1 month ago
NEW DELHI: England completed a 3-0 Test series clean sweep over Pakistan at Edgbaston, but the series produced an unusual statistic.
It was only the eighth three-match Test series in history to finish without a single individual century. It was also only the second such series in England, after the 1888 Ashes.
England's batting was led by Joe Root, who remained unbeaten on 62 in the third Test, while Jordan **** scored an unbeaten 59 as England chased down 130 with eight wickets in hand.
The result gave England their second 3-0 Test series clean sweep over Pakistan, after their success in the 2022/23 series. It was also England's 15th three-match Test series sweep overall.
For Pakistan, it was their 11th Test series defeat by a 3-0 margin.
England's chase got off to a shocking start when Ben Duckett was dismissed for a duck with the first ball. Emilio Gay then fell later in the same over bowled by Mohammad Abbas.
At 2 for 2, Pakistan had a chance to put England under serious pressure.
But Root settled things down. He survived a major scare when Mohammad Ali bowled him for 23, only for the delivery to be called a no-ball.
It was Ali's 17th no-ball of the series.
Root had another lucky escape when, on 38, he edged Abbas between first and second slip. Neither fielder went for the catch.
The England batter made Pakistan pay for the missed opportunities. He went on to complete his 110th score of 50 or more in Test cricket, including 41 centuries.
Jordan **** provided excellent support for Root as the pair took control of the chase.
Cox remained unbeaten on 59 and helped England reach the target in just 25 overs.
Pakistan had shown plenty of fight in the third Test after conceding a massive 320-run first-innings lead. But England's dominance in the first two Tests meant the series was already heavily tilted in their favour.
Had Pakistan shown the same fight earlier in the series, the contest could have been much closer.
England's fast bowlers were the biggest difference between the two sides.
Ollie Robinson led the attack and finished the series with 21 wickets. Jofra Archer, Josh Tongue and Gus Atkinson also played important roles as England's pace attack made the most of helpful conditions.
The batting, however, was less convincing.
No England batter scored a century across the three Tests, making the series only the eighth three-match Test series without an individual hundred and just the second in England after the 1888 Ashes.
Pakistan's biggest positive came from debutant Razaullah, who produced an exciting counter-attack at Edgbaston.
His thrilling 81 off 63 **** gave Pakistan hope and briefly brought the third Test to life.
But it was too late to change the outcome of the series.
Pakistan have now lost 16 of their 21 Tests. Their difficult tour was followed by major changes, with seven players replaced in the squad after the second Test and coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and his **** istant
It was only the eighth three-match Test series in history to finish without a single individual century. It was also only the second such series in England, after the 1888 Ashes.
England's batting was led by Joe Root, who remained unbeaten on 62 in the third Test, while Jordan **** scored an unbeaten 59 as England chased down 130 with eight wickets in hand.
The result gave England their second 3-0 Test series clean sweep over Pakistan, after their success in the 2022/23 series. It was also England's 15th three-match Test series sweep overall.
For Pakistan, it was their 11th Test series defeat by a 3-0 margin.
England's chase got off to a shocking start when Ben Duckett was dismissed for a duck with the first ball. Emilio Gay then fell later in the same over bowled by Mohammad Abbas.
At 2 for 2, Pakistan had a chance to put England under serious pressure.
But Root settled things down. He survived a major scare when Mohammad Ali bowled him for 23, only for the delivery to be called a no-ball.
It was Ali's 17th no-ball of the series.
Root had another lucky escape when, on 38, he edged Abbas between first and second slip. Neither fielder went for the catch.
The England batter made Pakistan pay for the missed opportunities. He went on to complete his 110th score of 50 or more in Test cricket, including 41 centuries.
Jordan **** provided excellent support for Root as the pair took control of the chase.
Cox remained unbeaten on 59 and helped England reach the target in just 25 overs.
Pakistan had shown plenty of fight in the third Test after conceding a massive 320-run first-innings lead. But England's dominance in the first two Tests meant the series was already heavily tilted in their favour.
Had Pakistan shown the same fight earlier in the series, the contest could have been much closer.
England's fast bowlers were the biggest difference between the two sides.
Ollie Robinson led the attack and finished the series with 21 wickets. Jofra Archer, Josh Tongue and Gus Atkinson also played important roles as England's pace attack made the most of helpful conditions.
The batting, however, was less convincing.
No England batter scored a century across the three Tests, making the series only the eighth three-match Test series without an individual hundred and just the second in England after the 1888 Ashes.
Pakistan's biggest positive came from debutant Razaullah, who produced an exciting counter-attack at Edgbaston.
His thrilling 81 off 63 **** gave Pakistan hope and briefly brought the third Test to life.
But it was too late to change the outcome of the series.
Pakistan have now lost 16 of their 21 Tests. Their difficult tour was followed by major changes, with seven players replaced in the squad after the second Test and coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and his **** istant
1 month ago
Joe Root led England to a 3-0 Test series whitewash over Pakistan after scoring an unbeaten 62 in the third Test at Edgbaston. England were chasing 130 for victory but got off to a poor start. Ben Duckett was dismissed by Mohammad Abbas with the first ball of the innings, while opener Emilio Gay also fell later in the same over.
At 2 for 2, Pakistan had a chance to put England under pressure. But Root and Jordan **** remained calm and slowly took control of the chase.
It was the first time England had whitewashed Pakistan in a home Test series.
Root survived a big scare when Mohammad Ali bowled him for 23, only for the delivery to be called a no-ball. It was Ali's 17th no-ball of the series.
Pakistan then missed another opportunity when Root, on 38, edged Abbas between first and second slip. Neither fielder went for the catch.
Root made Pakistan pay for the missed chances. His unbeaten 62 was his 110th Test innings of 50 or more, a tally that includes 41 centuries.
Cox remained unbeaten on 59 as England reached the target in the 25th over with eight wickets in hand.
Pakistan had shown more fight in the third Test after conceding a huge 320-run first-innings deficit.
Root said the difficult chase was useful for England after Pakistan had put them under pressure.
"Fair play to Pakistan, ?they threw some punches last night. They made it very difficult for us and in some ways it's a good thing to go through that," said Root.
"Test cricket is not always going to go your own way but to see us actually be quite clinical with the bat off the back of that was good too. So ?in many ways we're better for it.
"Of course there's things we will want to improve on but we ?came into this ?series with a lot of question marks and a lot of noise around the team and we've walked away 3-0 winners so ?in that respect I'm quite ?pleased."
The series came after a difficult period for England, who had been looking to recover from their defeat to New Zealand following the Ashes loss.
Root's return to the captaincy after Ben Stokes' retirement from international cricket ended with a series whitewash.
Pakistan had one major positive in the third Test. Debutant Razaullah scored an impressive 81 off 63 **** , giving his team hope and bringing energy to the contest at Edgbaston.
England's fast bowlers were once again too strong for Pakistan on helpful surfaces.
Ollie Robinson led the attack and finished the series with 21 wickets to be named England's player of the series.
"I'm a realist, I know it's not always going to be like this," said Robinson, England's player of the series.
"We know there's ?going to be tougher times ahead. We have some tough opposition coming up and we're looking forward to the challenge."
Jofra Archer, Josh Tongue and Gus Atkinson also played important roles in England's dominant series win.
England's batting was less convincing, with no batter managing to score a century in the three Tests.
At 2 for 2, Pakistan had a chance to put England under pressure. But Root and Jordan **** remained calm and slowly took control of the chase.
It was the first time England had whitewashed Pakistan in a home Test series.
Root survived a big scare when Mohammad Ali bowled him for 23, only for the delivery to be called a no-ball. It was Ali's 17th no-ball of the series.
Pakistan then missed another opportunity when Root, on 38, edged Abbas between first and second slip. Neither fielder went for the catch.
Root made Pakistan pay for the missed chances. His unbeaten 62 was his 110th Test innings of 50 or more, a tally that includes 41 centuries.
Cox remained unbeaten on 59 as England reached the target in the 25th over with eight wickets in hand.
Pakistan had shown more fight in the third Test after conceding a huge 320-run first-innings deficit.
Root said the difficult chase was useful for England after Pakistan had put them under pressure.
"Fair play to Pakistan, ?they threw some punches last night. They made it very difficult for us and in some ways it's a good thing to go through that," said Root.
"Test cricket is not always going to go your own way but to see us actually be quite clinical with the bat off the back of that was good too. So ?in many ways we're better for it.
"Of course there's things we will want to improve on but we ?came into this ?series with a lot of question marks and a lot of noise around the team and we've walked away 3-0 winners so ?in that respect I'm quite ?pleased."
The series came after a difficult period for England, who had been looking to recover from their defeat to New Zealand following the Ashes loss.
Root's return to the captaincy after Ben Stokes' retirement from international cricket ended with a series whitewash.
Pakistan had one major positive in the third Test. Debutant Razaullah scored an impressive 81 off 63 **** , giving his team hope and bringing energy to the contest at Edgbaston.
England's fast bowlers were once again too strong for Pakistan on helpful surfaces.
Ollie Robinson led the attack and finished the series with 21 wickets to be named England's player of the series.
"I'm a realist, I know it's not always going to be like this," said Robinson, England's player of the series.
"We know there's ?going to be tougher times ahead. We have some tough opposition coming up and we're looking forward to the challenge."
Jofra Archer, Josh Tongue and Gus Atkinson also played important roles in England's dominant series win.
England's batting was less convincing, with no batter managing to score a century in the three Tests.
1 month ago
England have named a 15-member squad for the third and final Rothesay Test against Pakistan, with the hosts looking to complete a 3-0 series sweep at Edgbaston from September 9. England have already secured an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series after a dominant innings-and-103-run victory at Headingley and a 194-run win at Lord's.
Fast bowler Brydon Carse remains absent from the squad as he continues to be under police investigation following his arrest in Derby last month.
Brydon Carse was left out of the second Test at Lord's after being arrested outside a nightclub on August 22. Derbyshire Police confirmed that an investigation is ongoing into allegations of ******* ault. Although Carse returned to domestic cricket last week and featured in Durham's County Championship win over Gloucestershire, he was not selected for their ongoing fixture against Northamptonshire and has not been recalled to the England squad.
Uncapped Hampshire seamer Sonny Baker, who replaced Carse ahead of the Lord's Test, retains his place in the squad. Matthew Fisher is the only player to be left out from the group that travelled to Lord's.
With England set to play six white-ball matches against Sri Lanka immediately after the Pakistan series, the management could opt to rotate some of its frontline quicks. Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson and Josh Tongue are among those who could be managed, potentially opening the door for Baker, Sam Cook or Shoaib Bashir to feature at Edgbaston.
Cook has played just one Test, against Zimbabwe last summer, while Bashir is yet to feature in the ongoing series after England opted for an all-pace attack. Baker, meanwhile, has one Test appearance to his name, having played against New Zealand at The Oval in June.
Joe Root (captain), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Sonny Baker, Shoaib Bashir, Harry Brook, Sam Cook, Jordan ******* , Ben Duckett, Emilio Gay, Dan Lawrence, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Jamie Smith, Josh Tongue.
#england #series #cook
Fast bowler Brydon Carse remains absent from the squad as he continues to be under police investigation following his arrest in Derby last month.
Brydon Carse was left out of the second Test at Lord's after being arrested outside a nightclub on August 22. Derbyshire Police confirmed that an investigation is ongoing into allegations of ******* ault. Although Carse returned to domestic cricket last week and featured in Durham's County Championship win over Gloucestershire, he was not selected for their ongoing fixture against Northamptonshire and has not been recalled to the England squad.
Uncapped Hampshire seamer Sonny Baker, who replaced Carse ahead of the Lord's Test, retains his place in the squad. Matthew Fisher is the only player to be left out from the group that travelled to Lord's.
With England set to play six white-ball matches against Sri Lanka immediately after the Pakistan series, the management could opt to rotate some of its frontline quicks. Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson and Josh Tongue are among those who could be managed, potentially opening the door for Baker, Sam Cook or Shoaib Bashir to feature at Edgbaston.
Cook has played just one Test, against Zimbabwe last summer, while Bashir is yet to feature in the ongoing series after England opted for an all-pace attack. Baker, meanwhile, has one Test appearance to his name, having played against New Zealand at The Oval in June.
Joe Root (captain), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Sonny Baker, Shoaib Bashir, Harry Brook, Sam Cook, Jordan ******* , Ben Duckett, Emilio Gay, Dan Lawrence, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Jamie Smith, Josh Tongue.
#england #series #cook
2 months ago
Stuart Broad has questioned Imam-ul-Haq's decision to practise on the sidelines while carrying a calf injury during Pakistan's second Test against England at Lord's, accusing the batter of "putting on an act".
Imam was ruled out of the remainder of the Test after suffering a low-grade strain to his left calf while fielding on the opening day. The injury came after he had dropped two catches, and Pakistan were subsequently left a batter short for the rest of the match.
The Pakistan opener did not bat in the second innings either, as his side collapsed to another heavy defeat and went 2-0 down in the three-Test series.
Ahead of play on Day 4, Imam was seen on the Lord's sidelines knocking a ball around while wearing tape around his injured calf. He appeared to be hobbling as he went through some batting practice.
There were suggestions from the Pakistan camp that Imam could potentially bat if his team needed him during the second innings. However, Broad was unimpressed by what he saw.
Speaking on Sky Sports, the former England fast bowler suggested Imam's public warm-up was designed to make a point rather than prepare him to bat.
"That's all for show. He has got a bit of stick from media and maybe his teammates. Whatever. You can do that inside the indoor school without anyone seeing, don't have to come wearing shorts and tape and hobble around like that. I am not impressed with that. Sorry," Broad said.
Broad's remarks added to questions surrounding Imam's injury, particularly after former Pakistan batter and chief selector Mohammad Wasim had previously raised concerns over the opener's injury history.
Wasim previously alleged that Imam had faked injuries to avoid playing.
Recalling an incident from 2022, Wasim said Pakistan's physiotherapist had warned him that an injury involving Imam could become an issue even before an official decision had been made.
According to Wasim, the player had previously been involved in similar situations, with coaches also raising concerns.
The comments have now resurfaced after Imam was ruled out at Lord's, although Pakistan's management maintained that he was dealing with a calf strain.
Whatever the circumstances surrounding Imam's injury, his absence was felt as Pakistan's batting once again failed to put up a fight.
Chasing an imposing 389 for victory, Pakistan slipped to 14/3 and were soon staring at another defeat. Saud Shakeel provided some resistance, putting together a 97-run fourth-wicket partnership with Shan Masood before taking on the England attack alongside the tail.
Shakeel looked on course for a determined century but was dismissed for 97, falling to the short ball he had repeatedly attacked during his innings.
His score accounted for more than half of Pakistan's total as wickets continued to tumble at the other end.
Ollie Robinson produced a decisive four-wicket burst, Josh Tongue cleaned up the tail with three wickets and Jofra Archer claimed two as Englan
Imam was ruled out of the remainder of the Test after suffering a low-grade strain to his left calf while fielding on the opening day. The injury came after he had dropped two catches, and Pakistan were subsequently left a batter short for the rest of the match.
The Pakistan opener did not bat in the second innings either, as his side collapsed to another heavy defeat and went 2-0 down in the three-Test series.
Ahead of play on Day 4, Imam was seen on the Lord's sidelines knocking a ball around while wearing tape around his injured calf. He appeared to be hobbling as he went through some batting practice.
There were suggestions from the Pakistan camp that Imam could potentially bat if his team needed him during the second innings. However, Broad was unimpressed by what he saw.
Speaking on Sky Sports, the former England fast bowler suggested Imam's public warm-up was designed to make a point rather than prepare him to bat.
"That's all for show. He has got a bit of stick from media and maybe his teammates. Whatever. You can do that inside the indoor school without anyone seeing, don't have to come wearing shorts and tape and hobble around like that. I am not impressed with that. Sorry," Broad said.
Broad's remarks added to questions surrounding Imam's injury, particularly after former Pakistan batter and chief selector Mohammad Wasim had previously raised concerns over the opener's injury history.
Wasim previously alleged that Imam had faked injuries to avoid playing.
Recalling an incident from 2022, Wasim said Pakistan's physiotherapist had warned him that an injury involving Imam could become an issue even before an official decision had been made.
According to Wasim, the player had previously been involved in similar situations, with coaches also raising concerns.
The comments have now resurfaced after Imam was ruled out at Lord's, although Pakistan's management maintained that he was dealing with a calf strain.
Whatever the circumstances surrounding Imam's injury, his absence was felt as Pakistan's batting once again failed to put up a fight.
Chasing an imposing 389 for victory, Pakistan slipped to 14/3 and were soon staring at another defeat. Saud Shakeel provided some resistance, putting together a 97-run fourth-wicket partnership with Shan Masood before taking on the England attack alongside the tail.
Shakeel looked on course for a determined century but was dismissed for 97, falling to the short ball he had repeatedly attacked during his innings.
His score accounted for more than half of Pakistan's total as wickets continued to tumble at the other end.
Ollie Robinson produced a decisive four-wicket burst, Josh Tongue cleaned up the tail with three wickets and Jofra Archer claimed two as Englan
2 months ago
Hypotheticals and hindsight are not typically the favoured topics of the professional sports team but there is an alternative England scenario worth pondering. Had Sam Curran been fully fit to bowl ahead of this Pakistan series, the likelihood is that the Surrey all-rounder would have earned a recall to the Test squad for the first time in five years, a replacement of sorts after Ben Stokes had gone down in a blaze of gory batting at Trent Bridge.
Would Curran have featured in England's XI? The **** umption must be that he would not have but the very fact that he was under consideration at all shows the tricky question that Joe Root's side were attempting to answer. How does one replace the irreplaceable? Well, it seems, the answer is to not replace Stokes at all. There is no point, of course, selecting a seam all-rounder when you have specialists bowling the way that England's pace foursome have in this series so far.
England wrapped up a speedy victory over Pakistan at Lord's (Getty)
One must weigh Pakistan's paucity as mitigation against declarations of the brilliance of this attack but the evidence is increasingly persuasive about the group's potential. After the Headingley Test, Root had declared that the quartet of Ollie Robinson, Jofra Archer, Josh Tongue and Gus Atkinson did not know how good they could be and another standout showing at Lord's will not dim his praise. Of all English bowlers in Test history, Root can currently call upon three of the five men with strike rates beneath 44 and still have Archer to spare; if the fast forwarding of Test cricket is partly to blame, any skipper would enjoy that sort of potency.
"Each day it will be someone else's turn," Archer said during the second Test. "Everyone is relentless, everyone wants wickets and it feels like no-one is ever going to be overworked because everyone shares the overs out. You don't have to do too much because someone is going to back you up until you find your feet again."
#Pakistan
Would Curran have featured in England's XI? The **** umption must be that he would not have but the very fact that he was under consideration at all shows the tricky question that Joe Root's side were attempting to answer. How does one replace the irreplaceable? Well, it seems, the answer is to not replace Stokes at all. There is no point, of course, selecting a seam all-rounder when you have specialists bowling the way that England's pace foursome have in this series so far.
England wrapped up a speedy victory over Pakistan at Lord's (Getty)
One must weigh Pakistan's paucity as mitigation against declarations of the brilliance of this attack but the evidence is increasingly persuasive about the group's potential. After the Headingley Test, Root had declared that the quartet of Ollie Robinson, Jofra Archer, Josh Tongue and Gus Atkinson did not know how good they could be and another standout showing at Lord's will not dim his praise. Of all English bowlers in Test history, Root can currently call upon three of the five men with strike rates beneath 44 and still have Archer to spare; if the fast forwarding of Test cricket is partly to blame, any skipper would enjoy that sort of potency.
"Each day it will be someone else's turn," Archer said during the second Test. "Everyone is relentless, everyone wants wickets and it feels like no-one is ever going to be overworked because everyone shares the overs out. You don't have to do too much because someone is going to back you up until you find your feet again."
#Pakistan
2 months ago
Jofra Archer produced the fastest spell of his Test career as England bowled Pakistan out for 110 on Day 2 of the second Test at Lord's and took complete control of the match.
England's pace attack made full use of the conditions after Pakistan resumed with hopes of staying in the game. Ollie Robinson finished with 4/11, Archer took 3/26 and Josh Tongue returned 2/27 as Pakistan were dismissed for 110, giving England a first-innings lead of 180 runs.
Archer set the tone with a five-over spell before lunch that brought the first breakthrough. According to CricViz, his opening spell averaged 90.7 mph, with some deliveries touching 94 mph. He dismissed Pakistan captain Shan Masood, who was caught behind, as the visitors went into lunch at 16/2 after 14.1 overs.
Despite the numbers on the speed gun, Archer said he was not convinced they were accurate.
"Nah, the speed gun isn't working properly," the 31-year-old said. "I saw some of them [speeds] and I was like, it didn't really feel that way. I don't know who's up in the box working it, but thanks. I remember playing here in the Ashes in 2019 and thinking the same thing. Maybe the speed guns are a little bit dodgy here."
Robinson and Tongue continued the pressure after Archer's opening burst. Archer praised the pace attack for working together rather than relying on one bowler.
"Everyone chips in. Ollie's been phenomenal since he started [playing] again. Gus and Tonguey, everyone's picking up the slack," Archer said. "With this attack you don't have to go and do too much. You don't have to try too hard. You know someone's going to back you up."
Pakistan's batting struggled throughout the innings. Opener Azan Awais was the only batter to offer resistance with 46, before pulling Robinson to deep square leg. Saud Shakeel was the next highest scorer with 16.
England ended the day on 81/3 in their second innings, extending their overall lead to 261 runs.
Even with rain forecast on Day 3, England remain in a commanding position as they look to secure their first home Test series win in two years.
#spell
England's pace attack made full use of the conditions after Pakistan resumed with hopes of staying in the game. Ollie Robinson finished with 4/11, Archer took 3/26 and Josh Tongue returned 2/27 as Pakistan were dismissed for 110, giving England a first-innings lead of 180 runs.
Archer set the tone with a five-over spell before lunch that brought the first breakthrough. According to CricViz, his opening spell averaged 90.7 mph, with some deliveries touching 94 mph. He dismissed Pakistan captain Shan Masood, who was caught behind, as the visitors went into lunch at 16/2 after 14.1 overs.
Despite the numbers on the speed gun, Archer said he was not convinced they were accurate.
"Nah, the speed gun isn't working properly," the 31-year-old said. "I saw some of them [speeds] and I was like, it didn't really feel that way. I don't know who's up in the box working it, but thanks. I remember playing here in the Ashes in 2019 and thinking the same thing. Maybe the speed guns are a little bit dodgy here."
Robinson and Tongue continued the pressure after Archer's opening burst. Archer praised the pace attack for working together rather than relying on one bowler.
"Everyone chips in. Ollie's been phenomenal since he started [playing] again. Gus and Tonguey, everyone's picking up the slack," Archer said. "With this attack you don't have to go and do too much. You don't have to try too hard. You know someone's going to back you up."
Pakistan's batting struggled throughout the innings. Opener Azan Awais was the only batter to offer resistance with 46, before pulling Robinson to deep square leg. Saud Shakeel was the next highest scorer with 16.
England ended the day on 81/3 in their second innings, extending their overall lead to 261 runs.
Even with rain forecast on Day 3, England remain in a commanding position as they look to secure their first home Test series win in two years.
#spell
2 months ago
Former England fast bowler Stuart Broad has delivered a blunt verdict on Pakistan, describing them as a "poor side" and backing England to complete a 3-0 clean sweep in the three-Test series.
Speaking on The Love for Cricket Podcast, Broad was critical of Pakistan's current Test team and suggested England should be expected to dominate the series.
"They are a poor side, they are not a really good side. You would imagine and you'd think that England should win 3-0. And pretty comfortably," Broad said.
The former England pacer, however, acknowledged that a clean sweep cannot be taken for granted. He added that failing to win the series would represent a major disappointment for the hosts.
"But that isn't guaranteed. But if England don't come out with a Test match series win, it really is a huge failure," Broad said.
His comments came after Pakistan endured a difficult opening two days in the first Test at Headingley in Leeds. Pakistan were bowled out for just 171 on the opening day, with England's bowlers exposing the tourists' batting problems.
England then took firm control with the bat, reaching 366-8 by stumps on Day 2 to secure a 195-run first-innings lead.
Joe Root and Harry Brook were among four England batters to register half-centuries. Root made 66 and shared a 150-run partnership with Jordan ******* , who scored 73, while Dan Lawrence contributed 51 on his return to Test cricket after two years.
Brook, meanwhile, narrowly missed out on a century at his home ground. The world's top-ranked Test batter made 91 after surviving an early scare when he was dropped on one. He was eventually dismissed by Pakistan spinner Ali Usman, who claimed 5-92 for his first five-wicket haul in Test cricket.
England maintained a brisk scoring rate of 4.46 runs per over, although the approach was less aggressive than the traditional Bazball style ******* ociated with the previous Stokes-McCullum era.
Root also missed an opportunity to add another landmark century to his record. After reaching 66, England's new Test captain was trapped lbw by Khurram Shahzad and wasted a review, with the ball-tracking showing it would have hit the middle stump.
At stumps, Jamie Smith was unbeaten on 16, with Jofra Archer yet to score.
With England already holding a commanding position in the first Test, Broad's prediction of a 3-0 series victory will only add to the pressure on Pakistan as the visitors look to fight their way back into the contest.
133395898
#england #first #root #side
Speaking on The Love for Cricket Podcast, Broad was critical of Pakistan's current Test team and suggested England should be expected to dominate the series.
"They are a poor side, they are not a really good side. You would imagine and you'd think that England should win 3-0. And pretty comfortably," Broad said.
The former England pacer, however, acknowledged that a clean sweep cannot be taken for granted. He added that failing to win the series would represent a major disappointment for the hosts.
"But that isn't guaranteed. But if England don't come out with a Test match series win, it really is a huge failure," Broad said.
His comments came after Pakistan endured a difficult opening two days in the first Test at Headingley in Leeds. Pakistan were bowled out for just 171 on the opening day, with England's bowlers exposing the tourists' batting problems.
England then took firm control with the bat, reaching 366-8 by stumps on Day 2 to secure a 195-run first-innings lead.
Joe Root and Harry Brook were among four England batters to register half-centuries. Root made 66 and shared a 150-run partnership with Jordan ******* , who scored 73, while Dan Lawrence contributed 51 on his return to Test cricket after two years.
Brook, meanwhile, narrowly missed out on a century at his home ground. The world's top-ranked Test batter made 91 after surviving an early scare when he was dropped on one. He was eventually dismissed by Pakistan spinner Ali Usman, who claimed 5-92 for his first five-wicket haul in Test cricket.
England maintained a brisk scoring rate of 4.46 runs per over, although the approach was less aggressive than the traditional Bazball style ******* ociated with the previous Stokes-McCullum era.
Root also missed an opportunity to add another landmark century to his record. After reaching 66, England's new Test captain was trapped lbw by Khurram Shahzad and wasted a review, with the ball-tracking showing it would have hit the middle stump.
At stumps, Jamie Smith was unbeaten on 16, with Jofra Archer yet to score.
With England already holding a commanding position in the first Test, Broad's prediction of a 3-0 series victory will only add to the pressure on Pakistan as the visitors look to fight their way back into the contest.
133395898
#england #first #root #side
2 months ago
Joe Root returns to the England captaincy and Headingley offers him a fittingly symbolic stage for his second act as England take on Pakistan.
Ben Stokes has retired, taking with him the balance he provided across bat and ball, while Root inherits a side still searching for identity after a bruising summer against New Zealand.
Pakistan's Caribbean triumph ended a miserable run without an away win and Babar Azam's troublesome hand has dominated the build-up.
England come into this series as deserved favourites, with conditions at Headingley only strengthening their case.
Home advantage has counted for plenty here down the years, and England's fast-bowling depth gives them several routes to unsettle Pakistan's top order. Jofra Archer has returned to something like his best, and his pace should trouble a batting line-up containing three left-handers who haven't always looked entirely comfortable against extreme speed.
#jofra
Ben Stokes has retired, taking with him the balance he provided across bat and ball, while Root inherits a side still searching for identity after a bruising summer against New Zealand.
Pakistan's Caribbean triumph ended a miserable run without an away win and Babar Azam's troublesome hand has dominated the build-up.
England come into this series as deserved favourites, with conditions at Headingley only strengthening their case.
Home advantage has counted for plenty here down the years, and England's fast-bowling depth gives them several routes to unsettle Pakistan's top order. Jofra Archer has returned to something like his best, and his pace should trouble a batting line-up containing three left-handers who haven't always looked entirely comfortable against extreme speed.
#jofra
2 months ago
England have received a boost ahead of their three-match Test series against Pakistan, with opener Emilio Gay reportedly expected to recover in time for the first Test at Headingley, beginning August 19. Gay suffered a shoulder injury while playing for Durham against Middlesex on Friday, but scans have reportedly shown no serious damage.
Gay made his Test debut against New Zealand earlier this year and scored two half-centuries in the three-match series. Despite some inconsistency, his partnership with Ben Duckett impressed England's management, who want to give him more opportunities after dropping Zak Crawley.
According to the Daily Mail Sport, Gay's scan on Saturday revealed no major injury, meaning he should be available to resume his opening partnership with Duckett against Pakistan.
The series will also be Joe Root's first official ******* ignment as England's Test captain since returning to the role. Newly appointed head coach Stephen Fleming has been involved in selecting the squad, while Marcus Trescothick will oversee the team as interim head coach for this series before Fleming takes full charge.
133071954
England will be without top-order batter Jacob Bethell, who has been ruled out after suffering a knee injury during the team's recent 2-1 ODI series win over India.
England enter the series after losing 2-1 at home to New Zealand, while Pakistan drew their recent Test series in the West Indies.
England squad for first two Tests against Pakistan: Joe Root (captain), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Sam Cook, Jordan ******* , Ben Duckett, Matthew Fisher, Emilio Gay, Dan Lawrence, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Jamie Smith, and Josh Tongue.
#duckett #fleming
Gay made his Test debut against New Zealand earlier this year and scored two half-centuries in the three-match series. Despite some inconsistency, his partnership with Ben Duckett impressed England's management, who want to give him more opportunities after dropping Zak Crawley.
According to the Daily Mail Sport, Gay's scan on Saturday revealed no major injury, meaning he should be available to resume his opening partnership with Duckett against Pakistan.
The series will also be Joe Root's first official ******* ignment as England's Test captain since returning to the role. Newly appointed head coach Stephen Fleming has been involved in selecting the squad, while Marcus Trescothick will oversee the team as interim head coach for this series before Fleming takes full charge.
133071954
England will be without top-order batter Jacob Bethell, who has been ruled out after suffering a knee injury during the team's recent 2-1 ODI series win over India.
England enter the series after losing 2-1 at home to New Zealand, while Pakistan drew their recent Test series in the West Indies.
England squad for first two Tests against Pakistan: Joe Root (captain), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Sam Cook, Jordan ******* , Ben Duckett, Matthew Fisher, Emilio Gay, Dan Lawrence, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Jamie Smith, and Josh Tongue.
#duckett #fleming
2 months ago
England have named a 16-member squad for the first two Tests of the three-match series against Pakistan, which begins later this month and is part of the ongoing ICC World Test Championship cycle.
The squad marks the start of a new phase for England after the retirement of Ben Stokes and the departure of head coach Brendon McCullum.
Ollie Pope, Dan Lawrence and Sam Cook have all returned to the Test squad, while Jordan ******* is also back and is expected to bat at No. 3, according to The Guardian. ******* gets the opportunity after Jacob Bethell was ruled out of the series with an injury.
England are coming into the series after losing to New Zealand and will now begin life under returning captain Joe Root and interim head coach Marcus Trescothick.
Root, who was reappointed Test captain in July, will lead England for the first time since returning to the role. Fleming, who has been appointed as McCullum's replacement, will take charge from the Test series against South Africa in December.
The first Test begins at Headingley on August 19. England have named a 16-player squad, giving Root several options before deciding on the final XI.
133008880
One of the main selection decisions will be how to balance the side without a genuine all-rounder following Stokes' retirement.
Shoaib Bashir remains England's main spin option in the squad, while Lawrence's recall is not only because he is the leading run-scorer in Division One of the County Championship. He is set to bat at No. 6, but his off-spin could allow England to field four frontline fast bowlers at Headingley.
England squad: Joe Root (captain), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Sam Cook, Jordan ******* , Ben Duckett, Matthew Fisher, Emilio Gay, Dan Lawrence, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Jamie Smith, Josh Tongue.
#test #squad #ollie #stokes
The squad marks the start of a new phase for England after the retirement of Ben Stokes and the departure of head coach Brendon McCullum.
Ollie Pope, Dan Lawrence and Sam Cook have all returned to the Test squad, while Jordan ******* is also back and is expected to bat at No. 3, according to The Guardian. ******* gets the opportunity after Jacob Bethell was ruled out of the series with an injury.
England are coming into the series after losing to New Zealand and will now begin life under returning captain Joe Root and interim head coach Marcus Trescothick.
Root, who was reappointed Test captain in July, will lead England for the first time since returning to the role. Fleming, who has been appointed as McCullum's replacement, will take charge from the Test series against South Africa in December.
The first Test begins at Headingley on August 19. England have named a 16-player squad, giving Root several options before deciding on the final XI.
133008880
One of the main selection decisions will be how to balance the side without a genuine all-rounder following Stokes' retirement.
Shoaib Bashir remains England's main spin option in the squad, while Lawrence's recall is not only because he is the leading run-scorer in Division One of the County Championship. He is set to bat at No. 6, but his off-spin could allow England to field four frontline fast bowlers at Headingley.
England squad: Joe Root (captain), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Sam Cook, Jordan ******* , Ben Duckett, Matthew Fisher, Emilio Gay, Dan Lawrence, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Jamie Smith, Josh Tongue.
#test #squad #ollie #stokes
2 months ago
Surrey duo Ollie Pope and Dan Lawrence have been recalled to the England squad for the first two Tests against Pakistan.
The pair have been named in a 16-man squad before the series opener at Headingley on Wednesday 19 August but Jacob Bethell will miss the entire series through injury.
The three-match series marks England's first Test outing since the retirement of captain Ben Stokes and sacking of head coach Brendon McCullum.
Joe Root will captain the side for the first time since being reappointed to the role in July, with Marcus Trescothick serving as interim head coach. McCullum's replacement, Stephen Fleming, will begin his tenure against South Africa in December.
England's 16-man squad for the first two Tests against Pakistan: Joe Root (c), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Sam Cook, Jordan ****** , Ben Duckett, Matthew Fisher, Emilio Gay, Dan Lawrence, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Jamie Smith, Josh Tongue.
#first #tests
The pair have been named in a 16-man squad before the series opener at Headingley on Wednesday 19 August but Jacob Bethell will miss the entire series through injury.
The three-match series marks England's first Test outing since the retirement of captain Ben Stokes and sacking of head coach Brendon McCullum.
Joe Root will captain the side for the first time since being reappointed to the role in July, with Marcus Trescothick serving as interim head coach. McCullum's replacement, Stephen Fleming, will begin his tenure against South Africa in December.
England's 16-man squad for the first two Tests against Pakistan: Joe Root (c), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Sam Cook, Jordan ****** , Ben Duckett, Matthew Fisher, Emilio Gay, Dan Lawrence, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Jamie Smith, Josh Tongue.
#first #tests
3 months ago
After the bruising their T20 side endured on the UK tour, this Zimbabwe series could be just the ideal fillip India needed.
Having finally recorded their maiden win under new T20 captain Shreyas Iyer after seven winless matches at the helm, India will look to secure an unassailable 2-0 lead when they take on Zimbabwe in the second T20I at the Harare Sports Club on Saturday.
Following a difficult run that saw them whitewashed by Ireland (0-2) and England (0-4), India's convincing sevenwicket victory in the seriesopener has restored some much-needed confidence.
Yet, even as the visitors look to build on that momentum, one player who will be under the scanner is explosive opener Abhishek Sharma.
Two years ago, Harare was the venue where Abhishek announced himself on the international stage with a breathtaking maiden T20I hundred in only his second game.
The stylish left-hander returns to the same ground searching for a spark after a worrying dip in form. Having begun the England series promisingly with scores of 59 and 43, Abhishek's returns thereafter have read 10, 16, 3 and 1. In Thursday's opener, his uncomfortable eight-ball 1 suggested a batter short on rhythm and confidence.
With competition for places intensifying, Abhishek knows he needs runs. Senior opener Sanju Samson, though absent on this tour, remains in the selectors' plans and has been named in India's squad for the Asian Games later this year. A substantial score in Harare would not only help India seal the series but also strengthen Abhishek's own case in a rapidly evolving T20 setup.
India, though, found a new hero in the opening match.
Teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi smashed a stunning 18-ball fifty, becoming the youngest player to score a T20I half-century.
The 15-year-old, who had endured a difficult England tour where pacy bowlers like Jofra Archer tested him relentlessly with short-pitched bowling, responded in style against Zimbabwe.
Taking on Richard Ngarava and Blessing Muzarabani fearlessly, he produced a blistering innings that underlined why he is so highly rated.
Supported by Ishan Kishan's brisk 35 and an unbeaten 28 from skipper Iyer, Sooryavanshi ensured India chased down the target with more than six overs to spare.
Head coach VVS Laxman would have been equally pleased by the performance of India's revamped pace attack. The biggest positive was the return of Mayank Yadav, who made an impressive comeback after two injury-ravaged years. The Delhi quick finished with figures of 2 for 18 and consistently touched high speeds, with his opening delivery to Brian Bennett at 150 kmph indidcating that his pace remains intact.
Prince Yadav also showed signs of improvement after a lean England tour, while debutant Ashok Sharma displayed enough promise to suggest he could become another exciting fast-bowling option.
#zimbabwe #harare #iyer
Having finally recorded their maiden win under new T20 captain Shreyas Iyer after seven winless matches at the helm, India will look to secure an unassailable 2-0 lead when they take on Zimbabwe in the second T20I at the Harare Sports Club on Saturday.
Following a difficult run that saw them whitewashed by Ireland (0-2) and England (0-4), India's convincing sevenwicket victory in the seriesopener has restored some much-needed confidence.
Yet, even as the visitors look to build on that momentum, one player who will be under the scanner is explosive opener Abhishek Sharma.
Two years ago, Harare was the venue where Abhishek announced himself on the international stage with a breathtaking maiden T20I hundred in only his second game.
The stylish left-hander returns to the same ground searching for a spark after a worrying dip in form. Having begun the England series promisingly with scores of 59 and 43, Abhishek's returns thereafter have read 10, 16, 3 and 1. In Thursday's opener, his uncomfortable eight-ball 1 suggested a batter short on rhythm and confidence.
With competition for places intensifying, Abhishek knows he needs runs. Senior opener Sanju Samson, though absent on this tour, remains in the selectors' plans and has been named in India's squad for the Asian Games later this year. A substantial score in Harare would not only help India seal the series but also strengthen Abhishek's own case in a rapidly evolving T20 setup.
India, though, found a new hero in the opening match.
Teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi smashed a stunning 18-ball fifty, becoming the youngest player to score a T20I half-century.
The 15-year-old, who had endured a difficult England tour where pacy bowlers like Jofra Archer tested him relentlessly with short-pitched bowling, responded in style against Zimbabwe.
Taking on Richard Ngarava and Blessing Muzarabani fearlessly, he produced a blistering innings that underlined why he is so highly rated.
Supported by Ishan Kishan's brisk 35 and an unbeaten 28 from skipper Iyer, Sooryavanshi ensured India chased down the target with more than six overs to spare.
Head coach VVS Laxman would have been equally pleased by the performance of India's revamped pace attack. The biggest positive was the return of Mayank Yadav, who made an impressive comeback after two injury-ravaged years. The Delhi quick finished with figures of 2 for 18 and consistently touched high speeds, with his opening delivery to Brian Bennett at 150 kmph indidcating that his pace remains intact.
Prince Yadav also showed signs of improvement after a lean England tour, while debutant Ashok Sharma displayed enough promise to suggest he could become another exciting fast-bowling option.
#zimbabwe #harare #iyer
3 months ago
Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza has backed teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to emerge as a "generational talent", urging people not to judge the 15-year-old after a difficult start to his international career.
Sooryavanshi endured a challenging debut T20I series in England, scoring 14, 13 and 15 in three appearances as India went down 0-4. The young opener also struggled against Jofra Archer's short-ball, falling to the England pacer twice during the series.
Despite the modest returns, Raza believes the youngster has the ability to become one of the game's brightest stars if his development is managed carefully.
"Vaibhav is a supremely talented cricketer. If a 15-year-old kid is playing international cricket, criticising him after just two or three matches isn't justified," Raza said on JioStar.
"I think Vaibhav has a lot of very good senior cricketers around him. If he is managed and handled well, I think Vaibhav could be a generational talent."
The India opener now returns to Harare, a venue that holds special memories for him after his remarkable 175 off 80 ****** against England in the Under-19 World Cup final in January helped India lift the ****** le.
With Sanju Samson unavailable for the Zimbabwe tour, Sooryavanshi is expected to receive another opportunity at the top of the order when the three-match T20I series gets underway on Thursday.
Raza said the teenager's rise through the ranks at such a young age is already an extraordinary achievement and stressed the importance of nurturing his talent.
"To see what he has done over the last year, what he has done for India Under-19, and the fact that he made his international debut at the same age, these are no small feats by any means.
"You don't get to hear such stories nowadays. Vaibhav is special. It will be important how he is managed and handled," he added.
Looking ahead to the series, Raza rejected suggestions that India would start as overwhelming favourites despite Zimbabwe facing the reigning T20 world champions.
"Both countries will have an equal chance in this series. But one thing I am very sure about is that because Zimbabwe has been playing very consistent and very entertaining cricket, I can say this for sure that this series will be very entertaining," Raza told Star Sports.
Zimbabwe head into the contest with confidence after a series of impressive results, including a memorable 23-run victory over Australia at the ICC T20 World Cup in Colombo in February, a result that played a key role in Australia's surprise group-stage exit. They have also registered wins over Sri Lanka and Bangladesh this year.
"As far as winning or losing is concerned, both countries have an equal chance to win the series," said Raza, who has represented Zimbabwe in 136 T20Is.
The experienced all-rounder acknowledged India's fearless batting approach, saying it can either overwhelm opponents or leave the door open if things do not go according to plan.
Sooryavanshi endured a challenging debut T20I series in England, scoring 14, 13 and 15 in three appearances as India went down 0-4. The young opener also struggled against Jofra Archer's short-ball, falling to the England pacer twice during the series.
Despite the modest returns, Raza believes the youngster has the ability to become one of the game's brightest stars if his development is managed carefully.
"Vaibhav is a supremely talented cricketer. If a 15-year-old kid is playing international cricket, criticising him after just two or three matches isn't justified," Raza said on JioStar.
"I think Vaibhav has a lot of very good senior cricketers around him. If he is managed and handled well, I think Vaibhav could be a generational talent."
The India opener now returns to Harare, a venue that holds special memories for him after his remarkable 175 off 80 ****** against England in the Under-19 World Cup final in January helped India lift the ****** le.
With Sanju Samson unavailable for the Zimbabwe tour, Sooryavanshi is expected to receive another opportunity at the top of the order when the three-match T20I series gets underway on Thursday.
Raza said the teenager's rise through the ranks at such a young age is already an extraordinary achievement and stressed the importance of nurturing his talent.
"To see what he has done over the last year, what he has done for India Under-19, and the fact that he made his international debut at the same age, these are no small feats by any means.
"You don't get to hear such stories nowadays. Vaibhav is special. It will be important how he is managed and handled," he added.
Looking ahead to the series, Raza rejected suggestions that India would start as overwhelming favourites despite Zimbabwe facing the reigning T20 world champions.
"Both countries will have an equal chance in this series. But one thing I am very sure about is that because Zimbabwe has been playing very consistent and very entertaining cricket, I can say this for sure that this series will be very entertaining," Raza told Star Sports.
Zimbabwe head into the contest with confidence after a series of impressive results, including a memorable 23-run victory over Australia at the ICC T20 World Cup in Colombo in February, a result that played a key role in Australia's surprise group-stage exit. They have also registered wins over Sri Lanka and Bangladesh this year.
"As far as winning or losing is concerned, both countries have an equal chance to win the series," said Raza, who has represented Zimbabwe in 136 T20Is.
The experienced all-rounder acknowledged India's fearless batting approach, saying it can either overwhelm opponents or leave the door open if things do not go according to plan.
3 months ago
TimesofIndia.com in Birmingham: All-rounders Axar Patel and Washington Sundar successfully guided Team India to a 259-run chase in the first ODI against England at Edgbaston in Birmingham on Tuesday. The six-wicket victory ended India's three-week winless streak in the UK, where they had suffered a 0-2 defeat to Ireland and a 0-4 whitewash against England in the T20I series. The win also extended India's unbeaten run against England in ODIs to six consecutive victories while ending England's seven-match winning streak at Edgbaston.
The 102-run stand between Axar and Washington for the fifth wicket, under the blazing sun, lifted the proverbial clouds that had briefly converged over India's march towards victory. In a matter of 20 minutes, India lost skipper Shubman Gill to cramps, Shreyas Iyer to a run-out, and KL Rahul, who dragged a wide delivery onto his stumps. India went from 149/2 to 160/4 in a jiffy, with the trio back in the hut. England, who had been pegged back by the 101-run partnership between Gill (80 off 75 ****** ) and Iyer (35 off 53 ****** ), were suddenly roaring in celebration, as were the 20,744 in attendance. 'Wonderwall', 'It's Coming Home' and 'Hey Jude' echoed around the ground as the FIFA World Cup fever, fuelled by Harry Kane & Co.'s run to the semi-finals, blended with England's surge at Edgbaston.
With 99 runs still required, the challenge was less about the required run rate of 4.5 an over and more about handling the sudden pressure after the loss of three quick wickets. Both Axar and Washington had just arrived at the crease and faced a daunting task. Instead of being bogged down, the southpaws, the first left-handers in India's XI after the quartet of right-handers, tackled the situation with aplomb.
The duo saw off Will Jacks and Sam Curran, with the four overs yielding just nine runs. Adil Rashid's reintroduction allowed Washington to free his arms with a boundary and a nine-run over. The next two overs, as Curran and Jacks continued, yielded 18 runs, with the duo's confidence evidently growing.
Axar was the main man at this stage. A slog sweep off Jacks and consecutive boundaries off Jofra Archer meant the runs were starting to flow comfortably. At the other end, Washington enjoyed watching his teammate bat.
"The way he batted was magical and it was a treat for me to watch from the other end," he said at the post-match press conference.
The next four overs reflected the same level-headed approach. As the fifty-run partnership came and went, the duo collected nine runs in three overs while seeing off Archer's full quota of 10 overs. The following two overs produced another 19 runs, allowing Axar and Washington to slow things down again over the next three overs.
Having navigated the chase to perfection, the duo grew in confidence and momentum, fittingly capped by Washington's cracking shot in the 45th over that sealed the match. A floated delivery from Adil Rashid was too full and in the slot for
The 102-run stand between Axar and Washington for the fifth wicket, under the blazing sun, lifted the proverbial clouds that had briefly converged over India's march towards victory. In a matter of 20 minutes, India lost skipper Shubman Gill to cramps, Shreyas Iyer to a run-out, and KL Rahul, who dragged a wide delivery onto his stumps. India went from 149/2 to 160/4 in a jiffy, with the trio back in the hut. England, who had been pegged back by the 101-run partnership between Gill (80 off 75 ****** ) and Iyer (35 off 53 ****** ), were suddenly roaring in celebration, as were the 20,744 in attendance. 'Wonderwall', 'It's Coming Home' and 'Hey Jude' echoed around the ground as the FIFA World Cup fever, fuelled by Harry Kane & Co.'s run to the semi-finals, blended with England's surge at Edgbaston.
With 99 runs still required, the challenge was less about the required run rate of 4.5 an over and more about handling the sudden pressure after the loss of three quick wickets. Both Axar and Washington had just arrived at the crease and faced a daunting task. Instead of being bogged down, the southpaws, the first left-handers in India's XI after the quartet of right-handers, tackled the situation with aplomb.
The duo saw off Will Jacks and Sam Curran, with the four overs yielding just nine runs. Adil Rashid's reintroduction allowed Washington to free his arms with a boundary and a nine-run over. The next two overs, as Curran and Jacks continued, yielded 18 runs, with the duo's confidence evidently growing.
Axar was the main man at this stage. A slog sweep off Jacks and consecutive boundaries off Jofra Archer meant the runs were starting to flow comfortably. At the other end, Washington enjoyed watching his teammate bat.
"The way he batted was magical and it was a treat for me to watch from the other end," he said at the post-match press conference.
The next four overs reflected the same level-headed approach. As the fifty-run partnership came and went, the duo collected nine runs in three overs while seeing off Archer's full quota of 10 overs. The following two overs produced another 19 runs, allowing Axar and Washington to slow things down again over the next three overs.
Having navigated the chase to perfection, the duo grew in confidence and momentum, fittingly capped by Washington's cracking shot in the 45th over that sealed the match. A floated delivery from Adil Rashid was too full and in the slot for
3 months ago
Royal Challengers Bengaluru batting coach and mentor Dinesh Karthik believes Andy Flower would be an outstanding candidate to succeed Brendon McCullum as England's Test head coach but feels the Zimbabwean is unlikely to leave the IPL franchise because of his existing commitments.
England are searching for a new Test coach after McCullum stepped down from the role following a disappointing run in red-ball cricket. While he will continue to oversee England's white-ball teams, the Test side is looking for a fresh leader after the end of the 'Bazball' era.
Flower, who previously guided England to the top of the ICC Test rankings and their last Ashes triumph in Australia, has emerged as one of the names linked with the vacancy. However, Karthik believes balancing England's Test calendar with Flower's commitments at RCB would be extremely difficult.
"In all seriousness, I think he'll be a great candidate," Karthik said on the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast.
"He definitely should be one of the names thought of, but I would be very surprised if he took it, considering where England are and his packed schedule as well. He used to do a lot of leagues, and I'm sure that he didn't have time. I read an article which said that England will be happy to accommodate IPL and then the rest of Test cricket, but with the schedule being the way it is, [it'll be very difficult]. Like, when Jacob Bethell didn't come in for the first Test, Jofra Archer not being available, it kicked up a fuss, and there were plenty of people saying, 'Why? How come one of the players is not there?'"
Karthik also questioned whether England could accept their Test coach missing matches during the IPL, pointing to Flower's commitment with Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
"With Andy Flower, with an already pre-signed contract with RCB, which would mean that he would miss parts of all those [Tests]. Will it be okay for England in the preparation for the Ashes if they don't have a coach for a Test match or two? I heard there's a Test match against Bangladesh in May next year, and if Andy Flower is doing RCB, that could be a challenge as well."
Despite those concerns, Karthik had no doubts about Flower's coaching credentials.
"Is he good? Definitely. He is probably one of the best in the world, if not the best. Will he have time? That's the question. I would be very surprised if the answer is a yes," he said.
Flower joined RCB ahead of the 2024 IPL season on a three-year deal and has remained a key figure in the franchise's coaching set-up. While he is among the leading contenders to replace McCullum, Karthik believes the demands of international cricket and franchise commitments make such a move difficult to envisage.
England are searching for a new Test coach after McCullum stepped down from the role following a disappointing run in red-ball cricket. While he will continue to oversee England's white-ball teams, the Test side is looking for a fresh leader after the end of the 'Bazball' era.
Flower, who previously guided England to the top of the ICC Test rankings and their last Ashes triumph in Australia, has emerged as one of the names linked with the vacancy. However, Karthik believes balancing England's Test calendar with Flower's commitments at RCB would be extremely difficult.
"In all seriousness, I think he'll be a great candidate," Karthik said on the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast.
"He definitely should be one of the names thought of, but I would be very surprised if he took it, considering where England are and his packed schedule as well. He used to do a lot of leagues, and I'm sure that he didn't have time. I read an article which said that England will be happy to accommodate IPL and then the rest of Test cricket, but with the schedule being the way it is, [it'll be very difficult]. Like, when Jacob Bethell didn't come in for the first Test, Jofra Archer not being available, it kicked up a fuss, and there were plenty of people saying, 'Why? How come one of the players is not there?'"
Karthik also questioned whether England could accept their Test coach missing matches during the IPL, pointing to Flower's commitment with Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
"With Andy Flower, with an already pre-signed contract with RCB, which would mean that he would miss parts of all those [Tests]. Will it be okay for England in the preparation for the Ashes if they don't have a coach for a Test match or two? I heard there's a Test match against Bangladesh in May next year, and if Andy Flower is doing RCB, that could be a challenge as well."
Despite those concerns, Karthik had no doubts about Flower's coaching credentials.
"Is he good? Definitely. He is probably one of the best in the world, if not the best. Will he have time? That's the question. I would be very surprised if the answer is a yes," he said.
Flower joined RCB ahead of the 2024 IPL season on a three-year deal and has remained a key figure in the franchise's coaching set-up. While he is among the leading contenders to replace McCullum, Karthik believes the demands of international cricket and franchise commitments make such a move difficult to envisage.
3 months ago
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi gets another shot at proving himself when India face England in Thursday's series-closing fifth T20I in Southampton, following a challenging start to his international journey.
The teenager made his debut last Saturday in Manchester but couldn't convert his start into a big score. Even so, his quickfire 14 off 10 ******* reflected the same fearless batting style that helped him rack up 776 runs during this year's IPL, a performance that earned him the Orange Cap at just 15 years old.
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His next outing followed a similar pattern, falling for 13 that included two crisp sixes, before a testing bouncer from Jofra Archer got the better of him.
That pattern repeated itself in the fourth T20I, where Archer dismissed him once again, this time for 15 off 10 ******* , after Sooryavanshi mistimed a hook shot off another short delivery straight into the hands of a fielder at mid-on.
The teenager made his debut last Saturday in Manchester but couldn't convert his start into a big score. Even so, his quickfire 14 off 10 ******* reflected the same fearless batting style that helped him rack up 776 runs during this year's IPL, a performance that earned him the Orange Cap at just 15 years old.
Add The Sporting News as a preferred news source
His next outing followed a similar pattern, falling for 13 that included two crisp sixes, before a testing bouncer from Jofra Archer got the better of him.
That pattern repeated itself in the fourth T20I, where Archer dismissed him once again, this time for 15 off 10 ******* , after Sooryavanshi mistimed a hook shot off another short delivery straight into the hands of a fielder at mid-on.
3 months ago
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi gets another shot at proving himself when India face England in Thursday's series-closing fifth T20I in Southampton, following a challenging start to his international journey.
The teenager made his debut last Saturday in Manchester but couldn't convert his start into a big score. Even so, his quickfire 14 off 10 ***** reflected the same fearless batting style that helped him rack up 776 runs during this year's IPL, a performance that earned him the Orange Cap at just 15 years old.
Add The Sporting News as a preferred news source
His next outing followed a similar pattern, falling for 13 that included two crisp sixes, before a testing bouncer from Jofra Archer got the better of him.
That pattern repeated itself in the fourth T20I, where Archer dismissed him once again, this time for 15 off 10 ***** , after Sooryavanshi mistimed a hook shot off another short delivery straight into the hands of a fielder at mid-on.
The teenager made his debut last Saturday in Manchester but couldn't convert his start into a big score. Even so, his quickfire 14 off 10 ***** reflected the same fearless batting style that helped him rack up 776 runs during this year's IPL, a performance that earned him the Orange Cap at just 15 years old.
Add The Sporting News as a preferred news source
His next outing followed a similar pattern, falling for 13 that included two crisp sixes, before a testing bouncer from Jofra Archer got the better of him.
That pattern repeated itself in the fourth T20I, where Archer dismissed him once again, this time for 15 off 10 ***** , after Sooryavanshi mistimed a hook shot off another short delivery straight into the hands of a fielder at mid-on.
3 months ago
'Not ready for international cricket': Indian fans left frustrated as Vaibhav Sooryavanshi fails in third straight T20I game vs England originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi dismissed again by Jofra Archer, falling for 15 in the third T20I.
Teenager sparkles briefly before losing wicket in powerplay for third straight game.
Fans question India's decision to rush his international debut so soon.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi dismissed again by Jofra Archer, falling for 15 in the third T20I.
Teenager sparkles briefly before losing wicket in powerplay for third straight game.
Fans question India's decision to rush his international debut so soon.
3 months ago
India's batting order was picked apart in Nottingham, as a dominant 125-run defeat to England became the heaviest loss the side has ever suffered in T20 internationals, stretching their winless streak on this UK tour and leaving skipper Shreyas Iyer still chasing his first win since taking charge.
With the fourth T20I in Bristol arriving almost immediately, India have precious little breathing room to process what went wrong before having to fix it.
Head coach Gautam Gambhir acknowledged after the Trent Bridge defeat that his team had struggled to read match conditions accurately, a recurring issue that has undermined their performances throughout this tour.
Jofra Archer and Josh Tongue, who together accounted for seven wickets, stuck to a straightforward but effective plan of bowling short of a good length, using extra pace and bounce to unsettle India's batters and force errors consistently.
India will need a smarter, more adaptive response against the same pace pairing if they hope to keep their series-levelling hopes alive.
With the fourth T20I in Bristol arriving almost immediately, India have precious little breathing room to process what went wrong before having to fix it.
Head coach Gautam Gambhir acknowledged after the Trent Bridge defeat that his team had struggled to read match conditions accurately, a recurring issue that has undermined their performances throughout this tour.
Jofra Archer and Josh Tongue, who together accounted for seven wickets, stuck to a straightforward but effective plan of bowling short of a good length, using extra pace and bounce to unsettle India's batters and force errors consistently.
India will need a smarter, more adaptive response against the same pace pairing if they hope to keep their series-levelling hopes alive.
3 months ago
'Bring back Sanju Samson, Suryakumar Yadav': Shreyas Iyer's captaincy under fire after India's worst-ever T20I defeat originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
England thrash India by 125 runs, India's biggest-ever T20 defeat.
Jofra Archer and Josh Tongue skittle India for 76; England lead series 2-0.
Fans slam India's batting collapse and question Shreyas Iyer's captaincy online.
Trent Bridge witnessed a one-sided demolition as England crushed India in the third T20 international, taking a commanding 2-0 lead in the five-match series with two games still to play.
England thrash India by 125 runs, India's biggest-ever T20 defeat.
Jofra Archer and Josh Tongue skittle India for 76; England lead series 2-0.
Fans slam India's batting collapse and question Shreyas Iyer's captaincy online.
Trent Bridge witnessed a one-sided demolition as England crushed India in the third T20 international, taking a commanding 2-0 lead in the five-match series with two games still to play.
4 months ago
MUMBAI: Batting great Sunil Gavaskar has backed teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to make his India debut in the opening T20I against England in Durham on Wednesday, saying the 15-year-old could provide the spark India desperately needs after their disappointing 0-2 series defeat to Ireland.
India's batting unit struggled throughout the Ireland series under new T20I captain Shreyas Iyer, prompting calls for changes ahead of the five-match series against England. Gavaskar believes Sooryavanshi's unpredictability could work in India's favour.
"I'm hoping that Sooryavanshi plays the first game because it will be the start of a new series and he gets the team off to a flying start. It's the best way to recover from the series loss against Ireland," Gavaskar said.
He admitted fitting Sooryavanshi into the playing XI would be a challenge given the performances of Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson, but argued that England's lack of familiarity with the youngster could be a decisive factor.
"So, if he gets going, he can take the game away and I think that is what India needs at this particular point of time, after this loss, is for somebody to make the impact straight away. So, the host nation England is put on the backfoot straight away," Gavaskar added.
Despite Shreyas Iyer's poor start as India's T20I captain, Gavaskar urged patience, pointing out that adapting to leadership at the international level takes time.
"I think with any new relationship, there will always be just a little time taken for both to understand the support staff and the playing staff to understand what is expected of them," he said.
"Shreyas Iyer's leadership has been proven over the years in the T20 format. We have seen him win trophies, win ****** les and get teams into the knockouts and get teams into the final."
Gavaskar also felt India's batters needed to adapt better to conditions after struggling on seamer-friendly pitches in Belfast.
"In any form of the game and practically in any sport, I think you play the situation," he said, adding that shot selection and decision-making had let India down in Ireland.
Gavaskar also backed Rohit Sharma to silence doubts over his future during the upcoming ODI series against England.
"So, I think England is a very good platform for him to show that even a year-and-a-half down the road, he'll be there opening the batting for India," he said.
On England pacer Jofra Archer, Gavaskar said his impact often depended on his mindset on the day.
"He is a top class bowler and you know, if he's, if I might say, if I might use the word, if he's in the mood, he can cause problems for anybody," he said.
Gavaskar added that Ben Stokes' retirement did not surprise him entirely, although he had expected the England all-rounder to step away at the end of the home season rather than immediately.
(Watch India Tour of England 2026, England vs India, 1st T20I on July 1, 2026, from 10:00 PM IST live on So
India's batting unit struggled throughout the Ireland series under new T20I captain Shreyas Iyer, prompting calls for changes ahead of the five-match series against England. Gavaskar believes Sooryavanshi's unpredictability could work in India's favour.
"I'm hoping that Sooryavanshi plays the first game because it will be the start of a new series and he gets the team off to a flying start. It's the best way to recover from the series loss against Ireland," Gavaskar said.
He admitted fitting Sooryavanshi into the playing XI would be a challenge given the performances of Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson, but argued that England's lack of familiarity with the youngster could be a decisive factor.
"So, if he gets going, he can take the game away and I think that is what India needs at this particular point of time, after this loss, is for somebody to make the impact straight away. So, the host nation England is put on the backfoot straight away," Gavaskar added.
Despite Shreyas Iyer's poor start as India's T20I captain, Gavaskar urged patience, pointing out that adapting to leadership at the international level takes time.
"I think with any new relationship, there will always be just a little time taken for both to understand the support staff and the playing staff to understand what is expected of them," he said.
"Shreyas Iyer's leadership has been proven over the years in the T20 format. We have seen him win trophies, win ****** les and get teams into the knockouts and get teams into the final."
Gavaskar also felt India's batters needed to adapt better to conditions after struggling on seamer-friendly pitches in Belfast.
"In any form of the game and practically in any sport, I think you play the situation," he said, adding that shot selection and decision-making had let India down in Ireland.
Gavaskar also backed Rohit Sharma to silence doubts over his future during the upcoming ODI series against England.
"So, I think England is a very good platform for him to show that even a year-and-a-half down the road, he'll be there opening the batting for India," he said.
On England pacer Jofra Archer, Gavaskar said his impact often depended on his mindset on the day.
"He is a top class bowler and you know, if he's, if I might say, if I might use the word, if he's in the mood, he can cause problems for anybody," he said.
Gavaskar added that Ben Stokes' retirement did not surprise him entirely, although he had expected the England all-rounder to step away at the end of the home season rather than immediately.
(Watch India Tour of England 2026, England vs India, 1st T20I on July 1, 2026, from 10:00 PM IST live on So
4 months ago
'One of my closest friends': Jofra Archer pays emotional tribute to Ben Stokes as England Test captain retires originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Jofra Archer paid an emotional tribute to retiring England captain Ben Stokes, calling him a close friend.
Archer said Stokes had always been someone he could turn to throughout his England career.
He admitted the England dressing room will not feel the same without Stokes around.
The cricketing world is still coming to terms with Ben Stokes' shock international retirement, and few have felt the news more deeply than Jofra Archer. The England fast bowler delivered a heartfelt and emotional tribute to a man he considers far more than just a captain.
Jofra Archer paid an emotional tribute to retiring England captain Ben Stokes, calling him a close friend.
Archer said Stokes had always been someone he could turn to throughout his England career.
He admitted the England dressing room will not feel the same without Stokes around.
The cricketing world is still coming to terms with Ben Stokes' shock international retirement, and few have felt the news more deeply than Jofra Archer. The England fast bowler delivered a heartfelt and emotional tribute to a man he considers far more than just a captain.
4 months ago
Against expectation and, perhaps, much of the public mood, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's India debut did not happen in Ireland. The 15-year-old batting sensation remained on the bench for the second T20I against Ireland after also missing out in the series opener, even though India had lost the first match by 34 runs.
His omission has surprised many fans and former players. Former England captain Michael Vaughan had said after the first T20I that he "couldn't believe" India left out the teenager.
However, instead of judging the decision, to leave Sooryavanshi out, at face value, it may be worth understanding the Gautam Gambhir-led Indian team management's thinking behind it.
Before the series, batting coach Sitanshu Kotak had made it clear that India did not want to give Sooryavanshi a game by leaving out someone who had already earned his place through performances.
"Vaibhav is very talented, there is no doubt. And the way he has batted in IPL and all the other games, there is no need to tell that he has got a lot of natural abilities. Because in IPL he has faced Jofra, a lot of quick bowlers, a lot of experienced bowlers. And it seems that nothing is bothering him. So he is obviously an extraordinary talent," Kotak had said.
He added, "I am sure that he will get his dues and his opportunities. So I don't think that just to give him an opportunity, we should drop someone who has already been scoring runs. That also won't be right. I think there is a very thin line between trying to give somebody an opportunity and you are being unfair to some other player."
Those comments suggest India are backing the players who helped win the 2026 T20 World Cup. Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan have all been among the runs, and dropping any of them simply to hand Sooryavanshi a debut could send the wrong message.
There may be another reason too. India could be allowing Sooryavanshi time to understand the dressing-room environment before asking him to walk out in national colours. It is not unusual for young players to spend a few games watching senior players prepare, train and handle pressure before getting their first opportunity.
Captain Shreyas Iyer hinted at the same approach during the toss before the first T20I. Asked if Sooryavanshi would debut, he replied: "Unfortunately, no." He then reassured everyone by adding, "He'll (Sooryavanshi) get his opportunity when the time comes."
That opportunity could now come in England, where India begin a five-match T20I series on Wednesday.
If selected, Sooryavanshi, aged 15 years and 93 days, would become the youngest player to represent India's senior men's team, breaking the record held by Sachin Tendulkar, who made his Test debut at 16 years and 205 days in 1989 before making his ODI debut 33 days later.
He would also become the youngest player to feature in a top-tier men's T20 international, surpassing Ireland's Joshua Little, who was 16 years and 309 days old on debut
His omission has surprised many fans and former players. Former England captain Michael Vaughan had said after the first T20I that he "couldn't believe" India left out the teenager.
However, instead of judging the decision, to leave Sooryavanshi out, at face value, it may be worth understanding the Gautam Gambhir-led Indian team management's thinking behind it.
Before the series, batting coach Sitanshu Kotak had made it clear that India did not want to give Sooryavanshi a game by leaving out someone who had already earned his place through performances.
"Vaibhav is very talented, there is no doubt. And the way he has batted in IPL and all the other games, there is no need to tell that he has got a lot of natural abilities. Because in IPL he has faced Jofra, a lot of quick bowlers, a lot of experienced bowlers. And it seems that nothing is bothering him. So he is obviously an extraordinary talent," Kotak had said.
He added, "I am sure that he will get his dues and his opportunities. So I don't think that just to give him an opportunity, we should drop someone who has already been scoring runs. That also won't be right. I think there is a very thin line between trying to give somebody an opportunity and you are being unfair to some other player."
Those comments suggest India are backing the players who helped win the 2026 T20 World Cup. Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan have all been among the runs, and dropping any of them simply to hand Sooryavanshi a debut could send the wrong message.
There may be another reason too. India could be allowing Sooryavanshi time to understand the dressing-room environment before asking him to walk out in national colours. It is not unusual for young players to spend a few games watching senior players prepare, train and handle pressure before getting their first opportunity.
Captain Shreyas Iyer hinted at the same approach during the toss before the first T20I. Asked if Sooryavanshi would debut, he replied: "Unfortunately, no." He then reassured everyone by adding, "He'll (Sooryavanshi) get his opportunity when the time comes."
That opportunity could now come in England, where India begin a five-match T20I series on Wednesday.
If selected, Sooryavanshi, aged 15 years and 93 days, would become the youngest player to represent India's senior men's team, breaking the record held by Sachin Tendulkar, who made his Test debut at 16 years and 205 days in 1989 before making his ODI debut 33 days later.
He would also become the youngest player to feature in a top-tier men's T20 international, surpassing Ireland's Joshua Little, who was 16 years and 309 days old on debut
4 months ago
New Zealand captain Tom Latham won the toss and elected to bat first in the decisive third Test against England at Trent Bridge, Nottingham, on Thursday. However, the visitors have been dealt a significant setback ahead of the winner-takes-all contest, with two key players ruled out through injury.
The three-match series is finely poised at 1-1. England claimed the opening Test at Lord's by 115 runs before New Zealand responded emphatically with a crushing 253-run victory at The Oval. With valuable ICC World Test Championship points on offer, the Trent Bridge encounter will determine the series winner.
New Zealand have been forced into major changes after pace spearhead Matt Henry and star all-rounder Glenn Phillips were ruled out of the final Test. Henry, who starred in New Zealand's victory at The Oval and recently climbed to the No. 1 spot in the ICC Test bowling rankings, misses out with a calf injury. Phillips, meanwhile, has been sidelined due to a side strain.
England have also shuffled their lineup following the heavy defeat in the second Test, with captain Ben Stokes returning to lead the side after being rested at The Oval. Fast bowler Gus Atkinson also returns, while wicketkeeper-batter Jamie Smith is back after missing the previous Test following the birth of his child. Spinner Shoaib Bashir has been recalled to strengthen England's spin options.
Despite being declared fit, Ollie Robinson has not been included in the playing XI.
New Zealand: Tom Latham (c), Devon Conway, Henry Nicholls, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Blundell (wk), Mitchell Santner, Nathan Smith, Blair Tickner, Ben Sears, William O'Rourke
England: Ben Duckett, Emilio Gay, Jacob Bethell, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jamie Smith (wk), Ben Stokes (c), Gus Atkinson, Jofra Archer, Josh Tongue, Shoaib Bashir
The three-match series is finely poised at 1-1. England claimed the opening Test at Lord's by 115 runs before New Zealand responded emphatically with a crushing 253-run victory at The Oval. With valuable ICC World Test Championship points on offer, the Trent Bridge encounter will determine the series winner.
New Zealand have been forced into major changes after pace spearhead Matt Henry and star all-rounder Glenn Phillips were ruled out of the final Test. Henry, who starred in New Zealand's victory at The Oval and recently climbed to the No. 1 spot in the ICC Test bowling rankings, misses out with a calf injury. Phillips, meanwhile, has been sidelined due to a side strain.
England have also shuffled their lineup following the heavy defeat in the second Test, with captain Ben Stokes returning to lead the side after being rested at The Oval. Fast bowler Gus Atkinson also returns, while wicketkeeper-batter Jamie Smith is back after missing the previous Test following the birth of his child. Spinner Shoaib Bashir has been recalled to strengthen England's spin options.
Despite being declared fit, Ollie Robinson has not been included in the playing XI.
New Zealand: Tom Latham (c), Devon Conway, Henry Nicholls, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Blundell (wk), Mitchell Santner, Nathan Smith, Blair Tickner, Ben Sears, William O'Rourke
England: Ben Duckett, Emilio Gay, Jacob Bethell, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jamie Smith (wk), Ben Stokes (c), Gus Atkinson, Jofra Archer, Josh Tongue, Shoaib Bashir
4 months ago
NEW DELHI: England have announced a 17-member squad for the five-match T20I series against India starting on July 1, with 22-year-old all-rounder James Coles receiving his first international call-up.
Harry Brook will captain the side, while Jordan **** , Sonny Baker and Saqib Mahmood return after missing the T20 World Cup earlier this year. Brydon Carse and Jamie Overton are unavailable because of injuries.
Coles, a left-arm spin-bowling all-rounder, has impressed in domestic cricket, the SA20 and with the England Lions. He was also the most expensive signing in the 2026 Men's Hundred and has scored over 1,300 runs in T20 cricket while taking 53 wickets.
National selector Marcus North said the youngster had earned his opportunity through consistent performances over the last year.
"James Coles is an exciting addition and has earned his place following his performances with the England Lions and in T20 competitions here and abroad during the past 12 months," said North.
"We have selected a larger squad to accommodate for the fact that this series will begin shortly after the Test series against New Zealand is due to conclude which allows us to be flexible."
England will have little time to rest before the India series, with Harry Brook and Jacob Bethell potentially playing the first T20I less than 48 hours after the conclusion of the third Test against New Zealand.
The five-match series begins in Durham on July 1 before moving to Manchester, Nottingham, Bristol and Southampton. Jos **** ler, Jofra Archer, Phil Salt, Will Jacks and Adil Rashid are among the key names included in the squad.
England squad vs India T20Is: Harry Brook (Captain), Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Sonny Baker, Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Jos **** ler, James Coles, Jordan **** , Sam Curran, Liam Dawson, Will Jacks, Saqib Mahmood, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Josh Tongue and Luke Wood
Harry Brook will captain the side, while Jordan **** , Sonny Baker and Saqib Mahmood return after missing the T20 World Cup earlier this year. Brydon Carse and Jamie Overton are unavailable because of injuries.
Coles, a left-arm spin-bowling all-rounder, has impressed in domestic cricket, the SA20 and with the England Lions. He was also the most expensive signing in the 2026 Men's Hundred and has scored over 1,300 runs in T20 cricket while taking 53 wickets.
National selector Marcus North said the youngster had earned his opportunity through consistent performances over the last year.
"James Coles is an exciting addition and has earned his place following his performances with the England Lions and in T20 competitions here and abroad during the past 12 months," said North.
"We have selected a larger squad to accommodate for the fact that this series will begin shortly after the Test series against New Zealand is due to conclude which allows us to be flexible."
England will have little time to rest before the India series, with Harry Brook and Jacob Bethell potentially playing the first T20I less than 48 hours after the conclusion of the third Test against New Zealand.
The five-match series begins in Durham on July 1 before moving to Manchester, Nottingham, Bristol and Southampton. Jos **** ler, Jofra Archer, Phil Salt, Will Jacks and Adil Rashid are among the key names included in the squad.
England squad vs India T20Is: Harry Brook (Captain), Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Sonny Baker, Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Jos **** ler, James Coles, Jordan **** , Sam Curran, Liam Dawson, Will Jacks, Saqib Mahmood, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Josh Tongue and Luke Wood
4 months ago
New Zealand batter Henry Nicholls marked his return to the Test side with an unbeaten century as the visitors tightened their grip on the second Test against England at The Oval on Friday.
Recalled to the squad after Kane Williamson's retirement, Nicholls remained unbeaten on 119 at stumps as New Zealand reached 252/3 in their second innings. With a first-innings lead of 100 runs, the visitors ended day three with an overall lead of 352 runs and seven wickets still in hand.
Earlier in the day, New Zealand secured that advantage by bowling England out for 291 just before lunch.
Nicholls and Rachin Ravindra then rebuilt the innings after early setbacks. Ravindra scored 76 before being dismissed, while the pair added 161 runs for the fourth wicket from 201 **** . It is New Zealand's highest partnership at The Oval.
The visitors steadily extended their lead before taking control after tea, leaving England with a difficult task heading into the fourth day.
Former England fast bowler Stuart Broad said the match was becoming a major challenge for stand-in captain Joe Root.
Root is leading the side in place of Ben Stokes, who was left out following the nightclub incident after the first Test.
England's bowling attack has little Test experience. Sonny Baker is making his debut, Matt Fisher is playing only his second Test and first in four years, while Josh Tongue is appearing in his 11th Test. Jofra Archer, playing his 19th Test, is the most experienced member of the pace attack.
The lack of experience extends beyond the bowling unit. Wicketkeeper James Rew and batter Jordan **** are also making their debuts, while opener Emilio Gay is only playing his third Test.
Broad told the Sky Sports Cricket Vodcast: "It has almost been Root's worst nightmare."
"He has an inexperienced bowling group, a flat pitch, the sun is out, England are behind in the game and tactically he has no one, particularly, to lean on."
"They have looked starved of tactical ideas. It's not just up to the captain to decide what to do but the lack of experience in the England side has been overshadowed by a bit of game nous from New Zealand."
New Zealand now have a strong chance to level the series at 1-1 and force a decider at Trent Bridge from June 25.
However, they will remain cautious after England chased down targets in all three Tests during New Zealand's previous tour in 2022.
With seven wickets in hand, the visitors will look to stretch their lead further before asking England to attempt one of the biggest fourth-innings chases in Test history.
England's highest successful run chase at The Oval remains 263 against Australia in 1902, while their highest successful chase in Test cricket is 378/3 against India at Edgbaston in 2022.
Recalled to the squad after Kane Williamson's retirement, Nicholls remained unbeaten on 119 at stumps as New Zealand reached 252/3 in their second innings. With a first-innings lead of 100 runs, the visitors ended day three with an overall lead of 352 runs and seven wickets still in hand.
Earlier in the day, New Zealand secured that advantage by bowling England out for 291 just before lunch.
Nicholls and Rachin Ravindra then rebuilt the innings after early setbacks. Ravindra scored 76 before being dismissed, while the pair added 161 runs for the fourth wicket from 201 **** . It is New Zealand's highest partnership at The Oval.
The visitors steadily extended their lead before taking control after tea, leaving England with a difficult task heading into the fourth day.
Former England fast bowler Stuart Broad said the match was becoming a major challenge for stand-in captain Joe Root.
Root is leading the side in place of Ben Stokes, who was left out following the nightclub incident after the first Test.
England's bowling attack has little Test experience. Sonny Baker is making his debut, Matt Fisher is playing only his second Test and first in four years, while Josh Tongue is appearing in his 11th Test. Jofra Archer, playing his 19th Test, is the most experienced member of the pace attack.
The lack of experience extends beyond the bowling unit. Wicketkeeper James Rew and batter Jordan **** are also making their debuts, while opener Emilio Gay is only playing his third Test.
Broad told the Sky Sports Cricket Vodcast: "It has almost been Root's worst nightmare."
"He has an inexperienced bowling group, a flat pitch, the sun is out, England are behind in the game and tactically he has no one, particularly, to lean on."
"They have looked starved of tactical ideas. It's not just up to the captain to decide what to do but the lack of experience in the England side has been overshadowed by a bit of game nous from New Zealand."
New Zealand now have a strong chance to level the series at 1-1 and force a decider at Trent Bridge from June 25.
However, they will remain cautious after England chased down targets in all three Tests during New Zealand's previous tour in 2022.
With seven wickets in hand, the visitors will look to stretch their lead further before asking England to attempt one of the biggest fourth-innings chases in Test history.
England's highest successful run chase at The Oval remains 263 against Australia in 1902, while their highest successful chase in Test cricket is 378/3 against India at Edgbaston in 2022.
4 months ago
Henry Nicholls made an instant impact on his return to New Zealand colours, stepping in for the retired Kane Williamson and delivering a composed unbeaten century to push his side into a dominant position against England on day three of the Test at The Oval.
By stumps on Friday, New Zealand had reached 252 for 3 in their second innings, effectively stretching their overall lead to 352 after bowling England out for 291 just before lunch. Nicholls remained unbeaten on 119, anchoring the innings alongside Rachin Ravindra, who made a fluent 76 before his dismissal after tea.
The pair added 161 runs from 201 ******* , setting a new record for New Zealand's highest partnership at The Oval. Their stand first stabilised the innings, then steadily built control before shifting gears after tea, when they began scoring at nearly six an over with crisp timing and clean strokeplay.
New Zealand's position puts them firmly in charge of the match, with seven wickets still in hand and the opportunity to push towards a 500-run lead. That would leave England facing a steep fourth-innings challenge, especially given their history at the venue. Their highest successful chase at The Oval remains 263 against Australia in 1902, while their highest ever fourth-innings chase anywhere is 378 for 3 against India at Edgbaston in 2022 during the Bazball era.
Nicholls, who arrived in London only last Sunday after Williamson's shock retirement, admitted the transition was unexpected. "(Williamson retiring) was a bit of a shock to everyone," he said. "I've been lucky enough to play a lot of my cricket with Kane. I wasn't ever going to be able to replace him. I just really enjoyed being back in test cricket, you want to contribute. It was fun, the partnership with Rachin and with Daryl (Mitchell) at the end there."
Walking in early at 8 for 1, Nicholls faced Jofra Archer bowling at high pace and had to settle quickly. He survived the initial burst, then rebuilt after Devon Conway's dismissal alongside Ravindra, who played the more attacking role while Nicholls provided stability.
There were a couple of early alarms, including a dropped chance on 7 by debutant wicketkeeper James Rew, who endured a difficult outing behind the stumps. England's bowling struggled to break the stand through the middle session as the duo methodically drained energy from the attack and the crowd.
After tea, however, the tempo shifted dramatically. Nicholls reached his half-century from 72 ******* , with Ravindra following shortly after off 79 deliveries for his first fifty against England. Ravindra's innings ended on 76 when he was trapped lbw by Jacob Bethell, who once again proved decisive after taking three wickets in the first innings.
Nicholls brought up his century soon after, reaching the milestone off 133 ******* with his 14th boundary, driven through midwicket off Bethell. It was his 11th Test hundred in his 59th match and his second against England, having previously
By stumps on Friday, New Zealand had reached 252 for 3 in their second innings, effectively stretching their overall lead to 352 after bowling England out for 291 just before lunch. Nicholls remained unbeaten on 119, anchoring the innings alongside Rachin Ravindra, who made a fluent 76 before his dismissal after tea.
The pair added 161 runs from 201 ******* , setting a new record for New Zealand's highest partnership at The Oval. Their stand first stabilised the innings, then steadily built control before shifting gears after tea, when they began scoring at nearly six an over with crisp timing and clean strokeplay.
New Zealand's position puts them firmly in charge of the match, with seven wickets still in hand and the opportunity to push towards a 500-run lead. That would leave England facing a steep fourth-innings challenge, especially given their history at the venue. Their highest successful chase at The Oval remains 263 against Australia in 1902, while their highest ever fourth-innings chase anywhere is 378 for 3 against India at Edgbaston in 2022 during the Bazball era.
Nicholls, who arrived in London only last Sunday after Williamson's shock retirement, admitted the transition was unexpected. "(Williamson retiring) was a bit of a shock to everyone," he said. "I've been lucky enough to play a lot of my cricket with Kane. I wasn't ever going to be able to replace him. I just really enjoyed being back in test cricket, you want to contribute. It was fun, the partnership with Rachin and with Daryl (Mitchell) at the end there."
Walking in early at 8 for 1, Nicholls faced Jofra Archer bowling at high pace and had to settle quickly. He survived the initial burst, then rebuilt after Devon Conway's dismissal alongside Ravindra, who played the more attacking role while Nicholls provided stability.
There were a couple of early alarms, including a dropped chance on 7 by debutant wicketkeeper James Rew, who endured a difficult outing behind the stumps. England's bowling struggled to break the stand through the middle session as the duo methodically drained energy from the attack and the crowd.
After tea, however, the tempo shifted dramatically. Nicholls reached his half-century from 72 ******* , with Ravindra following shortly after off 79 deliveries for his first fifty against England. Ravindra's innings ended on 76 when he was trapped lbw by Jacob Bethell, who once again proved decisive after taking three wickets in the first innings.
Nicholls brought up his century soon after, reaching the milestone off 133 ******* with his 14th boundary, driven through midwicket off Bethell. It was his 11th Test hundred in his 59th match and his second against England, having previously
4 months ago
Former England captain Kevin Pietersen has thrown his support behind players balancing IPL commitments with international cricket, amid growing criticism surrounding Jofra Archer's absence from England's first Test against New Zealand.
The debate gathered momentum after Archer remained with the Rajasthan Royals for the IPL 2026 playoffs instead of returning early to join England's Test squad. The fast bowler's franchise campaign came to an end only last Friday when Rajasthan were knocked out by Gujarat **** ans in Qualifier 2, leaving him with insufficient time to prepare for the opening Test at Lord's, which began on Thursday.
Archer's decision drew criticism from several former cricketers, including Michael Atherton and Simon Doull, who questioned whether franchise commitments were being placed ahead of representing England in Test cricket.
Pietersen, however, took a different view. While the former England captain has previously stressed the importance of international cricket, he argued that many former players are not in a position to judge the choices facing modern-day cricketers because they never experienced the opportunities created by the IPL.
Taking to X, Pietersen strongly defended current players and suggested that some of the criticism lacked perspective.
"Ex cricketers who never played/benefitted from the IPL, using quite **** ing language on current players who are playing the IPL, simply have no idea. Zero clue whatsoever! But, let them be..... I SUPPORT THE PLAYERS!" Pietersen wrote on X.
The comments came as the discussion over Archer's availability continued to dominate cricket circles in England. The pacer remained with Rajasthan Royals throughout their playoff run as the franchise chased a place in the IPL final. Although Rajasthan's campaign ultimately ended in Qualifier 2, Archer was unable to return in time for England's first Test **** ignment of the summer.
England captain Ben Stokes also came to Archer's defence and urged critics to consider how much the cricketing landscape has changed in recent years.
Speaking to reporters at Lord's ahead of the Test, Stokes acknowledged the frustration surrounding Archer's absence but insisted that comparisons with previous generations of players were not entirely fair.
"I totally understand people's frustrations around it, but there is another side to it," he said.
"A lot of it has to do with the landscape of cricket and where it is at the moment. A lot of points people are making around Jof and that situation, are to do with the landscape when they were playing. But it's completely different now. There's opportunities for cricketers now that there was not 10, 15, 20 years ago," he added.
Archer's decision came after an exceptional IPL 2026 season with Rajasthan Royals. The fast bowler was instrumental in the franchise's run to Qualifier 2, finishing third in the Purple Cap standings with 25 wickets in 16 matches and establishing himself as one of t
The debate gathered momentum after Archer remained with the Rajasthan Royals for the IPL 2026 playoffs instead of returning early to join England's Test squad. The fast bowler's franchise campaign came to an end only last Friday when Rajasthan were knocked out by Gujarat **** ans in Qualifier 2, leaving him with insufficient time to prepare for the opening Test at Lord's, which began on Thursday.
Archer's decision drew criticism from several former cricketers, including Michael Atherton and Simon Doull, who questioned whether franchise commitments were being placed ahead of representing England in Test cricket.
Pietersen, however, took a different view. While the former England captain has previously stressed the importance of international cricket, he argued that many former players are not in a position to judge the choices facing modern-day cricketers because they never experienced the opportunities created by the IPL.
Taking to X, Pietersen strongly defended current players and suggested that some of the criticism lacked perspective.
"Ex cricketers who never played/benefitted from the IPL, using quite **** ing language on current players who are playing the IPL, simply have no idea. Zero clue whatsoever! But, let them be..... I SUPPORT THE PLAYERS!" Pietersen wrote on X.
The comments came as the discussion over Archer's availability continued to dominate cricket circles in England. The pacer remained with Rajasthan Royals throughout their playoff run as the franchise chased a place in the IPL final. Although Rajasthan's campaign ultimately ended in Qualifier 2, Archer was unable to return in time for England's first Test **** ignment of the summer.
England captain Ben Stokes also came to Archer's defence and urged critics to consider how much the cricketing landscape has changed in recent years.
Speaking to reporters at Lord's ahead of the Test, Stokes acknowledged the frustration surrounding Archer's absence but insisted that comparisons with previous generations of players were not entirely fair.
"I totally understand people's frustrations around it, but there is another side to it," he said.
"A lot of it has to do with the landscape of cricket and where it is at the moment. A lot of points people are making around Jof and that situation, are to do with the landscape when they were playing. But it's completely different now. There's opportunities for cricketers now that there was not 10, 15, 20 years ago," he added.
Archer's decision came after an exceptional IPL 2026 season with Rajasthan Royals. The fast bowler was instrumental in the franchise's run to Qualifier 2, finishing third in the Purple Cap standings with 25 wickets in 16 matches and establishing himself as one of t
