Connect with us

Published

on

England have won the final Ashes Test match after a thrilling finish to draw the series with Australia.

With Australia chasing down 384 to win the match, a rampant England took seven wickets in the final session to edge out their fierce rivals.

England bowler Stuart Broad – in his final match before retirement – took the final two wickets in front of a packed crowd at The Oval in London.

England's Stuart Broad celebrates bowling out Australia on day five of the fifth Ashes Test 
Pic:AP
Image:
Pic: AP

England's Stuart Broad celebrates with James Anderson and Zak Crawley after taking the wicket of Australia's Alex Carey
England's Stuart Broad celebrates after taking the wicket of Australia's Alex Carey
Image:
Stuart Broad celebrates after taking the wicket of Australia’s Alex Carey

It means the fascinating five-match series ends 2-2 after weeks of scintillating skill, must-watch drama, and even a little controversy.

As holders of the urn, having won the last series in 2021-22, Australia only needed to draw the current series to retain the trophy.

Read more:
How the final Test unfolded

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

‘We jumped on the energy of the crowd’

Speaking after the match, Broad said: “Woakesy and Moeen set the tone unbelievably and when we got a couple of wickets we really started to believe.

“The crowd was so loud and we really jumped on that energy.

“To pick up a couple of wickets to end the Test match and contribute to the team was very special.”

He added: “When you make that decision to move on from the game you wonder what your last ball will be, so for it to be a wicket to win an Ashes Test match is pretty cool.”

 England's Stuart Broad celebrates with James Anderson after taking the wicket of Australia's Alex Carey
Image:
Broad celebrates with James Anderson

 England's Stuart Broad and Moeen Ali are applauded off the field by their teammates after winning the test and drawing the series Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers
Image:
Broad and Moeen Ali are applauded off the field by their teammates

‘I think 2-2 is quite fitting’

Chris Woakes, England’s player of the series and man of the match, said: “It has been an amazing few games and nice to come into the side and contribute. The belief was there that we could win from 2-0 down.

“There is incredible spirit in the dressing room. I think 2-2 is quite fitting.”

England captain Ben Stokes said: “I think 2-2 is a fair reflection of the teams literally going toe to toe. Australia are World Test champions, they are a quality team.

“I don’t think many teams would have been able to respond from 2-0 down. I am incredibly proud of everyone’s efforts.

“We have been do or die since the second game and that really suits us.”

Australia’s player of the series, Mitchell Starc, said: “It has been an incredible five Test matches and the way it finished today probably spoke to the quality of cricket and the emotions of the whole Ashes.

“It has come down to the last session of day 25.”

England's Stuart Broad celebrates taking the wicket of Australia's Todd Murphy during day five of the fifth LV= Insurance Ashes Series test match at The Kia Oval, London. Picture date: Monday July 31, 2023. PA Photo. See PA story CRICKET England. Photo credit should read: Mike Egerton/PA Wire. ..RESTRICTIONS: Editorial use only. No commercial use without prior written consent of the ECB. Still image use only. No moving images to emulate broadcast. No removing or obscuring of sponsor logos.
 England's Stuart Broad celebrates with Joe Root and teammates after taking the wicket of Australia's Todd Murphy
Image:
Broad celebrates taking the wicket of Australia’s Todd Murphy

Mollie King, partner of England's Stuart Broad, with daughter Annabella during day five of  the Ashes Series test match at The Kia Oval
Image:
Mollie King, Broad’s partner, with daughter Annabella

Controversial stumping of England’s wicketkeeper fired up the team

Narrow wins at Edgbaston and Lord’s secured an early 2-0 series lead for captain Pat Cummins’ side.

But the controversial stumping of England’s wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow on day five at Lord’s fired up England.

An injury to Australian spinner Nathan Lyon also appeared to help turn the tables for Ben Stokes’ team.

England roared back at Headingley to make it 2-1, and then had Australia on the ropes in the fourth Test match at Old Trafford as they looked to level the series.

However, the weather had the final say in Manchester, with the last two days of the Test rained off, resulting in a draw.

Australia went into the fifth and final Test having already retained The Ashes.

England are due to travel to Australia in 2025 for the next Ashes series.

Continue Reading

World

Several killed after vehicle drives into crowd at street festival, police in Vancouver say

Published

on

By

Several killed after vehicle drives into crowd at street festival, police in Vancouver say

A number of people have been killed and multiple others injured after a driver drove into a crowd at a street festival in Vancouver, police have said.

The driver has been taken into custody after the incident shortly after 8pm local time on Saturday, police added.

People were in the area near 41st Avenue and Fraser Street for the Lapu Lapu Day Block Party, named after a national hero of the Philippines.

Vancouver’s mayor Ken Sim said in a post on X: “I am shocked and deeply saddened by the horrific incident at today’s Lapu Lapu Day event.”

He added: “Our thoughts are with all those affected and with Vancouver’s Filipino community during this incredibly difficult time.”

Video posted on social media showed victims and debris strewn across a long stretch of road, with at least seven people lying immobile on the ground.

A black SUV with a crumpled front section could be seen in photos from the scene.

More on Canada

This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly.

Please refresh the page for the fullest version.

You can receive breaking news alerts on a smartphone or tablet via the Sky News app. You can also follow us on WhatsApp and subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep up with the latest news.

Continue Reading

World

Trump criticises Putin after potentially ‘historic’ meeting with Zelenskyy before Pope’s funeral

Published

on

By

Trump criticises Putin after potentially 'historic' meeting with Zelenskyy before Pope's funeral

Donald Trump has criticised Vladimir Putin and suggested a shift in his stance towards the Russian president after a meeting with Volodymyr Zelenskyy before the Pope’s funeral.

The Ukrainian president said the one-on-one talks could prove to be “historic” after pictures showed him sitting opposite Mr Trump, around two feet apart, in the large marble hall inside St Peter’s Basilica.

The US president said he doubted his Russian counterpart’s willingness to end the war after leaving Rome after the funeral of Pope Francis at the Vatican.

Follow live updates: 200,000 mourn at Vatican

In a post on his Truth Social platform, he said “there was no reason” for the Russian president “to be shooting missiles into civilian areas, cities and towns, over the last few days”.

The two leaders held talks before attending the Pope's funeral
Image:
The two leaders held talks before attending the Pope’s funeral

He added: “It makes me think that maybe he doesn’t want to stop the war, he’s just tapping me along, and has to be dealt with differently, through ‘Banking’ or ‘Secondary Sanctions?’ Too many people are dying!!!”

The meeting between the US and Ukrainian leaders was their first face-to-face encounter since a very public row in the Oval Office in February.

Mr Zelenskyy said he had a good meeting with Mr Trump in which they talked about the defence of the Ukrainian people, a full and unconditional ceasefire, and a durable and lasting peace that would prevent the war restarting.

Other images released by the Ukrainian president’s office show Sir Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron were present for part of the talks, which were described as “positive” by the French presidency.

Mr Zelenskyy‘s spokesman said the meeting lasted for around 15 minutes and he and Mr Trump had agreed to hold further discussions later on Saturday.

The world leaders share a moment before the service
Image:
The world leaders shared a moment before the service

Trump and Zelenskyy meet in the Basilica
Image:
Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy meet in the Basilica

But the US president left Rome for Washington on Air Force One soon after the funeral without any other talks having taken place.

The Ukrainian president’s office said there was no second meeting in Rome because of the tight schedule of both leaders, although he had separate discussions with Mr Starmer and Mr Macron.

The French president said in a post on X “Ukraine is ready for an unconditional ceasefire” and that a so-called coalition of the willing, led by the UK and France, would continue working to achieve a lasting peace.

There was applause from some of the other world leaders in attendance at the Vatican when Mr Zelenskyy walked out of St Peter’s Basilica after stopping in front of the pontiff’s coffin to pay his respects.

U.S President Donald Trump attends the funeral Mass of Pope Francis, at the Vatican, April 26, 2025. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach
Image:
Donald Trump and the Ukrainian president met for the first time since their Oval Office row. Pic: Reuters

Sir Tony Brenton, the former British ambassador to Russia, said the event presents diplomatic opportunities, including the “biggest possible meeting” between Mr Trump and the Ukrainian leader.

He told Sky News it could mark “an important step” in starting the peace process between Russia and Ukraine.

Professor Father Francesco Giordano told Sky News the meeting is being called “Pope Francis’s miracle” by members of the clergy, adding: “There’s so many things that happened today – it was just overwhelming.”

The bilateral meeting comes after Mr Trump’s peace negotiator Steve Witkoff held talks with Mr Putin at the Kremlin.

They discussed “the possibility of resuming direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine”, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said.

👉 Listen to Sky News Daily on your podcast app 👈

Russia and Ukraine have not held direct talks since the early weeks of the war, which began in February 2022.

Mr Trump has claimed a deal to end the war is “very close” and has urged Mr Zelenskyy to “get it done” in a post on his Truth Social platform.

He has previously warned both sides his administration would walk away from its efforts to achieve a peace if the two sides do not agree a deal soon.

Meanwhile, the Polish armed forces said a Russian military helicopter violated its airspace over the Baltic Sea on Friday evening.

“The nature of the incident indicates that Russia is testing the readiness of our air defence systems,” they said in a post on X.

Continue Reading

World

What we learn from remarkable photos of Trump-Zelenskyy meeting

Published

on

By

What we learn from remarkable photos of Trump-Zelenskyy meeting

On an extraordinary day, remarkable pictures on the margins that capture what may be a turning point for the world.

In a corner of St Peter’s Basilica before the funeral of Pope Francis, the leaders of America and Ukraine sit facing each other in two solitary chairs.

They look like confessor and sinner except we cannot tell which one is which.

Leaning forward hands together in their laps, Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy stare at each other in one photo.

In another, the Ukrainian president seems to be remonstrating with the US president. This is their first encounter since their infamous bust-up in the Oval Office.

The two leaders held talks before attending the Pope's funeral
Image:
The two leaders held talks before attending the Pope’s funeral

Other pictures show the moment their French and British counterparts introduced the two men. There is a palpable sense of nervousness in the way the leaders engage.

We do not know what the two presidents said in their brief meeting.

But in the mind of the Ukrainian leader will be the knowledge President Trump has this week said America will reward Russia for its unprovoked brutal invasion of his country, under any peace deal.

Mr Trump has presented Ukraine and Russia with a proposal and ultimatum so one-sided it could have been written in the Kremlin.

Kyiv must surrender the land Russia has taken by force, Crimea forever, the rest at least for now. And it must submit to an act of extortion, a proposed deal that would hand over half its mineral wealth effectively to America.

The world leaders share a moment before the service
Image:
The world leaders shared a moment before the service

Afterwards, Zelenskyy said it had been a good meeting that could turn out to be historic “if we reach results together”.

They had talked, he said, about the defence of Ukraine, a full and unconditional ceasefire and a durable and lasting peace that will prevent a war restarting.

The Trump peace proposal includes only unspecified security guarantees for Ukraine from countries that do not include the US. It rules out any membership of Ukraine.

Ukraine’s allies are watching closely to see if Mr Trump will apply any pressure on Vladimir Putin, let alone punish him for recent bloody attacks on Ukraine.

Or will he simply walk away if the proposal fails, blaming Ukrainian intransigence, however outrageously, before moving onto a rapprochement with Moscow.

If he does, America’s role as guarantor of international security will be seen effectively as over.

This could be the week we see the world order as we have known it since the end of the Second World War buried, as well as a pope.

Continue Reading

Trending