs in his last six Tests at an average of 10.63.

"It's a brutal environment, international sport," Bell, 33, said. "You have to perform.

"I'm realistic enough to know that I haven't played to the best of my ability in the last two months."
Despite his struggles, Bell has been promoted up the order to number three for the match on his home ground and the Warwickshire batsman is optimistic that the move can revitalise his form.

"For me it's about performing," Bell told BBC Sport. "Whether you're batting three, four or five you've got to score hundreds and I'm looking forward to that challenge.

"I know that when I play at my best I'm a world-class cricketer.

"I went from a hundred in Antigua (in the First test against the West Indies in April) to a little tricky run - who's to say that there's not a hundred round the corner and I go off on a good run?"

In decline?
Since the start of 2012, Ian Bell is averaging just 34.69.
He scored five centuries in 2011 but has only recorded six more since then.
He averages 38.58 under Alastair Cook's captaincy, compared to 56.75 under Andrew Strauss.

Bell, who averages 39.27 at number three compared to an overall Test average of 43.18 in 112 matches, also backed England to bounce back after they were  thrashed by the Aussies in the Second Test at Lords.

"People wrote us off for this Test series, said it was going to be 5-0, but we performed brilliantly in Cardiff," Bell said.

"We were poor at Lord's but there's no reason why we can't turn it round at Edgbaston."

 

 England team-mate Joe Root on Bell

Ian Bell and Joe Root put on 97 for the fourth wicket in the second innings at Cardiff 

"Every international player is playing for their place at times," Root told BBC Sport. "Ian's an experienced player and I'm sure he'll be excited to play at his home ground and that's got to be something that gets him up for it.

"We all know he's capable of doing it. He's performed well at three previously, so everything is in his favour."

 

Warwickshire director of cricket Dougie Brown on Bell

"He's a world-class player," Brown told BBC WM 95.6. "He's been slightly short of runs but players go through that. It's not so much a loss of form as a loss of runs. He just hasn't quite managed to get himself in.

"But he loves being back at Edgbaston and he's always done well there and will be very supported.
"England will be looking to their senior players, Ian Bell is one of those senior players and I'm sure he'll have a good Test match."

   

Warwickshire team-mate Chris Woakes on Bell

"He's got it all," Woakes told BBC Radio 5 live. "I've played with Ian Bell for a long time for England and for Warwickshire. He's played over 100 Test matches, averages 45-plus and is a world-class batsman.

"He's not in the best form at the moment but, with the next Test being at Edgbaston, his home ground, hopefully he'll produce the goods.

"He's in good spirits, seeing as he hasn't scored the amount of runs he'd like. But being promoted to number three will be a good thing for him. It will help him get his confidence back and move on."

Shaw Post would like to offer Ian Bell the best of luck on his home ground in the Third Ashes Test which starts on Wednesday.

World Cup 2018: England host Scotland on Armistice Day

 

 

England and Scotland will meet at Wembley on Friday, 11 November 2016 to play their 2018 World Cup qualifier. 

The game will kick off at 19:45 BST with the return match in Group F, at Glasgow's Hampden Park, at 17:00 on Saturday, 10 June 2017.

Wales will host the Republic of Ireland in Group D on Monday, 9 October 2017 with the away game on Friday, 24 March.

Northern Ireland face world champions Germany on Tuesday, 11 October 2016 and play the home game on 5 October 2017.

England's 2018 World Cup qualification fixtures
2016	2017
4 September: (a) v Slovakia	26 March: (h) v Lithuania
8 October: (h) v Malta	10 June: (a) v Scotland
11 October: (a) v Slovenia	1 September: (a) v Malta
11 November: (h) v Scotland	4 September: (h) v Slovakia
	5 October: (h) v Slovenia
	8 October: (a) v Lithuania

Northern Ireland's 2018 World Cup qualification fixtures
2016	2017
4 September: (a) v Czech Republic	26 March: (h) v Norway
8 October: (h) v San Marino	10 June: (a) v Azerbaijan
11 October: (a) v Germany	1 September: (a) v San Marino
11 November: (h) v Azerbaijan	4 September: (h) v Czech Republic
	5 October: (h) v Germany
	8 October: (a) v Norway

Scotland's 2018 World Cup qualification fixtures
2016	2017
4 September: (a) v Malta	26 March: (h) v Slovenia
8 October: (h) v Lithuania	10 June: (h) v England
11 October: (a) v Slovakia	1 September: (a) v Lithuania
11 November: (a) v England	4 September: (h) v Malta
	5 October: (h) v Slovakia
	8th October (a) vs Slovenia

Republic Of Ireland World Cup 2018 Qualifying Fixtures

2016 Monday September 5: Serbia away Thursday October 6: Georgia home Sunday October 9: Moldova away Saturday November 12: Austria away 2017  Friday March 24: Wales home Sunday June 11: Austria home Saturday September 2: Georgia away Tuesday September 5: Serbia home Friday October 6: Moldova home Monday October 9: Wales away Wales World Cup 2018 Qualifying Fixtures 2016                        2017 5 September: (h) v Moldova           24 March: (a) v Republic of Ireland 6 October: (a) v Austria           11 June: (a) v Serbia 9 October: (h) v Georgia            2 September: (h) v Austria 12 November: (h) v Serbia            5 September: (a) v Moldova                                                                6 October: (a) v Georgia           9 October: (h) v Republic of Ireland

Alex Iwobi helps Arsenal clinch 6-0 friendly win over Lyon

Alex Iwobi scored his first goal for Arsenal as they continued their preparations for the new season with a 6-0 friendly win over Lyon. 

The 19-year-old winger, who is the nephew of former Bolton forward Jay-Jay Okocha, capped an impressive first half with Arsenal's third goal.

Olivier Giroud, Aaron Ramsey and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain were also on target for the Gunners in the first half.

Mesut Ozil netted a fifth on the hour before Santi Cazorla's late strike.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger dismissed suggestions  on Friday that he could sign almost any player in the world after club director Lord Harris said he has the backing  to break the club's transfer record for a top striker.

If this performance, albeit against a rusty Lyon side, is an indicator of their potential in front of goal this season then Wenger may well elect to leave the money in the bank.

Olivier Giroud opened the scoring for Arsenal when he got on the end of Mesut Ozil's free-kick 

Wenger's side played with a swagger and blew the Ligue 1 side away in this Emirates Cup match - a pre-season tournament which also features Villarreal and Wolfsburg - with four goals in 15 minutes

Arsenal opened the scoring on the half-hour mark when France striker Giroud got on the end of Ozil's high free-kick and saw the ball go in off his shoulder with an attempted header.

The Gunners then punished Lyon on the counter attack after forward Oxlade-Chamberlain got on the end of Giroud's through ball and angled a low shot into the corner of the net.

The game was effectively over as contest when Nigerian born Iwobi finished off a fine team move before Ramsey's superbly-timed run allowed him to stab Ozil's cross past Lyon goalkeeper Anthony Lopes.

Germany international Ozil added fifth in the second half when he powerfully struck a half-volley and Cazorla rounded off the scoring late on with a free-kick which went under the Lyon wall.

Arsenal are in action again tomorrow evening when they face  German side Wolfsburg where victory would secure the trophy. Wolfsburg will be hoping to come back strong tomorrow as they were beaten 2-1 by Villareal

It started with Olivier Giroud heading home Mesut Ozil’s free kick in the 29th minute and moments later they doubled their lead as the rampaging Alex Oxlade Chamberlain raced through to slot beyond Lyon goalkeeper Anthony Lopes.

Less than 100 seconds later and they had a third as teenage forward Alex Iwobi capped off a lively first-half showing by firing into the top corner after good work from Aaron Ramsey.

   

The Welshman then added a fourth in the 38th minute when he raced on to Ozil’s pass to poke the ball in at the near post.

It would take some going to match their first-half display after the restart, but the Gunners were determined to put on a show and they claimed their fifth just after the hour when Mesut  Ozil drilled in a powerful shot.

 
Santi Cazorla added a sixth late on from a free kick, with the Gunners’ imperious display offering genuine cause for optimism ahead of the coming campaign.

Shaw Post  believes that Arsenal will be very happy with their performance today as they managed to thrash Lyon emphatically. It was great to see a different goal scorer for each goal as it goes to show just how many potential goalscorer Arsene has in his squad.

Before the game there were lot's of calls from fellow Arsenal fans that we need another top class striker to help Olivier Giroud. If you watched today's performance then you'll realise that Alex Iwobi could be a top talent if given the chances this season. Wenger also has Theo Walcott, Alexis Sanches and Welbeck as potential other striker options. If they're both played up front then they're guaranteed to score lots of goals.

We think that Arsene Wenger should wait till next summer to sign a top class striker and concentrate on signing a defensive midfielder instead as Coquelin's only back up is Mikel Arteta and it remains to be seen whether Arteta can stay injury free this season due to his injury troubles last season.

T20 Blast: Holders Birmingham Bears face Essex in quarter-finals

Holders Birmingham Bears will face Essex in the quarter-finals of the T20 Blast after rain washed out all but two of the last round of group matches. 

Essex progressed to the last eight after Glamorgan lost to Gloucestershire in a match reduced to five overs each.

In the other ties, North Group runners-up Worcestershire face Hampshire, Sussex play Northants and South Group winners Kent will host Lancashire.

The matches will take place between 12 and 15 August.

T20 Blast quarter-finals 2015
Sussex v Northants (Hove) - 12 August, 18:30 BST
Birmingham v Essex (Edgbaston) - 13 August, 18:30 BST
Worcestershire v Hampshire (Worcester) - 14 August, 17:30 BST
Kent v Lancashire (Canterbury) - 15 August, 14:30 BST
*All matches have one reserve day in the event of adve A raft of abandonments meant the four teams to qualify from the North group were decided early in the evening. Nottinghamshire briefly went into the top four in the North Group after their game at Leicester was called off, but the decision to abandon Lancashire's match against Worcestershire moments later meant they were eliminated on net run-rate. "It's unfortunate for Notts, but of course good news for us," said Lancashire coach Ashley Giles. "It's not the way you want to go through to a quarter-final but one of our targets was to get to the quarters for a start, then move on from there." Essex were forced to wait on the result in Cardiff after their match at home against Kent was the last to be abandoned. But Gloucestershire's win meant the Eagles progressed as the fourth-placed team in the South Group thanks to the point they gained from the no-result at Chelmsford. "It's been a tense night," said Essex captain Ryan ten Doeschate. "We would have liked to have played and done the job ourselves, but in the end we've got there. "I feel over the length of the campaign we deserve to be in the last eight and given our start, [four defeats from the first five games] we would have taken fourth spot." Essex's meeting with Birmingham will be a repeat of last season's quarter-final at Chelmsford, when the Bears won by 19 runs

Man City: Fabian Delph injured on debut in defeat by Real Madrid

Fabian Delph's Manchester City debut ended after 18 minutes on Friday as he suffered a suspected hamstring injury in a 4-1 defeat by Real Madrid. 

The £8m signing from Aston Villa started on the left of midfield as Real lifted the International Champions Cup in Melbourne.

Goals from Karim Benzema, Cristiano Ronaldo and Pepe gave Real a 3-0 lead.

Yaya Toure pulled a goal back from the penalty spot before Denis Cheryshev scored for the dominant Spaniards.

Delph, 25, signed a five year contract at Manchester City less than a week after saying he was staying at Villa Park.

Watched by a near-capacity 99,000 crowd at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, he had limited opportunity to make an impact before going down holding his left hamstring and being replaced by Jesus Navas.

"Unfortunately, it looks like Fabian has a problem with his hamstring - we thought it would be useful for him to play 45 minutes but he got the injury so it's not the best news," said Pellegrini.

"We will have a more clear diagnosis from the doctor on Saturday."

Delph had started behind lone striker Raheem Sterling who, having scored three minutes into his City debut as they drew 2-2 with Roma before winning on penalties on Tuesday, was again jeered by sections of the crowd.

Sterling became the most expensive English player when he made the £49m from Liverpool and, on the rare occasions City attacked, he looked a threat.

Manchester United are interested in signing Sergio Ramos (centre) 

It was the England forward who earned City a route back into the match, after they had gone 3-0 behind within 44 minutes.

His control caused Sergio Ramos to concede a penalty for handball, although the offence appeared to be outside the area.

Toure converted the spot-kick but it did little to disguise the 10-time European champions' superiority.

Real Madrid boss Rafael Benitez fielded a strong side which included Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Manchester United target Ramos.

They impressed against a City side containing 16-year-old debutant Cameron Humphreys and 20-year-old Jason Denayer in central defence, while former Fulham teenager Patrick Roberts appeared as a second-half substitute.

Benzema hooked an 18-yard volley into the net before Ronaldo raced through City's defence to prod the ball past goalkeeper Joe Hart within 25 minutes.

It got worse for Manuel Pellegrini, as an unmarked Pepe powered in a header and, following Toure's penalty, Cheryshev stabbed in after the break.

Pellegrini unconcerned

"We knew before the game that it was difficult to play against a team with such good attackers without Eliaquim Mangala, Vincent Kompany and Martin Demichelis," Pellegrini said.

"You must also add the other players who are not here: Wilfried Bony, Sergio Aguero, Fernandinho and Pablo Zabaleta.

"I'm not concerned as we had a lot of missing players and then a lot of players have also arrived late, so they've worked just five days.

"For them, they're just starting work - it's important in pre-season to work hard and it's good to play against important teams but you can't be worried about winning or losing at this point."

Blink-182 to record new music with Matt Skiba in August

Alkaline Trio frontman has been playing live with the band since departure of Tom DeLonge

Blink-182 are reportedly due to record new music with Matt Skiba of Alkaline Trio as soon as next month.

The information was revealed in a new interview with band member Mark Hoppus in Billboard. Though the interview focuses mainly on Hoppus' work making music for a new film, it is mentioned that the trio will head into the studio in August.

Hoppus and collaborator James Ingram have written the score for four-minute stop-motion animated short I'm Scared.

Matt Skiba has previously said that he is keen to record with Hoppus and drummer Travis Barker, with whom he is currently playing live.

Skiba joined the band as a live member earlier this year, after Barker and Hoppus split from Tom De Longe when the singer allegedly refused to enter the studio and record a new album with them. A statement from Hoppus and Barker followed, asserting DeLonge had quit the band.

Speaking in a recent interview, Skiba hinted for the first time that he would be interested in recording with Hoppus and Barker when the possibility was mentioned to him.

"I think that’s a great idea and it’s something we have discussed," he said of a potential new album. "It’s something I would be very excited to do and I’ve known the Blink guys for about 15 years, and we’ve become good friends. Playing songs I haven’t written with Mark and Travis is a blast, so to go in and create music with them would be amazing."

However, Skiba went on to say that he does not yet consider himself a permanent member of the group. He revealed: "I think it’s too soon to know. I’m about to go on an Alkaline Trio tour for a couple months. There’s some time and some things that those guys need to figure out before we can start saying I’m a permanent member. But that is a hope of mine. If we’re discussing recording an album, I think that seals the deal."

Travis Barker called the band's first live performances without DeLonge "a great feeling"

Meanwhile, DeLonge has revealed plans to release four albums and publish 15 novels this year.

World Cup 2018: Teams await qualifying draw in Russia

The home nations will find out who they will face when the qualifying draw for the 2018 World Cup takes place on Saturday in St Petersburg, Russia. 

England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are among 141 nations who will be in the draw.
European sides will be placed into nine groups - seven with six teams and two of five sides - with Roy Hodgson's side knowing they will be in a pool of six.


The nine group winners from Europe will progress to the finals containing 32 teams, while the eight best runners-up will take part in a play-off in November 2017.

The continent has 52 of its 53 teams involved the draw, with the only exception being Russia, who qualify automatically as hosts.

The Fifa confederations of Africa, Oceania, South America and Concacaf (North, Central America and the Caribbean) will also be involved.

Germany are the holders of the World Cup after 1-0 extra time victory over Argentina in Brazil in 2014.

Fifa has announced that former Chelsea midfielder and Russia captain Alexey Smertin will replace Brazilian striker Hulk as a draw assistant "due to the Brazilian's club commitments" with Zenit St Petersburg.

Earlier this week Hulk said that racism happens at "nearly every game" in the Russian League.

Women's Ashes 2015: England beat Australia in first ODI

 

Women's Ashes, 1st ODI, Taunton

Australia 238-9 (50 overs): Perry 78, Blackwell 58; Brunt 3-48

England 240-6 (45.4 overs): Sciver 66, Greenway 53; Osborne 3-39

England won by four wickets (England 2pts; lead series 2-0)

Natalie Sciver's 66 helped England to a four-wicket win over Australia in the first game of the seven-match Women's Ashes. 

Sciver, 22, shared a 122-run fifth-wicket partnership with Lydia Greenway (53) as England chased down 239 in the one-day international at Taunton.

An impressive 78 off 96 balls from Ellyse Perry helped the visitors to 238-9 after Katherine Brunt took 3-48.

England fell to 80-4 in response, before Sciver's highest ODI score handed the hosts victory.
Victory earned England two points, with a further 14 available from the remaining six games in the multi-format series.

The second of three ODIs takes place at Bristol on Thursday, after which the teams play one Test - worth four points to the winner - and three Twenty20s.

Australia replaced Nicole Bolton with Jess Cameron after the opener was ruled out with concussion having been hit on the back of the head by Rene Farrell in the nets on Monday.

Ex-England batter Ebony Rainford-Brent:
"Nat Sciver played a really intelligent innings with Lydia Greenway. People say 'what about the others if Charlotte Edwards and Sarah Taylor don't fire', but they did it today. Charlotte will be really pleased with the performance - Rebecca Grundy bowled OK, Kate Cross made early breakthroughs and there are some real positives."

The visitors chose to bat first after winning the toss but England's three-pronged seam attack soon made inroads despite a batting-friendly pitch.

Brunt bowled consecutive wicket maidens to dismiss both of Australia's openers as Elyse Velani (18) chipped the ball off her legs straight to Edwards at square-leg before Jess Jonassen bottom-edged the ball into her stumps in the right-arm bowler's next over.

It took just four balls for Kate Cross to claim her first home Ashes wicket as she trapped Meg Lanning lbw to reduce the Southern Stars to 35-3.

However, a 121-run fourth-wicket partnership between Perry and Alex Blackwell helped rebuild their innings with both players earning reprieves through dropped chances.

Heather Knight's excellent run-out of Blackwell for 58 was the first of four in the match as superb fielding from England slowed Australia's push towards a score of 250.

Perry, who passed 1,000 ODI runs when she reached 27 in this innings, finally holed out to Sciver - who took a brilliant catch above her head - for 78 before Alyssa Healy hit a quick 29.

The Australia all-rounder ensure England's response got off to a poor start as she bowled Edwards via a bottom edge for 15.

Knight and Amy Jones fell cheaply, while Sarah Taylor made an entertaining 30 before Osborne (3-35) had her caught behind.

With the pressure on, Sciver and Greenway's relatively chanceless century partnership tested Lanning's captaincy as the 23-year-old regularly rotated her seamers and spinners - to no avail.
After both players fell having passed their half-centuries it was left to Georgia Elwiss (25 not out) to take England home.

Women's Ashes schedule
Date	Game	Venue	Winner	Pts available
21 Jul	1st ODI	Taunton	E (4 wkts)	2 (Eng 2-0)
23 Jul	2nd ODI	Bristol	-	2
26 Jul	3rd ODI	Worcester	-	2
11-14 Aug	Test	Canterbury	-	4
26 Aug	1st T20	Chelmsford	-	2
28 Aug	2nd T20	Hove	-	2
31 Aug	3rd T20	Cardiff	-     2	2

 Vice-captain Heather Knight received a special award for her 50th ODI appearance 

Katherine Brunt starred for England, taking three wickets and running out Sarah Coyte 

 Australia removed the dangerous Charlotte Edwards and Sarah Taylor, but struggled to break the fifth-wicket stand 

 Georgia Elwiss, preferred to Jenny Gunn, hit the winning runs for England