Scots put 'big focus' on breakdown errors after Fiji defeat
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Times
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It's like 2005 again… spats, niggles and flare-ups but mutual respect
W ith Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer centre stage at Lord's on Monday, much was made of the six-year anniversary of the World Cup final, when, inspired by both players, England won a tight encounter against New Zealand, just as they did against India. Yet, when Mohammed Siraj slumped over his bat moments after the leg bail had plopped down ever so gently from its groove, there was another anniversary that resonated too. As Joe Root and Zak Crawley went to commiserate with the disconsolate Siraj, it was impossible not to think back to the 2005 Ashes and the moment, seconds after the end of the Edgbaston match of that series, when Brett Lee went to his haunches in similar fashion, to be consoled by Andrew Flintoff. It became the defining image of the summer, much as, one suspects, the final moments of the Lord's Test will become for this one.
Reuters
37 minutes ago
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Xander Schauffele ready to surf another Open wave
July 15 - Four birdies in his final eight holes swept Xander Schauffele to a two-shot victory in The Open Championship last year at Royal Troon in Scotland. The World No. 3 hopes to catch a similar wave as he attempts to defend the Claret Jug this week at Royal Portrush Golf Club in Northern Ireland. "There's typically a good wave and a bad wave in an Open Championship," Schauffele said Tuesday. "You just keep your fingers crossed that you're in the good wave and try and play well. If you're not, fight for your life and make the cut and then try and do something on the weekend." No golfer has won back-to-back Opens since Ireland's Padraig Harrington (2007-08) did it right after Tiger Woods (2005-06). Schauffele, 31, dealt with a rib injury earlier this year and has yet to win a tournament this season after collecting his first two major victories last year at the PGA Championship at Valhalla and the Open. He matched his best finish of the season last week with a T8 at the Genesis Scottish Open. Although he's had success with links-style golf, he admits he still has a lot to learn. "I think even from last week to this week, we actually have divots flying this week. Last week was ball mark-less and divot-less," Schauffele said. "Just learning how the ball reacts on certain grass, if it's going to jump or not, when you're sitting in like a fescue bush or weed, how that's going to come out, how much it's going to grab your club. There's so many things you still learn on the way. "More of it's just the mentality. I think, when you say links golf, it comes with weather, and when you play in bad weather, you have to have a good attitude." Schauffele played well at the first three majors this year, tying for eighth at the Masters, for 28th at the PGA and for 12th place at the U.S. Open. He tied for 41st the last time the Open was played at Royal Portrush in 2019. "Coming here, I feel like I'm trying to relearn this golf course, get comfortable with certain sight lines, some blind tee shots," he said. "I think, if I can get myself in the mix is when I think I would have an advantage. That's where my biggest edge would be. I can lean on experience at other points in time, but I think the most fun and the biggest advantage I would have is coming down the stretch if I can get close to that lead. Schauffele is paired with Spain's Jon Rahm and reigning U.S. Open champion J.J. Spaun for the first two rounds. --Field Level Media
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Kate Cross expects results under ‘queen of English cricket' Charlotte Edwards
Charlotte Edwards, who captained England to 50-over and T20 World Cup glory in 2009, replaced Jon Lewis as head coach in April and has just a few months to mould her team before the 2025 edition of the former competition in India and Sri Lanka. Edwards will send her side into the first of three one-day internationals against India in Southampton on Wednesday on the back of 3-2 T20 series defeat by the same opposition, with Cross confident her inspirational former captain can make a significant impact. ODI squad assemble! 😍 Training vibes high 👊 — England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 15, 2025 The Lancashire pace bowler said: 'She is the queen of English cricket, isn't she? 'I spoke in a press conference months ago about how Lottie was the captain that gave me my debut cap, so it's kind of like a full-circle moment for me where one of the best English cricketers to play the game is now leading the team. 'She's so passionate about English cricket and so passionate about women's cricket. She's the biggest badger I know – she's literally watched every ball that you bowl or every ball that you face, she's really on it. She's got about seven laptops, I think, to watch all the Blast games. 'But her knowledge around the game is just phenomenal, so I think we feel really lucky that we've had a coach with that sort of experience, but also with the career that she had in the game, come in to help guide us and make us a better team, so it's been brilliant.' Edwards has work to do as she attempts to restore England's fortunes after a difficult year which has included a 16-0 Ashes whitewash, and she has vowed to make fitness one of the key elements of her regime. However, Cross revealed she has set about her task with a smile on her face. She said: 'She's not just not changed at all. She's still the same Lottie that was my captain eight or nine years ago, so it's been really lovely for me personally to have her around. 'She's just great fun as well. She's always chuckling and making you laugh, which is a really nice place to be in an international dressing room.' On the pitch, Nat Sciver-Brunt's side are still getting to grips with Edwards' philosophy, and Cross insists they need time to do that as they attempt to eradicate the failings which have cost them so dearly in recent times. She said: 'It's difficult. I know we're getting still quite a lot of press around our fielding. It's not where we want it to be and we know there's been some mistakes made in key moments. 'But hopefully if we can be judged in six months', eight months', 12 months' time when the new regime has had a chance to kind of bed in, then hopefully those comments that are made will be… not fairer, because I think the comments that were being made are quite fair at the moment. 'But you'll only then see the changes which will fit with the new regime that Lottie wants to bring in.'
