Ashes News Daily: England and Australia resumed hostilities in the men’s Ashes, with the tourists edging an action-packed day one at Lord’s.
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There was plenty of incident, with a swiftly dealt-with pitch invasion, a worrying injury concern, and two wickets each from two of the more unexpected sources.
In the women’s Ashes, there was a T20I squad announcement, with that series continuing on Saturday at Edgbaston. Here’s all the Ashes news from today (June 28).
Just Stop Oil make their entrance
It had been threatened, with news stories about back-up pitches circulating, and an inadvertent bus hold-up providing a taster, and at Lord’s it finally came to pass. One over in, two men clad in Just Stop Oil t-shirts and armed with orange powder paint sprinted on, ready to coat the wicket and cause a frenzy. But the stewards, wearing running shoes, and the cricketers were prepared. The image of Jonny Bairstow carrying off a protestor and dumping them over the boundary rope with minimum fuss was instantly iconic, and brilliantly captured by the photographers. After a shirt change and some sweeping, play resumed.
Ollie Pope injures his shoulder
A worrying sign for England, with their No.3 and vice-captain leaving the field during the second session clutching his shoulder after diving. There’s no word yet on the severity, but if you’re looking for a sign, he wasn’t sent to hospital, instead icing it in the dressing room, and it’s the right shoulder he hurt, rather than the twice-dislocated left.
Aussies on top despite Root double-strike
If you wanted a cricket update: England were wayward in the first session (as you can read here), and for much of the day, and yet somehow stayed in the contest (as you can read here). Josh Tongue took two wickets (as you can watch here and here), as did Joe Root (as you can watch here).
England announce women’s Ashes T20I squad
Few surprises in this one (as you can read here). England avoided the temptation to pick either of Tammy Beaumont or Lauren Filer, who stood out in the Test match, with the one newbie Danielle Gibson, who is unlikely to make the final XI. As a reminder, they need to win five of the next six to regain the Ashes. This against a side who have lost once since the start of 2022, and even that took a Super Over. Gulp.