Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Ali Martin

Shoaib Bashir offers nod to future for England with Ashes target in mind

Shoaib Bashir (right) celebrates with Chris Woakes after taking the wicket of Alick Athanaze.
‘Maybe Cole Palmer copied me!’ Shoaib Bashir (right) celebrates a Windies wicket. Photograph: Darren Staples/AFP/Getty Images

Word is yet to reach us as to whether England’s cricketers ended up at Mega Munch on Sunday night following that surging late victory at Trent Bridge. Just off Nottingham’s slightly chaotic market square, it did a sterling job two years ago – the scene of Ollie Pope’s first doner kebab, apparently – after so-called Bazball first burst into life.

Although a bit has changed since. Of the XI that beat New Zealand that day with that breakneck chase of 299, only four remained for the 241-run victory against West Indies that secured a first Test series win for England’s men since Pakistan in late 2022. Pope, Ben Stokes, Zak Crawley and Joe Root are the survivors, and Matthew Potts is still in the squad, but Jonny Bairstow, Alex Lees, Ben Foakes, Jack Leach, Stuart Broad and Jimmy Anderson have either moved – or been moved – on. So much for it being a cosy club.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.