* Quick misses nets as injury in troublesome knee flares up * Josh Tongue is back-up if tourists do not go with spinners Mark Wood is set to be ruled out of England’s next Ashes Test at the Gabba after reporting soreness in the troublesome left knee that required surgery in March and forced him to miss the entire home summer. The eight-wicket defeat suffered in Perth last week was Wood’s first competitive cricket since the Champions Trophy back in February and his first Test outing for 14 months. That he is now struggling after sending down just 11 overs in the first Test is of huge concern given the size of England’s task ahead. Continue reading...

We turn the dial towards whimsy and revisit some of the moments that made the autumn internationals irresistible South Africa and Ireland played out a slugfest for the ages and the discourse has been dominated by yellow cards and flying shoulders to the head. England held off a spirited Argentina to claim their 11th consecutive Test win and it seems all anyone can talk about is some alleged after-the-whistle shoving. Wales and New Zealand traded 11 tries in a ding-dong encounter and yet the narrative is weighed down by caveats concerning fading empires. What, exactly, is the point of Test rugby? Beyond winning World Cups and regional crowns, does this chaotic sport hold any value? A bit of spice elevates almost every dish, sure, but it has felt as if this autumn’s brilliant rugby fare has been smothered in a sauce with a needlessly high Scoville count. Continue reading...