A Robin Smith square cut was more than a whipcrack snap of the bat. For English cricket fans of the late 80s and early 90s, it was a nudge in the ribs that, underneath the pastings, the dismal collapses and Rentaghost selections, the national team would fight another day. Smith's cut, alongside a David Gower cover drive, gave hope where there was little left in the bucket.
My dad would be Australia and I'd be England, Mark Wood says with a wry smile when remembering his first Ashes Tests as a boy in his back garden in Ashington, Northumberland. I'd try to copy Darren Gough, Andrew Caddick, Matthew Hoggard and, later, Jimmy Anderson, who I'd go on and play with. My dad, who didn't do the actions so well, had to be Glenn McGrath, Jason Gillespie and Shane Warne. He was most proud of his Gillespie but his Warne wasn't great.
Jasprit Bumrah produced an extraordinary performance at Lord's, taking three wickets for just one run in six balls, showcasing his status as one of the greatest fast bowlers.
