Wicket milestones, Crawley’s heroics and collapses – England’s summer of cricket

Wicket milestones, Crawley’s heroics and collapses – England’s summer of cricket

After the national lull of lockdown England’s cricketers brought international sport back to the table this summer with the help of the West Indies, Ireland, Pakistan and Australia.

After two-and-a-half months, 18 matches and six series across all formats the ride is over for the men’s team.

Here the PA news agency looks back on 10 of the most memorable moments.

Black Lives Matter

England's Rory Burns joins the West Indies in taking a knee.
England’s Rory Burns joins the West Indies in taking a knee (Michael Steele/NMC Pool)

The Broadside

England decided to stand down Stuart Broad for the first Test, opting instead for the combined raw pace of Jofra Archer and Mark Wood. Broad gave an unusually forthright interview to Sky during the match, which his side lost, describing himself as “frustrated, angry and gutted” and revealing he had sought talks with national selector Ed Smith. Having set high stakes for himself, the 34-year-old produced some of the best form of his career and did not miss another game.

Stokes’ second Test

Ben Stokes turned in a classic showing in the second Test against the Windies.
Ben Stokes turned in a classic showing in the second Test against the Windies (Jon Super/NMC Pool)

Milestone moments for the old firm

Stuart Broad (left) and James Anderson (right) hit new heights this year.
Stuart Broad (left) and James Anderson (right) hit new heights this year (Mike Hewitt/PA)

Hove sweet Hove?

Jofra Archer found himself in self-isolation after a trip to Hove.
Jofra Archer found himself in self-isolation after a trip to Hove (Gareth Copley/PA)

Going green

Ireland completed the upset of the summer when they gave their neighbours a bloody nose in the third and final ODI at the Ageas Bowl, Andrew Balbirnie and Paul Stirling making twin centuries to chase down an imposing 329 against the world champions.

Buttler and Woakes’ Pakistan pursuit

Chris Woakes took the plaudits on the England balcony.
Chris Woakes took the plaudits on the England balcony (Lee Smith/PA)

A star is born

Zak Crawley announced his talent with a stunning knock.
Zak Crawley announced his talent with a stunning knock (Alastair Grant/PA)

England expose Australian nerves

Eoin Morgan’s white-ball warriors were not at their indomitable best when they reconvened against their old rivals but twice they pulled results out of the fire to showcase their never-say-die approach. Their bowlers pulled off an unbelievable two-run win in the first T20, then repeated the trick as the tourists choked from a rock solid position in the penultimate ODI to set up a winner-takes-all decider.

A fitting finale

England and Australia fought tooth and nail to the end.
England and Australia produced a nail-biter in Manchester (Jason Cairnduff/PA)

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