England are hurtling towards a seemingly inevitable defeat to India in the historic Women's Test at Lord's after closing on 130-6 in a record chase of 457, with Heather Knight and Tammy Beaumont out cheaply in their final knocks before international retirement.
… %!s()
After being set a world-record target - far beyond the highest successful chase in a Women's Test, the 198 Australia knocked off against England at Sydney in 2011 - the hosts plummeted to 59-5 inside 20 overs on a sun-kissed Sunday in London.
Opener Beaumont was bowled for a golden duck by the relentless Kranti Gaud, who went on to have Knight caught behind off an inside edge for 13 as two of England's greats - both of whom were given guards of honour by India after being dismissed - bowed out.
As it happened on day three between England and India
Listen to episodes of the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Heather Knight's England career came to a close after she was caught behind off India seamer Kranti Gaud
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Watch the moment Tammy Beaumont was given a guard of honour after being cleaned up by Gaud
Captain Nat Sciver-Brunt (11) was cleaned up on the sweep by Sneh Rana, one ball after overturning an lbw, while Maia Bouchier (2) unwisely played back to Sayali Sathgare to be pinned in front before the same seamer castled Alice Capsey (21) with a jaffa.
Amy Jones (52no) - who successfully reviewed an lbw dismissal on 34 en route to her second fifty of the game - and Mady Villiers (26) delayed the visitors' march to victory with a stubborn sixth-wicket stand of 67 from 105 balls prior to Villiers being superbly caught by Richa Ghosh at mid-off in the dying embers of the day.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Watch Richa Ghosh's astonishing catch late in the day that removed England all-rounder Mady Villiers
Image:
England were set a world-record 457 to win the Women's Test
India should wrap things up promptly on day four, when entry is free for spectators, and secure back-to-back Test wins over England after a 347-run victory in Navi Mumbai in 2023.
Since an opening day that was arguably honours even, India have utterly bossed this game and moved from their overnight 154-1 to 341-7 before visiting skipper Harmanpreet Kaur eventually put England out of their misery by declaring around 3.10pm local time.
Harmanpreet called time as soon as Ghosh (50no off 52) clinched a half-century - the batter the third player in the innings to pass fifty after Smriti Mandhana (70) and Yastika Bhatia (113), with the latter the first woman to notch a Test ton at Lord's.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
India's Yastika Bhatia is the first woman to score a Test century at Lord's
England toil at Lord's as India close in
Bhatia's innings could have been cut off from the first ball of the morning, at which point she was on 39, but the bail remarkably stayed on when England seamer Lauren Bell struck the off stump.
Bell - who later spent time off the field while abdominal muscle soreness was assessed - denied Mandhana a century when she had the elegant left-hander extremely well caught down the leg-side by wicketkeeper Jones as she leapt one-handed to her right.
However, the skyscraping seamer also shipped any array of byes as she lost her radar and England's best bowler, as so often in the past, was left-arm spinner Sophie Ecclestone, who claimed a fourth five-for in 10 Tests and took her number of scalps in this Test to eight.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
England spinner Sophie Ecclestone etched her name onto the Lord's honours board with a five-wicket haul
Ecclestone had become England's leading wicket-taker across all formats during a first-innings three-for - eclipsing Katherine Sciver-Brunt's total of 335 - and extended her tally to 343 as she dismissed, among others, Bhatia and Harmanpreet on Sunday.
Harmanpreet's delayed declaration may have been as much about wearying England as it was ensuring Ghosh was able to add a Lord's fifty to her CV - and there was a real lethargy about the hosts as wickets tumbled at the start of their second dig.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Nat Sciver-Brunt was bowled on the sweep, one delivery after overturning an lbw dismissal
Beaumont, who announced before this Test that she was done as an England cricketer, and former captain Knight, who went all Ben Stokes and revealed her retirement mid-match, could not enjoy fairytale farewells as they perished to champion quick Gaud.
Gaud had become the first woman on the Lord's Test honours board by dint of her first-innings five-for and now has company after Bhatia's ton, a knock that featured 14 fours, most of them stylish.
Watch day four of the one-off Women's Test between England and India at Lord's live on Sky Sports Cricket, Sky Sports Mix and Sky Sports Main Event from 10.30am on Monday (11am first ball). Stream cricket and more contract-free with NOW.%!s()
Nasser Hussain has backed former England head coach Andy Flower to replace Brendon McCullum as Test head coach.
McCullum took over in the spring of 2022, restoring belief in the Test side after winning 11 of his first 13 matches in charge, but a bitterly disappointing 4-1 away Ashes series loss and a barren run of eight losses in the last 12 Tests brought an end to the 'Bazball' era as the ECB announced his departure.
… %!s()
Hussain feels that Flower - who led England to a famous Ashes win in Australia in 2010/11 during his previous five-year tenure - would be the perfect antidote to England's attention to detail crisis under McCullum and Rob Key, the latter of whom the former England captain feels is "lucky" to stay in his job as managing director for the men's team.
Image:
Nasser Hussain has backed Andy Flower to return as England Test coach
"If you're going to keep Key - whose attention to detail is not his strongest suit - then below, you need to have someone that is absolutely across everything, and doesn't miss a trick," Hussain told Sky Sports News.
"For me, the best person for that would be Andy Flower by a country mile. Flower took England to number one in the world.
"I love Flower's approach to coaching - he was meticulous in everything that he did. That's what's been lacking in this England Test match side.
"I would do anything if I was Rob Key and the ECB to go and get Andy Flower."
McCullum's England were joy to watch - but right time to go
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Following England's Test series defeat to New Zealand, Nasser Hussain gave a scathing review of Brendon McCullum's Test series record.
Hussain lauded McCullum's early Test tenure, which included impressive series wins against New Zealand and Pakistan along with a 2-2 draw in the 2023 home Ashes series against Australia, but conceded that a change was required after recent results.
"No one is overly thrilled when a coach loses his job, and you do have to remember the great times that Brendon McCullum gave us," Hussain added.
"He is a coach that the brand of cricket - 'Bazball' - was named after. From where England were before him and Stokes, I think it would be wrong not to mention the way they played at the start. They were an absolute joy to watch.
Image:
Brendon McCullum
"In the end, it's been a run of seven losses in the last nine Test matches, and with the manner of those defeats, I think it was about the right time.
"I don't think it was the right thing to do for Rob Key to give both the white-ball and the Test jobs to the same person. I think it's the right thing now for McCullum to focus on white-ball cricket.
"[On Saturday], they won at Southampton, they are the number one T20 ranked team in the world - I think his coaching style is suited for white-ball cricket.
"I do think the timing is right."
'Lucky' Key has questions to answer
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Rob Key joins the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast and looks back at the Ashes.
Hussain also lamented the recent decision-making of Key, who he feels is fortunate to have retained his role as managing director of England men's cricket:
"Recently everything that I've said about McCullum can be thrown at Key's door: a lacking of attention to detail, even the curfew.
"In the last few days, having to clarify exactly what the curfew means - it tells you where your side are if you're having to have a curfew.
"If you're having to treat grown-up professional sportsmen with curfews, you're not in the right place at the side.
Image:
Rob Key
"Giving McCullum [all the roles] was a mistake with the modern schedule.
"I do think the role of having a coach do everything in English cricket is untenable.
"I think [Key] is lucky to have survived the role, given everyone around him has lost theirs. Stokes stood down, McCullum has been sacked, the decisions that he has made has backfired.
"He may have enough good will after how things started, but I do think he's lucky to stay in that role.
"He's now got to get the next decision absolutely spot on."
Athers: Something had to give after Ashes hangover continued
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
James Cole breaks down Brendon McCullum's departure from his role as England Test coach and looks into why 'something had to give' for the ECB.
Former England captain Michael Atherton speaking to Sky Sports News:
"The Test team has been struggling for some time.
"They've lost seven of their last nine, they're languishing somewhere towards the bottom of the World Test Championship, and things have been going south for a while - albeit from a very good start.
"This is really a long hangover from the Ashes. They sold themselves short there - there's obviously been continuing problems since then, with the loss to New Zealand and the off-field stories. Something had to give.
"After the Ashes - that went so badly - [ECB CEO] Richard Gould and [ECB chairman] Richard Thompson decided to show faith in the three men at the heart of a transformation of England's team since 2022.
"But because the Ashes went so badly, it left them with very little wriggle room if things went wrong after that. And things went wrong against New Zealand.
"Not just a home defeat - which is a very rare thing for England in a three-match series - but all the stories around it.
"Added all together, it looked like there was going to be some change - but it's Rob Key who has survived and Brendon McCullum who has paid the penalty around the Test team.
"Something had to give."
England vs India results and fixtures
All times UK and Ireland, all games live on Sky Sports
First T20 (Durham) - Match abandoned
Second T20 (Old Trafford) - England won by four wickets
Third T20 (Trent Bridge) - England won by 125 runs
Fourth T20 (Bristol) - England won by nine wickets
Fifth T20 (Southampton) - England won by 56 runs
First ODI (Edgbaston - Tuesday July 14 (11am)
Second ODI (Cardiff) - Thursday July 16 (1pm)
Third ODI (Lord's) - Sunday July 19 (11am)
Watch Tuesday's first ODI between England and India at Edgbaston live on Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Main Event from 10.30am (11am first ball). Stream cricket and more sport contract-free with NOW.%!s()
Brendon McCullum will leave his role as England's Test head coach but continue to lead the white-ball teams.
McCullum took over the red-ball side in the spring of 2022 and brought about an immediate uplift in form with his 'Bazball' style, winning 11 of his first 13 Tests in charge after England had secured only one victory in 17 games prior to his appointment.
… %!s()
However, England have lost eight of their last 12 Tests under the 44-year-old - and won only three - following the recent 2-1 home series loss to New Zealand, which followed a 4-1 Ashes hammering over the winter on a tour littered with errors on and off the field.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
ECB CEO Richard Gould says the decision that meant Brendon McCullum would leave his role as England Test coach was based on results but insists McCullum has created some 'amazing' memories.
Image:
Rob Key is set to stay on in his role as England managing director of men's cricket
McCullum says he is "gutted" to be leaving as Test boss, with ECB chief executive Richard Gould saying "the time is right to make a change" as England build towards the home Ashes next summer.
England managing director Rob Key - who appointed McCullum four years ago - will stay on in his role, as confirmed by Gould on Sky Sports.
McCullum: 'Privilege' to coach England Test team
McCullum became white-ball coach in early 2025 and although his first major tournament was a failure - a group-stage exit at that spring's Champions Trophy - he has just led England to the top of the T20 international rankings with a 4-0 demolition of India.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Highlights from the fifth T20 international between England and India in Southampton as the hosts romped to a 4-0 series win.
England reached the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup earlier this year before a narrow seven-run defeat to eventual champions India, with McCullum also contracted until the end of the next 50-over World Cup in Africa in late 2027.
It is all change for the Test team with England not only needing to find a replacement for McCullum as coach but also for Ben Stokes as captain, after the latter called time on his international career following the defeat to New Zealand at Trent Bridge.
McCullum said: "I've absolutely loved coaching the Test side and I'm incredibly proud of what we've achieved together. There've been some unbelievable highs and a few tough days along the way, but that's all part of taking on a challenge like this.
"It's been a privilege and an honour, and I'm grateful. Grateful to the players, the staff and the fans who supported us on the journey.
"Of course I'm gutted not to be continuing, but I respect the decision. My focus now is on giving everything I've got to the white-ball teams and helping England keep moving forward.
Image:
McCullum will continue to lead England in white-ball cricket
"I wish the Test team nothing but success. There's a hell of a lot of talent in that dressing room and they're a special bunch of lads.
"I'll always be backing the boys, with a smile on my face, and hoping they keep taking the game on. I know they'll continue to make people proud."
Bazball starts with a bang but then fizzles out
England's achievements in the Bazball era included a 3-0 sweep at home to New Zealand to kick off the McCullum-Stokes alliance and then the same result in Pakistan in late 2022, during which they scored 500 on day one of the Rawalpindi Test.
However, England were unable to win any of the four marquee five-Test series they played against India or Australia - drawing with those heavyweights at home and being drubbed away - with their overaggressive batting costing them on many occasions.
Drinking issues have also blighted the side with white-ball captain Harry Brook - the front-runner to replace Stokes in the Test role, perhaps even more so now after helming the 4-0 T20 thrashing of India - hit by a bouncer outside a nightclub in New Zealand last October, the evening before England played a one-day international.
Image:
England white-ball captain Harry Brook was involved on one od the winter drinking incident that plagued England
During The Ashes, a video seemingly showing batter Ben Duckett drunk during a beach break in Noosa emerged, while Stokes and seam bowler Gus Atkinson missed the second Test against New Zealand at The Oval last month after breaking a midnight curfew that had been installed after the raft of incidents over the winter.
Stokes and Atkinson were cleared of any misconduct after a situation in a nightclub which saw a member of ECB security personnel require stiches after being struck by a punch aimed at Atkinson from a Saracens academy rugby player.
Key: McCullum leaves Test side poised to achieve great things
On McCullum's departure as Test coach, Key said: "Some of England's most memorable moments in recent history have occurred under Brendon's leadership of the Test team.
"It's been an absolute privilege to watch him shape the mentality of the team, to one the players have loved, and see him develop a new generation of talent who will be at the heart of England men's teams for years to come.
"He leaves the Test team well-set and poised to achieve great things."
Image:
McCullum's England begin an ODI series against India at Edgbaston on Tuesday, live on Sky Sports Cricket
Gould added: "Brendon breathed new life into England men's Test team during an exciting period which saw some amazing victories, and we're grateful for all he has given to the role.
"We now believe that the time is right to make a change for the Test team as we target victory in The Ashes next summer."
Who takes charge post-Bazball?
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Nasser Hussain has his say on who should be the next England Test coach after Brendon McCullum leaves the role
Analysis from Sky Sports' Adam Williams:
There should be no shortage of candidates to succeed Brendon McCullum as Test head coach and the names could be shortlisted from both at home and overseas.
Former Australia coach Justin Langer - who has been been in charge of Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL since July 2023 - will probably feature at the top of most lists with significant experience in English domestic cricket.
Image:
Andrew Flintoff is currently in charge of the England Lions
Former England captain Andrew Flintoff is the current coach of the England Lions and would be a ready-made internal promotion for the ECB and would need little handover in terms of getting to know the talent at his disposal.
Andy Flower was previously England head coach at a time the Test side made it to No 1 in the world and secured a famous away Ashes series win in 2011, and has been tipped by Nasser Hussain as the perfect antidote to England's attention-to-detail crisis.
Former England batter Jonathan Trott has been out of work since standing down as Afghanistan head coach earlier this year, but has significanrt coaching credentials after taking them to the 2024 T20 World Cup semi-finals.
Image:
Johnathan Trott led Afghanistan to the T20 World Cup semi-finals in 2023
Peter Moores has had two previous stints as England head coach and having steered Nottinghamshire to the County Championship title last summer is arguably among the most revered domestic coaches, but a third stint seems a long shot.
Surrey director of cricket Gareth Batty could also be thrown into the ring in the same bracket, aftetr The former having overseen a flurry of championship titles in recent years.
Mickey Arthur has bags of experience of experience at international level having coached his native South Africa as well as Australia, Pakistan and Sri Lanka over the past 20 years, and is currently into a fifth year at Derbyshire.
Former Australia batter and head coach Darren Lehmann falls into the same bracket as the current coach of Northamptonshire, but feels an unlikely appointment given his role in the sandpaper scandal that saw Steve Smith stripped of his test captaincy.
England vs India results and fixtures
All times UK and Ireland, all games live on Sky Sports
First T20 (Durham) - Match abandoned
Second T20 (Old Trafford) - England won by four wickets
Third T20 (Trent Bridge) - England won by 125 runs
Fourth T20 (Bristol) - England won by nine wickets
Fifth T20 (Southampton) - England won by 56 runs
First ODI (Edgbaston - Tuesday July 14 (11am)
Second ODI (Cardiff) - Thursday July 16 (1pm)
Third ODI (Lord's) - Sunday July 19 (11am)
Watch Tuesday's first ODI between England and India, at Edgbaston, live on Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Main Event from 10.15am (11am first ball). Stream cricket and more sport contract-free with NOW.%!s()
Brendon McCullum's departure from the role of England Test head coach leaves the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) with a huge gap to fill ahead of a crucial home Ashes series next summer.
… %!s()
McCullum took charge in the spring of 2022 and quickly restored belief in England's Test side, winning 11 of his first 13 matches. But a disappointing 4-1 Ashes defeat in Australia, followed by eight losses in the team's last 12 Tests, brought the 'Bazball' era to an end and left England searching for a new red-ball coach.
A plethora of names from home and abroad have been tipped to replace him - but who is in the running?
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
James Cole breaks down Brendon McCullum's departure from his role as England Test coach and looks into why 'something had to give' for the ECB.
Brendon McCullum to leave role as England Test coach
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
ECB CEO Richard Gould says the decision that meant Brendon McCullum would leave his role as England Test coach was based on results but insists McCullum has created some 'amazing' memories.
Justin Langer
Image:
Justin Langer shakes the hand of Ben Stokes ahead of the 2025 Ashes
Former Australia coach Justin Langer will probably feature at the top of most lists.
Langer recorded 15 wins, 11 losses and 5 draws in his time in charge of the Baggy Greens, retaining the Ashes on British soil with Australia in 2019.
Langer has been out of the international limelight, ironically, since the start of Bazball but has been in charge of Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL since July 2023, as well as a brief stint managing the London Spirit of the Hundred in 2025.
He is someone who knows the English domestic game well, playing for Middlesex and Somerset in the County Championship as a player.
Image:
Could Andy Flower be set for a second spell as England's Test coach? (PA Images)
Andy Flower was previously England head coach at a time the Test side made it to No 1 in the world and secured a famous away Ashes series win in 2011.
His tenure ultimately unravelled as a strained relationship with Kevin Pietersen, coupled with a chastening 5-0 Ashes defeat in Australia in 2013-14, proved too much to overcome.
He spent five years in charge of the England Lions before enjoying a series of successful coaching roles on the T20 franchise circuit, earning the admiration of former England captain Nasser Hussain.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Nasser Hussain has his say on who should be the next England Test coach after Brendon McCullum leaves the role.
"For me, the best person for that would be Andy Flower by a country mile," Hussain said. "Flower took England to No 1 in the world.
"I love his approach to coaching - he was meticulous in everything that he did. That's what's been lacking in this England Test match side.
"I would do anything if I was Rob Key and the ECB to go and get Andy Flower."
Andrew Flintoff
Image:
Andrew Flintoff earned 79 Test caps for England during his international career
Former England captain Andrew Flintoff is the current coach of the England Lions and has also stepped in to assist with white-ball duties on recent occasions.
He would be a ready-made internal promotion for the ECB and would need little handover in terms of getting to know the talent at his disposal.
Flintoff remains close friends with England managing director Rob Key from their playing days, meaning the pair already have a well-established working relationship.
But deciding who he wants as the next Test captain is likely to be the first item in his in-tray after the former all-rounder also agreed last month to become Sydney Thunder's new head coach in Australia's Big Bash League.
Gareth Batty
Image:
Gareth Batty poses with his third consecutive County Championship Division One trophy in 2024
Surrey's head coach Gareth Batty could also be thrown into the ring in the same bracket.
Batty led Surrey to three consecutive County Championship titles in 2022, 2023, and 2024 and boasts an impressive coaching record under director of cricket Alec Stewart, who was among the names to be tipped as a potential replacement for Rob Key.
The former England off-spinner is another who would know the player pool well having either coached them directly or plotted how to get the better of them as opponents, with current England players Jamie Smith and Matt Fisher under his leadership at The Oval, as well as former Test No 3 Ollie Pope.
Jonathan Trott
Image:
Johnathan Trott led Afghanistan to the T20 World Cup semi-finals in 2023
Former England batter Jonathan Trott has been out of work since standing down as Afghanistan head coach earlier this year.
The 45-year-old would certainly be a marked departure from McCullum's style for those who remember his gritty and obdurate innings at No 3 that helped England's march to world No 1.
But he is another who has made a notable impression in his relatively short coaching career, leading his Afghanistan side to the semi-finals of the 2024 T20 World Cup.
Mickey Arthur
Image:
Mickey Arthur has been Derbyshire head coach since 2021
Mickey Arthur has bags of experience at international level having coached his native South Africa as well as Australia, Pakistan and Sri Lanka over the past 20 years.
But the current Derbyshire head coach may prefer to stay out of the limelight and continue building on his hard work from the past five years.
He signed a new two-year deal with Derbyshire in February, but could be tempted by a high-profile return to the Test arena.
Darren Lehmann
Image:
Darren Lehmann is currently the coach of Northamptonshire in the County Championship
Former Australia batter and head coach Darren Lehmann also falls into the same category as the current Northamptonshire coach.
Working in Lehmann's favour is the fact he masterminded two Ashes series victories over England just over a decade ago.
That came before his tenure in charge of Australia ended abruptly amid the sandpaper-gate scandal that embroiled former captain Steve Smith and batter David Warner, with the former stripped of his Test captaincy as a result.
Considering England's recent off-field struggles, hiring a figure as controversial as Lehmann feels unlikely.
England vs India results and fixtures
All times UK and Ireland, all games live on Sky Sports
First T20 (Durham) - Match abandoned
Second T20 (Old Trafford) - England won by four wickets
Third T20 (Trent Bridge) - England won by 125 runs
Fourth T20 (Bristol) - England won by nine wickets
Fifth T20 (Southampton) - England won by 56 runs
First ODI (Edgbaston - Tuesday July 14 (11am)
Second ODI (Cardiff) - Thursday July 16 (1pm)
Third ODI (Lord's) - Sunday July 19 (11am)
Watch Tuesday's first ODI between England and India at Edgbaston live on Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Main Event from 10.30am (11am first ball). Stream cricket and more sport contract-free with NOW.%!s()
The day so far: Washington remembers Lindsey Graham
Tributes have been pouring in this morning as Washington reels from the sudden death of controversial Republican senator Lindsey Graham, of South Carolina, at the age of 71. Graham died on Saturday evening after a “brief and sudden illness”, according to a statement from his office, which gave no further details. Citing police scanner audio, the Washington Post reported that emergency medical services received a call at about 8.30pm on Saturday regarding a person suffering chest pains at Graham’s home on Capitol Hill. About 25 minutes later, per the Post, emergency personnel said CPR was in progress and a man was suffering cardiac arrest. There had been no known concerns over the health of Graham, who celebrated his birthday last Thursday and had just returned from a visit to Ukraine.
…
Donald Trump praised Graham, one of his closest allies, as “one of the greatest people and Senators I have ever known” and said he had spoken to him on the phone shortly before his death. Graham in many ways embodied the evolution of the Republican party, morphing from a fierce critic of Trumpinto one of his greatest political cheerleaders once he entered the White House. He was also one of the most influential figures in Washington on foreign affairs, advising Trump on major issues including his war on Iran and Russia. “He was like a member of the family,” Trump told NBC’s Meet the Press, adding that they had talked about Graham’s efforts to rally support for the Save America Act in that final phone call.
Graham had made a name for himself as a foreign policy hawk - notably as a leading voice in Congress for support for Ukraine and Israel, whose dignitaries led global tributes today. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who had just met with Graham on Friday, said he was “deeply saddened” by his death and that the world had lost “a determined leader” and a “true defender of freedom”. Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel had “lost one of its greatest friends”, and Israeli president Isaac Herzog said the news had left him “shocked and heartbroken”.
Tributes poured in across Washington, from members of the Trump administration to Graham’s colleagues in Congress and in South Carolina. Several senators have called for the Russia sanctions package, which Graham had worked on for months and received the green light from Trump on Friday, to be passed when lawmakers return this week in his memory. A fierce backer of Trump’s war on Iran, Graham’s absence will also be felt as the ceasefire collapses and fighting starts up again.
Graham’s death will also impact the Senate and November’s midterm elections. Per state law, South Carolina’s governor may appoint a temporary replacement, but as Graham was up for re-election this year, there will also be a special primary election on 11 August to replace him on the ballot (and a run-off, if necessary, on 25 August). Trump said he had someone in mind to succeed Graham but said it was “too soon” after his death to say.
Key events
1h ago
Explainer: Graham’s death triggers a scramble to replace him – what happens next
2h ago
Graham's death comes amid fraught time for Senate Republicans - snap analysis
2h ago
The day so far: Washington remembers Lindsey Graham
4h ago
'We certainly had our disagreements, but I couldn't help but like him': Vance on Graham
5h ago
Trump says he has someone in mind to succeed Graham but 'it's too soon' after his death to say
5h ago
Trump says he spoke to Lindsey Graham last night
5h ago
'Israel has lost one of its greatest friends': Israeli politicians pay tribute to one of its staunchest allies in Washington
6h ago
'True defender of freedom': Zelenskyy pays tribute to Graham's support of Ukraine
6h ago
Graham's evolution from Trump critic to fierce ally
6h ago
Trump praises Graham as 'one of the greatest people I have ever known'
6h ago
Senator Lindsey Graham has died after sudden illness, his office says
More now from Donald Trump’s interview on NBC’s Meet the Press this morning, where he said that one of Lindsey Graham’s legacies as a legislator was helping to confirm US supreme court justice Brett Kavanaugh in 2018.
“I don’t think he could have gotten through without Lindsey,” Trump said of Kavanaugh. The president added:
double quotation markHe was a great politician. He really was. He got along with a lot of people that you wouldn’t think of. He was somebody that loved our country. And he fought very hard for the country.
Donald Trump has ordered all American flags throughout the United States to be lowered to half-staff until 6pm on 18 July to honor the “remarkable life and achievements of Senator Lindsey Graham”.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump described Graham as “a dear friend of mine, and a truly great man”, adding:
double quotation markGOD BLESS YOU LINDSEY!
The American flag on the White House North Lawn was lowered to half-staff just after 7.30am ET this morning. Photograph: Aaron Schwartz/Reuters
World leaders continue to pay tribute to Lindsey Graham, particularly over his unwavering support for Ukraine.
Nato secretary general Mark Rutte wrote that he was “so sad to learn of the sudden passing of my friend”. Graham, he said, was a “powerful advocate for America who believed strongly in the Nato alliance and was actively working to bring an end to Russia’s war against Ukraine”. He added: “I will miss him dearly.”
Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, called Graham “a determined and fearless leader”. She wrote: “Senator Graham fought until the very end to support Ukraine’s fight for freedom and raise the cost of Russia’s war of aggression. He worked tirelessly to strengthen sanctions, in close coordination with the EU. He will be deeply missed.”
Canadian PM Mark Carneywrote that Graham “stood resolutely in defence of democracy and freedom, most recently and particularly with Ukraine and its people”.
British foreign secretary Yvette Cooper said Graham was “a steadfast supporter of the Nato alliance and unrelenting in his support for the fight for freedom in Ukraine, visiting Kyiv again only this week.” She added: “His voice in those debates will be greatly missed.”
German chancellor Friedrich Merzcalled Graham “a true friend and partner of Germany in the transatlantic alliance”. He added: “For more than four decades, we have stood side by side. I will miss him.”
double quotation markSenator Lindsey Graham was a devoted public servant, a fierce defender of our nation, and a true patriot who dedicated his life to the people of South Carolina and the United States. Our prayers are with his family, loved ones, colleagues, and all those who knew him during this devastating time. The FBI is assisting local authorities and has made every necessary resource available.
The post itself does not indicate that authorities suspect foul play in the senator’s death. However, there has been some speculation online about the circumstances surrounding Graham’s sudden death after what his office described as a “brief illness”.
Pod Save America co-host and former Obama adviser Dan Pfeifferresponded to Patel’s post by calling it “an idiotic tweet from a complete idiot that will give rocket fuel to the conspiracy theories circulating online.”
Mace also just posted on X a bit of skepticism at Trump’s telling of his last conversation with Graham, in which the president claims the late senator was fired up about his controversial voter registration bill.
She wrote:
double quotation markShockingly, Lindsey Graham died a few minutes after speaking to President Trump - confirming the Senate was all set to pass the SAVE America Act… according to the President.
Nancy Mace, a Maga firebrand who recently ran for South Carolina governor but came in fifth in the state’s primary election, is one of several politicians eyeing Lindsey Graham’s seat.
She posted a not-so-subtle but also not exactly mournful video clip on X from The Godfather Part III of Michael Corleone saying, “Just when I thought I was out… they pull me back in”.
And earlier, a person familiar with Mace’s thinking told The Hill “Yolo” (you only live once) when asked about her interest in replacing the late senator.
Explainer: Graham’s death triggers a scramble to replace him – what happens next
George Chidi
South Carolina’s governor, Henry McMaster, has the political decision of a lifetime with the unexpected death in office of Senator Lindsey Graham. The Republican governor and loyalist of Donald Trump will appoint a new senator to serve out the remainder of Graham’s term, which ends on 3 January.
Whoever McMaster appoints will likely have a leg up in a special primary election on 11 August to fill Graham’s place on the November ballot, which he won despite facing five challengers from his party in June. That election calendar favors candidates with wide name recognition and deep institutional support.
The candidate would still run against Democratic nominee Annie Andrews, a pediatrician who gained significant support in the red state, but still faces an uphill challenge.
Congressman Joe Wilson has reportedly expressed interest in the seat. Of the Republican delegation to Washington, Wilson is the longest tenured. He has represented South Carolina’s second congressional district since 2001, and his activism within the state’s Republican party predates its dominance in the state’s politics.
Mark Lynch, a Greenville businessman, came in second with 29% of the vote. Lynch was a critic of Graham’s posture toward federal spending, immigration, and budget issues.
Congressman Ralph Norman, who placed third in the Republican gubernatorial primary, has also entered speculation as a successor to Graham, as has Nancy Mace, the ultraconservative congresswoman who came in fifth in a bid for the Republican gubernatorial nomination.
Graham's death comes amid fraught time for Senate Republicans - snap analysis
Lindsey’s Graham’s death comes at a perilous time for Senate Republicans, who face a series of legislative priorities pushed by Donald Trump with the August recess just weeks away, Politico notes.
They now have it all to do with an even tighter margin, as the mystery around Mitch McConnell’s health deepens – with no indication of when he might return to Congress – the GOP’s Senate majority stands at 52-47.
Graham’s absence will be felt most immediately by acting attorney general Todd Blanche, who is gearing up for his confirmation hearing before the Senate judiciary committee on Wednesday and was counting on Graham’s crucial vote to see him through. Blanche now faces an uphill battle to prevent even one Republican defection from tanking his entire bid.
The South Carolina Republican was also a crucial voice backing Trump’s authority to continue his war on Iran without congressional approval. Democrats will be pushing back hard on the war over the next few weeks, Politico reported yesterday.
That’s on top of the annual defense policy bill and the supplemental Iran war funding that Trump has been pushing for, which Graham had supported. Senate GOP leaders will also need to replace Graham as chair of the budget committee and fill his vacancy on the appropriations committee.
The day so far: Washington remembers Lindsey Graham
Tributes have been pouring in this morning as Washington reels from the sudden death of controversial Republican senator Lindsey Graham, of South Carolina, at the age of 71. Graham died on Saturday evening after a “brief and sudden illness”, according to a statement from his office, which gave no further details. Citing police scanner audio, the Washington Post reported that emergency medical services received a call at about 8.30pm on Saturday regarding a person suffering chest pains at Graham’s home on Capitol Hill. About 25 minutes later, per the Post, emergency personnel said CPR was in progress and a man was suffering cardiac arrest. There had been no known concerns over the health of Graham, who celebrated his birthday last Thursday and had just returned from a visit to Ukraine.
Donald Trump praised Graham, one of his closest allies, as “one of the greatest people and Senators I have ever known” and said he had spoken to him on the phone shortly before his death. Graham in many ways embodied the evolution of the Republican party, morphing from a fierce critic of Trumpinto one of his greatest political cheerleaders once he entered the White House. He was also one of the most influential figures in Washington on foreign affairs, advising Trump on major issues including his war on Iran and Russia. “He was like a member of the family,” Trump told NBC’s Meet the Press, adding that they had talked about Graham’s efforts to rally support for the Save America Act in that final phone call.
Graham had made a name for himself as a foreign policy hawk - notably as a leading voice in Congress for support for Ukraine and Israel, whose dignitaries led global tributes today. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who had just met with Graham on Friday, said he was “deeply saddened” by his death and that the world had lost “a determined leader” and a “true defender of freedom”. Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel had “lost one of its greatest friends”, and Israeli president Isaac Herzog said the news had left him “shocked and heartbroken”.
Tributes poured in across Washington, from members of the Trump administration to Graham’s colleagues in Congress and in South Carolina. Several senators have called for the Russia sanctions package, which Graham had worked on for months and received the green light from Trump on Friday, to be passed when lawmakers return this week in his memory. A fierce backer of Trump’s war on Iran, Graham’s absence will also be felt as the ceasefire collapses and fighting starts up again.
Graham’s death will also impact the Senate and November’s midterm elections. Per state law, South Carolina’s governor may appoint a temporary replacement, but as Graham was up for re-election this year, there will also be a special primary election on 11 August to replace him on the ballot (and a run-off, if necessary, on 25 August). Trump said he had someone in mind to succeed Graham but said it was “too soon” after his death to say.
Former president Joe Biden, who served with Graham in the Senate for over a decade, said he was “shocked by [his] sudden passing].
double quotation markLindsey and I served together in Congress for over a decade, and worked closely on many issues throughout the years. We traveled the world together as members of the Senate Foreign Relations committee. We disagreed often, and sometimes loudly.
Lindsey and I did agree on the profound importance of public service.Like me, he loved the Senate as an institution, even with all its flaws and complexities.
To his family, his staff, his constituents in South Carolina, and everyone who loved him: Jill and I are keeping you in our prayers.
Democratic senator Chris Coons said there was “no better friend, no tougher adversary” than Lindsey Graham as he reflected on their friendship, marked by bipartisan foreign policy achievements and fierce sparring in Congress.
Graham had been “jubilant” after Donald Trump signaled that he was open to moving forward with the Russian sanctions package, Coons told ABC’s This Week. “It’s my hope that we will take up and pass this bill in Lindsey’s memory this week when we all get back to session,” he added.
Here’s Coons’s statement:
double quotation markI traveled the world with Lindsey, visiting dozens of countries across Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. We argued, advocated, and legislated together for more than fifteen years, and I am stunned by his sudden passing. We had dinner to celebrate his birthday at the Nato summit this past week, and one of my last memories of him will be of his irreverent wit, as well as his patriotism and love of freedom. Lindsey believed in the fundamental goodness of an America that uses its might to support the fight for freedom globally. His passionate advocacy for Ukraine and his tireless fight to impose greater costs on Putin for his war of aggression inspired many of us in the Senate.We should promptly pass his bill with Senator Blumenthal to impose greater sanctions and tariffs on the buyers of Russian oil and gas in his memory.
While we disagreed fiercely on many policy issues, he was complicated and could not be pigeonholed. I will never forget that at the height of the hearings over Justice Kavanaugh’s confirmation in 2018, one of the ugliest and most partisan fights we ever had, he was also quietly working hard to save American foreign aid. Several of my most important bills I have passed were with Lindsey, from conservation in Africa to promoting balanced American engagement with fragile states. I will miss having him as a partner in the Senate.
Of my colleagues, few have been able to frustrate and anger, amuse and engage me in a single conversation the way Lindsey could. I will deeply miss his humor, his global view, and his tireless optimism. Annie and I are keeping his family, including his beloved sister Darline, in our prayers.
