Englands

England’s Amy Jones, Heather Knight and Tammy Beaumont are all dismissed for a duck as England slump to 1-3 in their World Cup semi-final against South Africa.

FOLLOW LIVE: Cricket World Cup semi-final: England v South Africa

Available to UK users only.

England’s defeat by Brazil kickstarted the first of four friendly matches which are forming a “homecoming series” to celebrate their Euro 2025 victory.

Several key players are missing from the squad through injury, including captain Leah Williamson, forwards Lauren Hemp and Lauren James, and midfielders Jess Park and Grace Clinton.

However, there could be a boost for Wiegman with goalkeeper Hannah Hampton set to return after missing Saturday’s defeat with a minor elbow injury.

West Ham defender Anouk Denton has also been called up to the squad to provide extra cover as players return to full fitness and manage knocks.

Of Hampton, Wiegman said: “She’s good and she’s progressing really well. She has ticked all the boxes so far. There is another training session to come through but things look really good.

“We have all seen what she can bring. She is a good goalkeeper. The first task for any goalkeeper is to stop the ball going in the net, together with the team.

“But she is also very good with her feet and that long-distance kick she has. That is really her super-strength.”

England have conceded first in their last four games but Wiegman said her side have not been guilty of”starting slowly despite finding themselves behind.

“Against Spain [in the Euros final] we started well and could have been 1-0 up. The Italy [semi-final] we could have scored one goal,” she said.

“Against Sweden we didn’t start well and then against France we started well. So I don’t agree that we have slow starts but I do agree, that on Saturday we didn’t start well enough and needed to be more physical.

“We will definitely do everything we can to start better on Tuesday.”

England’s game against Australia will be in front of a sell-out crowd at Pride Park (19:00 GMT).

The attendance at Etihad Stadium against Brazil was 37,460 after the Football Association said before the match that over 43,000 tickets had been issued. For Saturday’s game, a Premier League game in the same city clashed with the kick-off time.

“I think it’s really nice,” Wiegman said of Tuesday’s match being so well supported.

“The fans have shown so much support for us here in England but also in Switzerland for the Euros,” said Wiegman.

“It really helps us and it’s one of the reasons why we go around the country. Now it’s sold-out and that’s incredible. We never take that for granted.

“It’s also on a Tuesday evening. There will be great support again. We really appreciate it and enjoy it. We try to connect with our fans all the time.”

NOT all Christmas markets are made the same – and one in the UK that might beat the rest is the on the grounds of a palace.

Hampton Court Palace has revealed what to expect from their festive market this year, which takes over the courtyard.

Inside will be more than 100 stalls selling everything festive – think gifts and christmas decorations to food and drink.

Live music will be performed throughout the day in the central bandstand, with many of the Christmas classics.

It only takes place over two weekends – December 5-7 and December 12-14 – so you need to be quick to get in.

You also need to book tickets, but they include access to the palace itself, as well as the gardens and the Hampton Court maze.

Read more on Christmas market

DECK THE STALLS

The prettiest Christmas markets in Britain – with hotel stays from £37

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

English food village named one of UK’s best with live music & Xmas markets

Adults cost £28 while kids are £14.

Or upgrade to the Exclusive Festive Lounge for a free goody bag, free tea and coffee as well as breakfast pastries and alcohol.

While there, you can also visit the Hampton Court Palace ice rink as well.

Running from November 21 to January 4, you will need to book additional tickets for the 45-minute sessions.

Hampton Court Palace dates back to 1514, although has has been remodelled over the years (including designs inspired by Versailles).

It eventually became one of the homes of Henry VIII, which he visited with a number of his wives.

Also inside is the UK’s oldest surviving hedge maze, commissioned in 1700.

Covering a third of an acre, it takes around 20 minutes to get to the middle.

Kids will also love The Magic Garden, a huge wooden play structure with climbing frames, slides and towers.

And film buffs will recognise the palace from a number of massive films, including Sherlock Holmes, Pirate’s of the Caribbean, Mamma Mia and Bridgerton.

Previous tourists have said the palace is a better attraction than some in London.

One wrote: “Most tourists only end up circling around Buckingham Palace or get to see the Kensington Palace at most which are nothing compared to Hampton Court combined.

“If you want the less touristy and more authentic royal experience, take a boat down the river from any central London pier that will drop you right outside the Palace gates. Exactly in a same manner how Royals used to travel.”

Another said: “Hampton Court Palace is, quite possibly, one of my most favourite places ever.

“A wonderful place to visit and escape the 21st century for a few hours.”

And Hampton Court isn’t the only place for a Christmas Market trip this year.

We’ve rounded up some of the other pretty markets you can find across the country.

And here are the European cities which you can visit for a Christmas Market day trip.

FASHION FALLOUT

‘Diva’ Molly-Mae cuts filming of docuseries before explosive backstage row

‘DESPAIR’

My Paige, 24, died after using nasal tanning sprays… 1st deadly sign shocked us

Want to stay longer? These are 15 of the cheapest Christmas Markets in Europe as well.

Ben Stokes and Mark Wood will be “raring to go” in time for the Ashes, according to England pace bowler Brydon Carse.

Talismanic England skipper Stokes missed the final Test against India in July because of a shoulder injury, while express paceman Wood has not played a Test since August 2024 as a result of elbow and knee problems.

Both are looking to be fit for the first Test in Perth on 21 November, a series opener that Australia captain Pat Cummins has said he is “less likely than likely” to feature in because of a back injury.

Carse, a Durham team-mate of Stokes and Wood, said: “Ben and Woody are going well.

“I’ve been down to Loughborough in the past couple of weeks, had a couple of nights with them. Ben is looking near enough 100% fit and so is Mark. I’ve been bowling with them.

“It’s exciting to see where they have got to after their setbacks during the summer. They will be raring to go come Australia time.”

Pace bowling and the durability of the respective attacks could be a decisive factor in the outcome of a five-Test Ashes series crammed into the space of seven weeks.

With Aussie spearhead Cummins a huge doubt for Perth and possibly beyond, the home side will rely on Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Scott Boland, all in their mid-30s. Beyond that, their other seamers are inexperienced or untried at Test level.

The group of fast bowlers named by England is set to be their fastest and most hostile to tour Australia in more than 50 years, albeit with some fitness doubts among them.

By the time of the first Test, Wood will not have played any competitive cricket since February. Despite that lack of action, the 35-year-old – probably the fastest bowler in the world – often claims he is at his best when fresh.

All-rounder Stokes, 34, is vital to England’s Ashes hopes, but has a history of pushing himself to breaking point. He has not completed any of England’s past four Test series and in the home summer against India his large bowling workload resulted in the shoulder injury.

Stokes and Wood are also the only pace bowlers in the England squad to have played in a Test down under before, but Carse believes the touring seamers will not suffer for their lack of time in Australian conditions.

“You can look at it two ways,” said Carse, speaking at the Toyota Professional Cricketers’ Association awards.

“Stokesy and Woody have played in Ashes series down in Australia, so they have the experience to fall back on.

“A couple of the other seamers have played in A trips out there. Hopefully that experience will allow them to feel a level of confidence going into the Ashes.”

Marco Penge held his nerve in a play-off to defeat fellow Englishman Daniel Brown and take the Spanish Open title in Madrid.

Penge held a four-shot lead over nearest challenger Joel Girrbach going into the final round, while he was five shots better off than Brown.

However, he only had a one-shot advantage going to the 18th on Sunday after his lead was trimmed.

After Penge made par to finish with a one-over 72 for his final round at the Club de Campo, Brown sank a birdie putt for a 67 which forced a play-off as both finished on 15 under.

At the first time of asking in the sudden-death play-off, Penge birdied the 18th with an eight-foot putt to secure a third European Tour title of the season.

Penge’s victory in Spain also means he has automatically qualified for the 154th Open at Royal Birkdale next year.

“It was a strange day for me,” said Penge, who carded 66, 67 and 64 in his first three rounds.

“I had it in my head that the golfing gods were kind of against me in a way. Dan and Joel played great, they were holing putts and putting the pressure on me.

“I just couldn’t get it in the hole. It felt like I was really up against it, but I felt like I managed myself really well.”

Penge was given a three-month ban in December 2024 for placing bets on multiple events, with one month suspended for a year.

He has resumed his career in fine fashion and said: “I think tee to green I played solid and it was just a matter of the putts – I think I used them all yesterday, but holing that one [on the play-off hole] was worth the wait.”

Switzerland’s Girrbach finished with a 69 as he ended up in third place on 14 under.

Three-time champion Jon Rahm carded a closing 65, which included seven birdies and a bogey, as the Spaniard finished tied for ninth at his home Open.

Torquay, which sits at the northern end of Torbay in Devon, is a town that attracts as much hate as it does love so one reporter went to find out why

Milo Boyd is a Digital Travel reporter who covers aviation news, the environment, the cruise industry and much else including travel tips, bargain holiday suggestions and inspirational global trips.

Stand on the boardwalk of Torquay when the sun is shining, and it’s easy to forget you’re in the UK and not on the Med.

Rows of palm trees sway in the breeze, the sea laps onto a long sandy beach and white art-deco buildings sit on the hill above. Look a bit harder, however, and there are signs you’re in the English rather than the French Riviera.

I’ve not visited Saint-Tropez before, but I’m fairly confident fish and chip shops, bucket and spade emporiums and 2p arcades aren’t major fixtures on the Côte d’Azur. The average July day in the Devon town of 50,000 is 20C and a bit cloudy, while the French Riviera enjoys 29C days of sunshine and blue skies.

OPINION

Milo Boyd

READ MORE: Holidays to sun-soaked island with £3 beers and 30C October weather just got cheaper

Comparisons between the Devonshire coastline and the glitzy French region originated in the Victorian era, when visitors compared the warm microclimate and beautiful scenery of Torbay, a 22-mile stretch of the South Devon coast with Torquay at its northern end, to the 186 miles of the original Riviera.

While the French Riviera is sometimes criticised for being too hot, a bit snobby, and expensive, Torquay occasionally comes in for harsh words of a different variety. In fact, it seems to get a disproportionate amount of heat. Last year, a Which? survey named Torquay as Brits’ least favourite seaside town, while The Telegraph named it as its 13th worst coastal spot. Even one of my cabbies stuck a boot in, condemning the high street as a “dump”.

How the judges of those competitions came to their conclusion is something of a mystery to me, and their poor taste in coastal spots is obvious. After a weekend break in Torbay, I came away enchanted and intrigued by Torquay — a seaside town that is unlike any other I’ve come across in the UK.

One of the town’s strongest and most delicious qualities is its food. Of course, you can get a classic cod and chips every 10m along the seafront as you can in most UK seaside towns, but Torquay also offers a lot more.

I was lucky enough to get a whistle-stop tour of the town’s culinary scene through an invitation to the 7 Chefs event on October 4. Over the course of seven hours, guests experience seven different seafood dishes, each created by a different chef and served in a different independent restaurant.

The annual event is a hot ticket, stopping off as it does at the Michelin-starred Elephant for a spot of braised octopus, brother-and-sister-run Ollie’s for a very generous lobster thermidor, delicately prepared oysters at No.7 Fish Bistro and Offshore to try its katsu take on mussels.

If you love gorging yourself on the highest-grade seafood and British-produced wines going, then this is the event for you. It may take place just once a year and cost £120, but you’ll need a good 364 days’ break to digest once you’ve taken on diver-caught scallops at The Yacht, a not-so-mini portion of fish and chips at Pier Point, and cheese and too much port at Twenty1 Lounge.

“Lightweight,” one of my new gourmet pals called after me as he got another couple of reds in for good measure, while I heaved my creaking body into a taxi.

The event is also run in Brixham on the other side of the bay. The multi-coloured, boutique village is home to one of England’s biggest fishing markets and eateries, including Olive, The Prince William, and The Mermaid, where many of the 40 fish and shellfish species landed here are eaten.

Torquay is sometimes called ‘the Queen of the English Riviera’, and for good reason. On a sunny day, the grand art deco houses crest the hill overlooking the bay, twinkling in the sunshine like jewels in a crown.

Torbay sits just past the western end of the Jurassic Coast and is made up of Devonian limestones cut through with red ochre deposits. These create a complex landscape with features like the wave-cut Berry Head platform and natural caverns.

On Sunday afternoon, Nigel Smallbones, the ranger at Berry Head Nature Reserve for a 27 year stint, showed me around, pointing out where the 1,600-guillemot-strong colony roosts, the cave system where his son monitors the 56 resident horseshoe bats, and how rock fans come from as far away as China to enjoy the geology.

Half an hour’s drive round the bay found me down within the rock formations at Kents Cavern — a prehistoric cave system excavated by some hard-as-nails Victorians. It’s a dramatic place that keeps delivering major scientific discoveries, including the jawbone of a Neolithic girl probably eaten by cave hyenas, and a massive bear skull.

If a tour of the stalagmite-and-tite-filled cavern isn’t your thing, then just up the road is a piece of British comedy history — the hotel where John Cleese had the inspiration for Fawlty Towers. Perhaps because of the slightly damning association, the hotel is long gone, replaced by a block of flats and a blue plaque.

Another fundamental difference between the Rivieras is their attitude to boozing. I was genuinely shocked and impressed by how much my fellow restaurant crawlers put away, and how some of them had steady enough stomachs for a fry-up on a sunrise boat trip the following morning.

You’d struggle to find people of such passion and stern stuff on the French Riviera.

Locals I chatted to conceded that the nightlife in Torquay isn’t what it once was, a number lamenting how two clubs that offered all-you-can-drink for less than a tenner are now long gone. However, the party spirit lives on in the form of the 1,200-capacity Arena Torquay, which hosts an Ibiza throwback night next week, and a row of bars down on the quayside.

Given the marauding groups of stag and hen dos, some dressed in lederhosen in respect of Oktoberfest, Torquay is still considered a good place to party.

Devon’s mild climate and wind mean its growing vineyard scene produces light, crisp wines that pair well with fish—a happy coincidence. Torquay also has a number of gin distilleries. Laurance Traverso, director of the Coastal Distillery Co, poured me a delicious G&T from his base down by the water.

So why the hate?

There is, undeniably, a section of the British public that doesn’t like Torquay. If you arrive on a family holiday and have the misfortune of getting rained on for a week, I can understand it.

Some residents of the town have grown frustrated with the high street and how areas away from the seaside and the gaze of tourists have become run-down. Local Sophie Ellis-Marsden explained: “I avoid that end of town. I don’t have much nice to say, to be honest. The waterfront is lovely, and that’s the only thing that is.

“It’s nice, don’t get me wrong, I moved here from Milton Keynes for the sea, but it needs more work. More shops just seem to be shutting down. Everything’s gone, and I don’t really know why.”

The council seems committed to sorting out these issues. There has been some serious investment, with plenty more in the pipeline. The Strand at the harbourside has been turned into a piazza-style promenade, with wider pedestrian areas for dining and seating, and better public transport links.

A former Debenhams department store is set to be demolished, replaced with new homes, cafés, restaurants, and an upmarket hotel. There are plans in the town centre too, and further development at The Strand, which the council predicted would provide about 80 full-time jobs, £32 million in wages, and bring 86,000 new visitors over a 30-year period. The entire cost of the scheme is reported to be £70 million.

How to visit

The official English Riviera site has plenty of suggestions on where to stay and what to do.

The train from London takes three hours from Paddington to Torquay.

As well as bearing the pressure of her first tournament in charge, Sciver-Brunt’s all-round performances will also go a long way to deciding England’s fortunes.

So often, she is their sole saviour with the bat but she will at least have the comfort of Knight’s return from injury, providing extra stability and maturity in the middle order which they lacked against India this summer.

Edwards wasted no time in changing England’s opening partnership, reinstating Amy Jones with Tammy Beaumont, but again it was difficult to take too much from their back-to-back stands of more than 200 against West Indies considering the weakness of the bowling attack.

They were far less convincing against a superior India, with a stand of 54 sandwiched between partnerships of eight and seven.

England are also very inexperienced in India as only Knight, Beaumont and Danni Wyatt-Hodge have 10 or more ODIs to their name here – though they are more familiar with the conditions from the Women’s Premier League, a T20 franchise tournament.

In terms of the bowling, much will also depend on how many overs Sciver-Brunt can deliver, having not bowled since the Ashes because of an Achilles problem.

Edwards made the bold call to omit the experienced Kate Cross from the squad, which leaves Lauren Bell, Lauren Filer and Em Arlott as the quicks and Sarah Glenn, Charlie Dean and world number one Sophie Ecclestone as the spinners.

Bell has quickly become one of the first names on the England team sheet over the past two years, but there are still a lot of unknowns about the surfaces in India and Sri Lanka, with their group games due to be played at four different venues.

If the surfaces do not offer much spin, especially in the early stages, England could find themselves a seamer light or lacking Cross’ experience, with Arlott and Filer still searching for consistency in international cricket.

Arlott is also the only new addition to the squad since the Ashes, another indication that England’s depth is yet to materialise in order to challenge the mainstays, though it was always unlikely the team would see wholesale changes from the summer considering the enormity of the challenge of this tournament and the need for experience.

England’s Alice Hewson retained her Swiss Open title with a convincing five-shot victory at Golfpark Holzhausern.

The 28-year-old led by two strokes heading into the third and final round, where she carded a four-under 67 to seal her third Ladies European Tour title, finishing 13 under overall.

Ireland’s Lauren Walsh, Switzerland’s Chiara Tamburlini and Sweden’s Kajsa Arwefjall finished in a tie for second on eight under.

“It’s an absolute dream come true,” Hewson told LET.com.

England are playing more directly whilst empowering their exciting wingers to showcase their quality, but Tuchel isn’t forgetting to use pragmatic solutions, notably in the form of long throws.

After a recent press conference, he stated “the long throw-in is back”. This is a fair conclusion considering the opening weekend of Premier League football saw an average of 3.2 long throws per game, up from 1.52 the season before.

When facing teams that stubbornly deeply defend their own box, the first goal is paramount in forcing teams to come out, opening up space to attack.

The use of throw-in situations as set-pieces give teams an additional chance to initially break that deadlock and require the appropriate attention.

Clever free-kicks and corner routines are key too, and it is clear Tuchel and his backroom staff have made this central to their system.

The opening goal against Serbia completely changed the direction of the game and from a well-worked corner.

Serbia set up to defend the corner in a zonal fashion, staying in specific zones.

Following Rice’s out-swinging cross, Serbia’s defenders were drawn to the ball but the positioning of England’s players in front of the Serbians meant they could stand in the way, blocking them from getting to the ball. Kane lingered deeper and was able to score, uncontested.

It was calculated, deliberate and effective with England trying the same routine earlier in the game prior to the goal.

Following England’s performance against Australia Rugby Union Weekly discuss the dilemma John Mitchell faces picking his back three ahead of the Red Roses’ World Cup quarter-final against Scotland.

WATCH: Best tries from Women’s Rugby World Cup pool stage

Manager Thomas Tuchel said England’s commanding performance against Serbia has set “the bar” as they took a step closer to qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.

The Three Lions had faced criticism for lacklustre performances in this qualifying campaign, despite having won all five of their Group K matches.

But a 5-0 thrashing of Serbia in Belgrade on Tuesday is perhaps the eye-catching performance Tuchel’s England needed.

“We had an excellent week from start to finish. We’ve just proved what I’ve seen every day in this camp and this makes me very happy,” said German boss Tuchel.

“This camp was the benchmark.”

England now need five points from their final three games to reach next summer’s World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the United States.

Sitting seven points clear at the top of the group, Tuchel’s side will face Latvia in October before taking on Serbia then Albania in November.

“This week was excellent. The attitude, the way we played in both matches. Today is a statement victory against a difficult opponent in a difficult environment,” Tuchel said.

England stifled Serbia and the hosts failed to get any of their three shots on target, leaving Jordan Pickford without a single save to make.

England had 24 shots and 12 on target while they had 42 touches in the opposition box as Serbia recorded just four.

Harry Kane and Noni Madueke gave England a deserved half-time lead before Ezri Konsa, Marc Guehi and Marcus Rashford wrapped up an impressive victory.

“There was no negative attitude on the pitch, no frustration on the pitch. For me, it was teamwork in it’s purest form. Then we played football to a high level and got a deserved win,” Tuchel said.

“We had a bit of a stop-start game against Andorra and the result was maybe not the result that everyone expected from us. I kept the belief but at some point you need to prove it also as a player, that it’s not just only words from your coach.

“They kept on doing and I think they kept on believing, and they felt themselves that this is the spirit that we need in camp and that will give us the extra level of quality.”

OK, first of all some context and stats.

England have only lost four World Cup qualifiers in the past 30 years.

They are currently unbeaten in these matches since 2009.

To compare, in Europe only Spain (one) and Germany (three) have lost fewer during that period.

Adding European Championships, since qualifying for Euro 2004 England have played 108 qualifiers, winning 84 and losing only six. They have scored 292 goals and conceded just 51.

That is a points-per-game ratio of 2.5. In other words, if it was a Premier League season over 38 games, that would yield 95 points, enough to win the title in all but three seasons.

So you would think there would be lots of good memories – but qualifiers rarely produce raw excitement. They are usually the means to an end. In England’s case an unfulfilled struggle to win the World Cup which has eluded the men’s team since 1966.

England’s first international at Villa Park for 20 years, a 2-0 win on Saturday, ended in front of thousands of empty seats as Andorra mounted a damage limitation exercise in the face of inevitable defeat.

There are outliers, such as captain David Beckham’s sensational last-minute free-kick against Greece at Old Trafford in October 2001 that gave England a 2-2 draw and sent them to the following summer’s World Cup in Japan.

And in April 2003 when a stunning full debut from the 17-year-old Wayne Rooney helped England beat Turkey 2-0 in a Euro 2004 qualifier at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland.

One searing memory is the ill-fated Euro 2008 qualifier against Croatia at Wembley in November 2007 when Steve McClaren’s England, needing only a draw, lost 3-2 to a nation who had nothing to play for having already qualified.

It was the night McClaren left out goalkeeper Paul Robinson for Scott Carson, the replacement fumbling Niko Kranjcar’s early shot to gift Croatia the lead.

This writer, contributing to an early iteration of BBC Sport’s live text commentaries, offered up these words when watching Carson warm up in a Wembley deluge before kick-off.

“As he [Carson] looks dubiously at the penalty areas, he may just be thinking these are nightmare conditions for any keeper.”

And indeed they were.

The Wembley downpour also produced the defining image of McClaren’s time as England manager as he sheltered under an umbrella, meaning he will forever be known in that particular context as the ‘Wally With The Brolly’ – and the label stuck via a national newspaper headline.

Once the capital of England for almost 200 years, today it is a quiet town with a rich history and a castle that dates back to the 11th century

When you think of the capital of England, London’s iconic landmarks like Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament immediately spring to mind.

But this wasn’t always the case — 300 years before London took the title, a humble market town northeast of Birmingham in Staffordshire held the honour. Tamworth, spanning just 12 square miles, is not only Staffordshire’s smallest borough but also one of the tiniest in the country.

However, don’t underestimate its historical significance — Tamworth was once the capital of England. In the 8th century, King Offa declared Tamworth as the seat of Royal power, a status it maintained for nearly two centuries, reports the Express.

While Tamworth was the centre of power, and even boasted a palace during King Offa’s reign, it wasn’t until the 11th century that Tamworth Castle was constructed by Robert Despenser, steward of William the Conqueror.

Before and after the renowned Norman conquest of England, Tamworth experienced a period of prosperity as local lords built castles in and around the town.

In the 8th century, England was divided into kingdoms: Mercia, Northumbria, and Wessex, with Mercia being the largest and most influential.

Tamworth was at the heart of the Mercian Kingdom, and the Mercian Kings spent more time here than anywhere else.

However, London’s status as the capital city was solidified in 1066 when William the Conqueror marched on the city following his victory in the Battle of Hastings.

Today, the market town retains its historical charm and offers locals a tranquil lifestyle, with independent shops, cafes, pubs and restaurants dotting the streets of the traditional town centre.

It might shock many, but England has had a number of capitals before London was finally chosen.

In the 10th Century, Athelstan, the first king of (all) England and grandson of Alfred the Great, declared Malmesbury his capital after vanquishing an army of northern English and Scots.

Not only does Colchester claim to be Britain’s oldest recorded town, but it also became the nation’s Roman capital in AD49.

Kate Cross has been left out of England’s squad for the Women’s World Cup in India and Sri Lanka, but batter Danni Wyatt-Hodge and leg-spinner Sarah Glenn have been recalled.

Former captain Heather Knight, who has been recovering from a hamstring injury since the end of May, is also included.

Seamer Cross is one of England’s most experienced bowlers in one-day internationals, with 101 wickets in 76 matches, but she has struggled for form since suffering a back injury at the end of 2024.

The 33-year-old was injured during England’s tour of South Africa in December, and was subsequently included in the Ashes squad but did not play a game during the disastrous 16-0 thrashing in Australia.

Cross has played four ODIs this summer, three against West Indies and one against India, but only took three wickets at an average of 55.

The World Cup starts on 30 September, with England’s first match against South Africa taking place on 3 October in Bengaluru.

Australia are defending their title after they beat England in the 2022 final.

Baker is also a prolific note-maker, something he puts down to his education.

At the time of his first stress fracture he was targeting a place to study biology at the University of Oxford and now he records analysis on opposition batters in a little book, along with plans and hopes for the future.

“I’ve just found it keeps me involved in the analysis stuff and then really remember it,” Baker says.

“It would be an absolute nightmare if you’re not really sure whether you’re meant to bowl wide or straight and then you pick the wrong one.

“You can’t really justify that to yourself at the end of the game.”

The Hundred means there is already a page in Baker’s notebook titled with the name of an Australian great.

Of the 12 balls Baker bowled to Steve Smith when Welsh Fire hosted Manchester Originals last Monday, three were hit for four and another three resulted in a false shot.

“It has been surreal, writing notes on Steve Smith thinking ‘am I actually going to be opening the bowling at him?'” Baker says.

This is the company Baker now keeps, however and, having rehabbed in Sydney after his most recent back injury, he has spent the past two winters in Australia.

Another will likely come this year with the young quick expected to be part of the Lions squad shadowing the Test team around the Ashes series.

From there anything can happen.

Far more unlikely names have been plucked by England to make a Test debut down under.

“I mean, that would be good fun, wouldn’t it?” Baker says.

“I’ll refer back to notes on any matters and Steve Smith is one of the red-ball GOATs [greatest of all-time] so I’d definitely be coming back to that analysis if I end up needing it.

“But let’s just worry about the next few games first. Let’s not get too far out of ourselves.

“We’ve got a Hundred to try and win and then South Africa series to try and win and then Ireland series try and win way before we think about any of all of that stuff.”

Situated on an inlet of Chichester harbour, this picturesque village is considered one of the most beautiful and historically significant ‘chocolate box villages’ in the country

England’s ‘chocolate box villages‘ are some of the country’s most distinct and charming elements. Though each village is slightly different, they are all typically defined by thatched cottages, cobblestone streets, quaint pubs and a tranquil atmosphere.

The term ‘chocolate box village’ refers to the picturesque cottages that used to front the classic Cadbury boxes. While there are plenty of these beautiful villages across the country, a new round-up has named a seaside town in West Sussex amongst the best.

Bosham is a small coastal village on one of the small inlets of Chichester harbour. It was inhabited by the Romans and so perfectly combines historical significance with natural beauty. This after news that an abandoned UK Butlin’s site is now seaside town’s ‘hell hole’ hotel.

READ MORE: ‘Most beautiful’ UK village ‘frozen in time’ where tourists pay £9.90 to enterREAD MORE: UK’s staycation ‘hotspot’ is crowned as British trend soars – it’s not Cornwall

Chichester harbour is renowned for its photogenic nature as a sanctuary for migrating wildfowl, shellduck, and many more and so Bosham is an ideal location to explore the area. From Bosham you are also within convenient distance to West Wittering and East Wittering beaches, as well as Selsey.

Adding to the natural wonder of the area, Bosham is home to historic architectural gems and a peaceful atmosphere that has seen it named one of the country’s most beautiful chocolate box villages.

In a ranking of these honorary villages by Independent Cottages, Bosham in West Sussex came in sixth place. The ranking was based on several key factors, including the number of historic buildings in each village, the oldest recorded age of the village (a measure of the depth of its history), its status as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), and its prevalence in internet searches and TikTok.

Bosham was recorded as having 73 listed buildings and its suggested age according to the publication is 731AD. The village is also a designated AONB and received modest internet interest because of the Bosham Inn.

The Bosham Inn is a former vicarage that has been painstakingly restored. Not only is this country pub set against a beautiful natural landscape, but it offers a range of delightful cask ales, wines and seasonal dishes for visitors to enjoy.

Another important fixture that reflects Bosham’s impressive history is the Holy Trinity Church: a Grade I listed church and the oldest place of known worship in West Sussex . It is located at the foot of the South Downs National Park.

In addition to being known as a chocolate box village, Bosham is a prime sailing hub. Visitors are likely to see many boats and yachts moored at the harbour and the dinghy sailing taking place.

At Bosham Quay you can take in the people, the boats, and the natural wildlife at leisure. The only catch? When the tide comes in, it usually floods the road immediately next to the harbour so take care with where you park.

It’s often named as one of the best places to live in the UK but this postcard-worthy village – used by Tim Burton for the Jonny Depp horror film Sleepy Hollow – has a chilling secret befitting of one of the movies it’s been used in

It is a charming, quintessential English village that often gets the nod by experts as being one of the prettiest and best places to live in the country.

Hambleden, nestled in a valley in Buckinghamshire, has attracted film crews time and time again thanks to its stunning scenery and Olde English allure. The Telegraph has ranked it among England’s 30 most beautiful villages, most recently as 2022.

The stunning landscapes at Culden Faw Estate help its character, spanning a vast 3,500 acres of mature beech woods, parkland, and sweeping chalk valleys. The estate incorporates the village within its picturesque panorama, reports Surrey Live. Another place you can step inside is the quirky British village where Liam Gallagher and Tom Cruise have been spotted.

For those who appreciate the finer things in life, the Chiltern Valley Winery and Brewery awaits, a proud recipient of the Travellers‘ Choice Award. Embark on an enchanting tour through the vineyards and seize the opportunity to sample a burgeoning array of wines.

Over at nearby Cliveden House, step into a world once inhabited by the elite and influential. Famed for its high-profile guests and notorious for centuries of salacious rumours and lavish celebrations, Cliveden has been a fixture since 1666.

What would a quaint country village be without its chic dining establishments frequented by celebrities? Nestled at the core of Hambleden lies The Stag and Huntsman, not your average gastropub but one that prides itself on “killer wallpaper” and also operates as a charming boutique hotel.

Hambleden, understandably, has been home to some big names. Deep Purple co-founder Jon Lord lived and died here, while 2003 Rugby World Cup winner Phil Vickery also spent some time as an inhabitant.

All that considered, it’s no wonder that sometimes visiting feels like stepping into a Midsomer Murders episode. The idyllic village has been used in a number of big productions for both television and cinema.

It has featured as the backdrop for Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Into the Woods and Nanny McPhee Returns, and in TV series like Agatha Christie’s Poirot, and Amazon’s mini-series Good Omens with David Tennant. Most recently, Greys Anatomy stars Patrick Dempsey and Amy Adams were seen in the village during the shooting of Disney’s Enchanted sequel, Disenchanted, which was released in 2022.

Among the big-name directors who picked it out as a potential filming location, Tim Burton is arguably the biggest. He chose Hambleden as the place to shoot Johnny Depp horror film Sleepy Hollow.

But this tiny village has a dark, dark secret that fits the tone of Burton’s creepy classic. Back in 1912, archaeologists discovered the skeletal remains of 97 newborn infants at the historical Yewden Villa.

The bones were rediscovered stored in cigarette tins within a storage room at Chiltern Archaeology in 2008, triggering debate over the cause of their deaths. In 2010, a researcher proposed that the ancient Roman villa might have operated as a brothel where residents and workers committed infanticide across a 50-year span.

Alternative theories suggest it housed a cult that carried out horrific and brutal operations on the infants. Whatever the truth of this awful discovery, Hambleden remains an ideal place for a day out in the countryside packed with intrigue, history and fairytale charm.

England’s Chris Woakes was forced off the field on the first day of the fifth Test against India with a shoulder injury.

England paceman Chris Woakes is set to miss the remainder of the fifth and deciding Test against India at the Oval after suffering a shoulder injury, team management have announced.

Woakes injured himself late on Thursday’s opening day in south London in a desperate bid to prevent a boundary, landing awkwardly and then leaving the field with his left arm in a makeshift sling while in evident pain.

He was then assessed by team medical staff, and while Woakes could yet feature again in a dire emergency, an England spokesman speaking before the start of Friday’s second day ruled him out.

“England seamer Chris Woakes will continue to be monitored throughout the remainder of the Rothesay Fifth Test at The Kia Oval, following a left shoulder injury sustained on day one of the match against India,” the spokesman said.

“At this stage, the injury has ruled him out of any further participation in the Test.

“A further assessment will be conducted at the conclusion of the series.”

India, who must win the match to end a five-Test series level at 2-2, were 204-6 at Thursday’s close after being sent into bat.

Woakes is the only England pace bowler to have featured in every match of a gruelling series where five Tests have been squeezed into a schedule of seven weeks.

On generally flat pitches in the preceding four Tests, Woakes struggled to make an impact, taking 10 wickets. And on Thursday he had India opener KL Rahul chop the ball onto his stumps before suffering the injury.

Given his mediocre record away from home, Woakes already faced a tough task to gain selection for England’s upcoming Ashes tour of Australia, and, at the age of 36, this injury could threaten the Warwickshire all-rounder’s international career.

In the short term, his injury is set to leave an already depleted England pace attack a man down at the Oval, with substitutes only permitted to field, not bat or bowl.

England captain Ben Stokes, the leading wicket-taker this series, is missing the series finale with a shoulder injury, while pacemen Jofra Archer and Brydon Carse were both left out at the Oval following their previous workload in this series.

Express quick Mark Wood is a long-term absentee, while Olly Stone is only just returning to fitness following a knee injury.

Hands on her head, disbelief clouding her thoughts, Lioness defender Lucy Bronze stood frozen in front of the goal. England were 1-0 down in the Women’s Euro 2025 final to the tournament favourites, Spain, and their team was a chaotic mess.

It was a situation that was all too familiar.

For the third match in a row, England’s players stared at the scoreboard, devoid of answers. A 25th-minute header from Mariona Caldentey, the final touch on a blistering Spanish move down the right channel, had silenced the roaring Lionesses.

“Not again,” was the collective murmur of the England fans everywhere, from the tens of thousands packed into Basel’s St Jakob-Park in Switzerland, to the millions watching nervously back home. They had seen this downbeat script before: a first-half Spain goal in the 2023 FIFA World Cup final in Sydney, Australia, had crushed English hearts.

But this time, the ending was England’s to write.

Living up to their billing as the comeback queens of the tournament, the Lionesses clawed their way back into the contest through Alessia Russo’s equaliser in the second half, forcing the world champions into extra time.

Two hours of football saw the statistics heavily favour La Roja, but for all their skill and swagger, it was England’s grit and grind that carried them through to victory.

“Football is chaos,” England coach Sarina Wiegman told the BBC after riding a rollercoaster of emotions on the touchline as her side beat Spain 3-1 on penalties.

With her signature prancing run-up, Chloe Kelly buried the final spot kick into the net, triumphantly punching her fist in the air. The comeback, or “remontada” as the Spaniards call it, was complete.

The calm and composed Kelly, who also set up Russo’s header, was once again the heroic face of England’s title-winning team, just as she was at Wembley three years ago at Euro 2022.

“The first time was so nice, we had to do it twice,” remarked the 27-year-old, flashing a smile as she proudly held up the coveted gold medal hanging around her neck.

Super-subs steal the show

Sunday’s comeback victory was a fitting nod to England’s Euro 2025 campaign: thrilling, chaotic and entertaining.

For a team that led for just under five minutes in the knockout stage, their ability to survive, adapt and strike when it mattered most defined their championship journey.

And in doing so, they scripted one of the greatest chapters in English football history, a triumph rivalled only by the men’s World Cup win at home in 1966.

“It has been the most chaotic tournament on the pitch…. From the first game, it was chaos,” said Dutchwoman Wiegman, who now has three Euro titles in her resume.

“Losing your first game and becoming European champions is incredible.”

Indeed, England’s title defence began with a 2-1 loss to France, casting early doubt over their credentials as true contenders. But resounding victories – a 4-0 thrashing of the mighty Netherlands and a 6-1 rout of neighbours Wales – steadied the ship as they sailed through to the knockouts.

The storm, though, arrived soon enough, bringing with it the ultimate test of England’s resolve at the business end of the tournament. The quarterfinals and semifinals pushed the team to the brink, demanding utmost composure from the players in the nerve-racking late-game moments. They rose to each occasion, with Wiegman’s tactical nous and the squad depth proving decisive.

Eleven minutes away from elimination in the quarterfinals, teen sensation Michelle Agyemang scored a superb equaliser against Sweden, as England recovered from two goals down to win 3-2 on penalties.

The 19-year-old reserve player, whose surname fittingly means “saviour of the nation“, once again stepped up when it mattered the most, this time in the semifinals against Italy, netting a stoppage-time leveller to send the match into extra time.

Super-sub Kelly then finished the job, converting the rebound from a missed penalty in the dying seconds of extra time.

The impact of England’s interchange players at the tournament was unmatched. They were directly involved in 10 goals, twice as many as any other side and the most ever recorded in a single edition of the tournament since 2013.

‘Tough times don’t last’

Just six months ago, Kelly was struggling for minutes at Manchester City and unsure of her Euro 2025 spot, until a loan move to Arsenal changed her fortunes.

“Just around the corner was a Champions League final, won that, and now a Euros final, won that,” said Kelly, who has made a habit of changing matches when it matters most.

“If that’s a story to tell someone, maybe experiencing something the same, tough times don’t last.”

Just like Kelly, goalkeeper Hannah Hampton also overcame adversity to emerge as one of England’s most impactful players at the European Championships.

The 24-year-old, playing in her first major tournament and filling in for the big shoes of Mary Earps, pulled off two brilliant saves in the quarterfinals with a bloodied nose before thwarting away two more crucial goal attempts in the final, including one from Aitana Bonmati, considered by many football commentators to be the best player in the world.

Born with a serious eye condition that still affects her depth perception despite multiple surgeries, Hampton defied the odds, ending her Euro campaign with the player of the match award in the final.

“I think she’s done amazing,” Wiegman said of Hampton. “It’s a bit like a fairytale to stop those penalties in the final of the Euros and to win it.”

Having weathered the storm in Switzerland, Wiegman and the Lionesses are back on home soil. As they ride through roaring crowds in their open-top bus parade across London on Tuesday, the message is no longer, “It’s coming home”. This time, it’s staying home.

Building Lego is something forward Lauren Hemp has done for years. She built a Beauty and the Beast castle while in Switzerland, which she proudly carried as the Lionesses checked out of the hotel before flying home on Monday.

Hemp managed to get others on board too, with teenager Agyemang also getting involved.

“I was building a really tiny stadium the other day because I was bored and suddenly Lucy [Bronze] was like, ‘we can make this so much better’,” said Agyemang, who was the breakout star of the tournament.

“I didn’t know she had really good skills when it came to Lego. We made a replica of the stadium and now she wants to make it a tradition, so I think we’ll have to do Geneva next time.”

Agyemang certainly kept herself busy, playing a piano that was brought over by the England kitman in a van.

“I play the piano, the bass guitar and the drums. I have my piano in my room so I’m spending a lot of time in there just playing and chilling,” she told BBC Sport.

“It’s 88 keys, so full size – but not a grand piano. It’s very important. I don’t think that there’s a day that I go without playing it because it’s right in front of me.

“Especially on game days, I probably spend about two hours just playing and enjoying myself.

“With evening games, where they are six o’clock or nine o’clock [kick-offs], there is a lot of time within the day to just chill and that is what I do.”

Agyemang’s piano playing has been so impressive it put off Williamson from playing, who performed with the BBC Concert Orchestra at Maida Vale Studios in December 2023 when she was recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

“I did bring a portable keyboard and I felt discouraged because I heard some of the other girls in the team had been playing theirs,” said Williamson.

“I felt like I was too far behind so I left it. There’s so much socialising to be done I don’t have time for hobbies. I will pick that up when I get back.”

Meanwhile, defender Esme Morgan encouraged the squad to produce basketball trick shots for a social media video in the group stages.

Chloe Kelly told BBC Sport that Morgan turned her room into a beauty salon to ensure the Lionesses looked their best on the big stage.

“We enjoy spending time together away from the pitch, which is really nice,” said Kelly.

“Whether that is Esme [Morgan] opening her beauty salon to do lash lifts, or sitting down and watching Love Island.

“It means when you go on to the pitch you know you’ve got each other’s backs.”