Cummins out of Australia Ashes squad as Khawaja lays into state of Perth pitch
The opportunity that England squandered in Perth appears to have presented itself once more, after Australia opted to play it safe with Pat Cummins and name an unchanged squad for next week’s day-night second Test at the Gabba.Beyond their match-defining collapse on the second afternoon, one of the most galling aspects of England’s eight-wicket defeat in the first Test was the fact that Cummins and Josh Hazlewood – two members of Australia’s fabled fast bowling group – were missing.But the situation officially remains unchanged as Ben Stokes and his tourists look to level the five-match series starting in Brisbane on 4 December.Hazlewood is still absent with a hamstring injury, while Cummins has been held back despite a recent return to training that has included bowling with the pink Kookaburra ball.Cricket Australia offered no specifics regarding this delay for Cummins other than to say Australia’s Test captain will still travel with the squad.
Local reports have since suggested the 32-year-old, recovering from a lower-back stress injury picked up in July, could yet force a late rethink.Had Australia lost in Perth, as was a distinct possibility before England’s second innings imploded, the need for Cummins to rush back for the Gabba would have been far greater.As it stands, Steve Smith will once again captain a side that can get within touching distance of retaining the urn with a second successive win.Unchanged though the 14-man squad is, Australia still have decisions to make regarding the final XI.Back spasms made Usman Khawaja a passenger in Perth and, with Travis Head ransacking a match-sealing 69-ball century as a makeshift opener, there are growing calls for the promotion to be made permanent.
Second Ashes Test, the Gabba, Brisbane, starts Thursday 4 December, 2pm AEST, 4pm GMTAustralia squad: Steve Smith (captain), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Brendan Doggett, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, Mitchell Starc, Jake Weatherald, Beau Webster.Head continuing at the top – a role he already performs in one-day international cricket – would then open up a middle-order berth for either the in-form Josh Inglis or a second all-rounder in Beau Webster.If so, then Khawaja, 38, whose numbers have dropped this past year, could be heading towards international retirement.Khawaja revealed at a charity event on Friday that had Head not wiped off the 204-run target on the second evening of the match, he would have undergone an epidural the following day in order to be available to bat.The opener has also raised eyebrows as regards his view of the pitch at Perth Stadium, disagreeing with the official rating of “very good” handed down by the International Cricket Council’s match referee, Ranjan Madugalle.
According to a report in the Sydney Morning Herald, Khawaja said: “[There were] 19 wickets on the first day, about 20 people got hit – that’s a great wicket, that seems real fair?“The same thing happened last year, that day one wicket …Sign up to The SpinSubscribe to our cricket newsletter for our writers' thoughts on the biggest stories and a review of the week’s actionafter newsletter promotionSteve Smith is by far the best cricketer I’ve played with.He’s missing the middle of his bat by a long way, and he does not miss the middle of the bat.You can’t really predict up and down [bounce]; your hands can’t catch up.“[The] day-one wicket is a piece of shit, I’m happy to say that.They do get better day two, day three, but day four they start to crack up again.
We know day two and day three is usually the best time to bat, that’s why whenever we play at Perth and we win the toss we bat first hoping that we can bat again maybe end of day two into day three,”As regards Hazlewood, the 34-year-old was seen training with Cummins in Sydney on Friday morning but was operating from a reduced run-up and reportedly still well short of bowling at full pace,
Oh yes he is! Kiefer Sutherland dives into the world of panto
Hollywood megastars hit Leeds this year to make Tinsel Town, a feelgood festive comedy about panto. The 24 star, Rebel Wilson and more talk about their addiction to Greggs sausage rolls – and epic brawls with Danny DyerTwenty-odd years ago, I binged a TV series on DVD for the first time. At my mate’s house in a village outside Harrogate, I was glued to Jack Bauer shooting his way through 24. We probably only made it to episode six before surrendering to sleep for school the next day.Fast forward to the start of this year, and photos are all over the local news of Kiefer Sutherland out and about in nearby market towns Knaresborough and Wetherby
O come out ye faithful: a joyful roundup of UK culture this Christmas
The 12 Beans of ChristmasTouring to 19 December Last year, character comedians Adam Riches and John Kearns joined forces for an archly silly tribute to crooners Michael Ball and Alfie Boe. Now Riches is back with another leftfield celebrity riff as he gives his Game of Thrones-era Sean Bean impression (as seen on 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown and his Edinburgh show Dungeons’n’Bastards) a yuletide twist. Rachel AroestiThe BFGRoyal Shakespeare theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, to 7 February Are you ready for snozzcumbers and dream-catchers, for norphans and whizzpoppers? A stellar team have come together for this world premiere of Roald Dahl’s children’s classic, with a script courtesy of Tom Wells (Jumpers for Goalposts) and puppetry by the masterful Toby Olié (Spirited Away). John Leader heads up the cast for this beloved story of an orphan befriending a giant; Daniel Evans directs. Kate WyverCount Arthur Strong Is Charles Dickens in A Christmas CarolTouring to 14 December The reliably bewildered and chronically digressive one-time variety star takes his tangent-riddled festive show on tour again
Nominate your favourite Australian children’s picture book of all time
A good picture book is pure magic – and Australia has produced some of the best. Nominate your favourite hereThe best children’s picture books can be pure magic for adults, too: witty and wise prose or poetry that is a joy to read aloud, coupled with vivid, evocative illustrations that live on in the memory – and the culture – for decades.Australia has produced more than its fair share of classics, from the effortlessly educational to the cheekily irreverent, and we want you to nominate your favourite for a major reader’s poll we will run in late January: the best Australian children’s picture book of all time.To be eligible a book must be:Primarily intended to be read aloud to children who don’t yet read independently;Able to be read in a few minutes – we’re looking for a child’s picture book, rather than a graphic novel or illustrated chapter book;Written by an Australian (or someone we’ve claimed);Published in Australia.If the respondent is under 18, a parent or guardian must complete the form on their behalf
Jimmy Kimmel: ‘Thankful that we only have five weeks left in this year’
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Seth Meyers on Trump’s meeting with Mamdani: ‘I’ve never seen Trump this smitten before’
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Graham Linehan cleared of harassing trans activist but convicted of damaging phone
The Father Ted co-creator Graham Linehan has been cleared of harassing a transgender activist on social media but found guilty of criminal damage of their mobile phone outside a conference in London last year.The 57-year-old flew from Arizona to appear at Westminster magistrates court in person on Tuesday, where the judgment was delivered.Linehan denied harassing Sophia Brooks on social media between 11 and 27 October 2024, and a charge of criminal damage of their mobile phone on 19 October last year outside the Battle of Ideas conference in Westminster.Judge Clarke fined Linehan £500 and ordered him to pay costs of £650 and a statutory surcharge of £200. Linehan’s lawyer, Sarah Vine KC, asked that he be given 28 days to pay the full amount
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