Page 12 - Icc World Test Championship

In Virat's absence, great chance for England to win series: Stuart Broad

Former pacer Stuart Broad says the ongoing India-England Test series is the most evenly-matched contest that he has seen between the two sides but the visitors have a strong chance of emerging triumphant as the "fire, passion and competitiveness" of Virat Kohli is missing from the home team's arsenal. Speaking to PTI on the sidelines of the just-concluded SA20, where he was a commentator, Broad said the absence of Kohli due to personal reasons is a downer but the matches so far have been engrossing. The five-match series is locked 1-1 and the two teams will now square off in the third game in Rajkot, beginning February 15. "(The) first two matches were very competitive and it is one of the most exciting India-England Test series that I have seen. It is the most level series," he said. "India won the last Test but England's playing style ('Bazball') is quite effective in India. With Virat not in the team, it is a great opportunity for the England team," he added. Broad feels Kohli'

U-19 World Cup: 3rd time in 12 months, India lose world title to Australia

The year changed from 2023 to 2024, but the fortunes of an Indian side facing Australia in the final of a world-level event in cricket did not as they lost yet another final

Real show stealer was Boomball: Ashwin lauds Bumrah's Himalayan feat

Lavishing praise on teammate Jasprit Bumrah, senior India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin said "Boomball" stole the show in the second Test against England and the pacer reaching top of the ICC rankings across three formats is a "Himalayan feat". Bumrah displayed brilliance with the ball to play a key role in the team's series-levelling 106-run win in the second Test in Visakhapatnam. He put up a reverse swing master-class in England's first innings that yielded him six wickets (6/45), following it up with a three-wicket haul in their second essay for match figures of 9 for 91. His performance enabled him to jump to number one in the Test rankings list, becoming the first Indian pacer to achieve the feat. Bumrah has also held the top spot in the ODI and T20 rankings previously. "The real show stealer was BoomBall. Jasprit Bumrah has bowled extraordinarily," Ashwin said on his YouTube channel. "He is the leading wicket-taker with 14 wickets and also the No.1 ranked Test bowler. The

India squad for England Tests 2024: No Kohli; KL, Jadeja subject to fitness

Ravindra Jadeja and KL Rahul were also named in the squad, but their participation is subject to fitness clearance from the BCCI medical team.

BCCI may announce India squad today; Iyer doubtful for IND vs ENG 3rd Test

Shreyas Iyer has complained of back stiffness after the Vizag Test and might miss the 3rd Test in Rajkot. In the two Tests vs England, Iyer scored only 104 runs in 4 innings at an average of 26.

IND vs ENG 3rd Test: Vaughan expresses concern over England's Bazball play

Former skipper Michael Vaughan is worried England will become a side that doesn't win much despite putting in the hard yards, adding that the team's batting unit needs to strike a balance between playing aggressive and traditional cricket to succeed in India. Since adopting the 'Bazball' approach, England have enjoyed a good run but the same no-holds-barred approach has also cost them several matches and series, including the Ashes last year. "England have become a difficult team to criticise too much because they are so good to watch. Every game they play has us all absolutely gripped, and they have improved massively under Ben Stokes," Vaughan wrote in his coulmn for 'The Telegraph'. "However, I do worry that they might become a team who do all this great work only to not actually win very much. They didn't win the Ashes when they should have done and now they have let India back into a series when they still have a load of big names, including Virat Kohli, to come back." England

'Kohli's absence, blow for India, blow for series, blow for world cricket'

A player of the stature of Virat Kohli missing the upcoming Tests against England is a blow not just for the Indian team but also for the series and world cricket in general, feels former skipper Nasser Hussain. Hussain though supported the Indian maestro for prioritising his private life. Kohli, who withdrew from the first two Tests against England due to personal reasons, is likely to miss the upcoming matches in Rajkot and Ranchi, and remains a doubtful starter for the Dharamsala game too. The five-match Test series is currently tied at 1-1. "Yeah, well, nothing's confirmed at the moment. There's speculation, whether it's the next two Test matches, they're going to announce their side in the next few hours. Whether it's the next three Test matches, so nothing's confirmed, but it will be a blow. "It'll be a blow for India. It'll be a blow for the series. It'll be a blow for world cricket. It's going to be a special series. It already has been. The first two games have been ...

IND-ENG 3rd Test: Will Kohli play? Update on Siraj-Rahul's inclusion in XI

The India vs England 2024 Tests have gone interesting. With 10-day break between the 2nd & 3rd Test, check here what could be India squad & Playing 11 for the 3rd test in Rajkot, starting February 15

NZ vs SA Tests: Rachin Ravindra shines as Kiwis beat Proteas by 281 runs

New Zealand beat an under-strength South Africa lineup by 281 runs on the fourth day of the first cricket test Wednesday to take an early lead in the two-match series. Captain Tim Southee declared New Zealand's second innings overnight at 179-4, with an overall lead of 528. New Zealand bowled out South Africa in the fourth innings for 247. New Zealand posted 511 batting first and dismissed South Africa for 162 for a 349-run first innings lead. Southee chose not to enforce the follow-on and Kane Williamson completed his second century of the match, the 31st of his career, before the declaration. I think it was pretty good on a good (pitch) for the batters to set it up and the bowlers to take 20 wickets, Southee said. We knew the South Africa side would be a strong one. You look at them in all sports, they compete, they're a very proud nation so we knew they were going to come out and fight. South Africa was in trouble early Wednesday, losing the wickets of openers Neil Brand and Edw

IND vs ENG: Vaughan slams England for Abu Dhabi trip before 3rd Test

Michael Atherton revealed that the England team will enjoy the break in Abu Dhabi and have some golf swings. The India vs England Test series is level at 1-1 after first two tests.

WTC rankings: India jumps 4 places to 2nd spot after win over England

India jumped four places to second in the World Test Championships standings after their series-levelling 106-run win over England in the second Test in Visakhapatnam on Monday. Following a remarkable victory, India reclaimed the second position and closed down the gap with table-toppers Australia in the ICC WTC 2023-25 standings. A rare setback in the opening Test in Hyderabad had previously seen India slip from second to fifth place. The win in Visakhapatnam pushed India's point percentage to 52.77, as against 55.00 of Australia. The top half of the table remains highly competitive, with five teams separated by a mere 5% in point percentage. India were briefly on top after drawing the two-match Test series against South Africa before being overtaken by Australia following their victory over Pakistan. India were under the pump coming into the second Test and they delivered an outstanding performance to win by 106 runs. The third Test of the five-match series begins in Rajkot on

IND vs ENG 2nd Test highlights: India level series, beat ENG by 106 runs

Ashwin has to wait for the Rajkot Test to reach the milestone of 500 wickets. He has 499 wickets in 97 Test matches. Bumrah was the pick of the bowlers in Vizag with nine wickets in the Test match

2nd Test: India close in on win after taking 5 wickets in morning session

Zak Crawley made his second successive fifty of the game but India got five important wickets in the session to reduce England to 194 for six at lunch on day four and close in on a series-levelling win in the second Test here on Monday. On expected lines, England did not hold back in attacking the Indian spinners who hung in there to get the timely breakthroughs. The visitors still managed to make 127 runs in the session but lost too many wickets. Kuldeep Yadav dismissed Crawley (73) while Jasprit Bumrah trapped Jonny Bairstow (26) in front at the stroke of lunch to deal a massive blow to England, who still need 205 runs for an improbable win. Crawley was by far the best batter on show, mixing caution and aggression perfectly before being adjudged lbw off Kuldeep with a close DRS call. On the sixth ball of his first over, Kuldeep got one to turn back in from middle stump. It seemed the ball was going down leg but DRS showed that it was hitting the middle of the leg-stump. Ben Stok

IND vs ENG 2nd Test Day 3 Highlights: Chasing 399 to win, England 67/1

India vs England 2nd Test Day 3 highlights: R Ashwin took the only wicket to fall in the England second innings as the visitors stared their chase of 399 and got to 67/1

IND vs ENG: England's highest successful run chase in Test histrory & India

387 is the highest successful run chase in India in Test cricket history. Under the captaincy of Ben Stokes, England highest successful run chase is 378 runs for the loss of three wickets vs India

IND vs ENG 2nd Test: Anderson gives update on Root fitness ahead of Day 4

England pacer James Anderson allayed concerns after prolific batter Joe Root was forced to leave the field following a blow on his right little finger during Day 3 of the second Test against India here on Sunday. Root sustained the injury during the 18th over of India's second innings when he tried to catch an edge from Shubman Gill in the slips. Facing a length ball on off from spinner Tom Hartley, Gill went forward and played with hard hands, only to get a thick edge which flew towards the left of Root in the slip cordon. He managed to get a finger to the ball but could not complete the catch and the ball went for a boundary. "Joe Root sustained an external blow to his right little finger, attempting a slip catch in the first session of D3. The England medical team will keep him off the field for the time being to treat and ice," England team management said in an update. The former skipper did not return to the field with teammate Anderson saying the team management didn't want

IND vs ENG 2nd Test: Lucky Gill silences critics with hardworking hundred

Gill, playing his 22nd Test, reached his first fifty-plus score in 13 innings and brought up his 3rd ton. The 24-year-old reached his hundred in 132 balls and nearly batted England out of the game

IND vs ENG: Virat Kohli's return in doubt; KL may get fit for Rajkot Test

The return of premier batter Virat Kohli to the Indian team for the remainder of the Test series against England still remains unclear even as the bigwigs are mulling to have a word with the former captain about his plans at the earliest. Kohli is currently out of the country and it is understood that selection committee chairman Ajit Agarkar or the BCCI's top brass will speak to him to get a clearer picture to find out whether he is in a position to resume national duty. Kohli had taken a sabbatical from the first two Tests against England, citing personal reasons. "Family comes first as BCCI's press release stated and Virat will only play if he feels that he is in a position to play," a BCCI source in know of things told PTI on conditions of anonymity. The personal reason for which Kohli opted out of the Tests is the impending arrival of his second child, as revealed by his close friend and former Royal Challengers Bangalore teammate AB de Villiers on his YouTube channel. De ...

Vizag Test: Bumrah's double strike leaves England at 155 for four at tea

Jasprit Bumrah's twin strikes in a searing spell gave India much needed momentum after Zak Crawley attacked the home team spinners to ensure England reached 155 for four at tea on day two of the second Test here on Saturday. Skipper Ben Stokes (5 batting) and Jonny Bairstow (24 batting) were in the middle at the break with England still trailing India by 241 runs. The visitors collected runs 123 runs in27 overs in the afternoon session. Kuldeep Yadav had Ben Duckett (21 off 17) caught at silly point shortly after the lunch break. Crawley however maintained the offensive with a belligerent knock including 11 fours and two sixes. Going with the 'Bazball' template, England were scoring at five an over before Bumrah wrested the initiative with crucial wickets of Joe Root (5 off 10) and in-form Ollie Pope (23 off 55) in an impactful four over spell. Bumrah got the reverse swing going and put Root in his two minds by mixing the in and away swinger, leading to his downfall. Root was ...

IND-ENG 2nd Test: Jaiswal makes memorable double ton; India all out for 396

Yashasvi Jaiswal carried the load of Indian batting on his young shoulders with a remarkable double hundred as the hosts ended with 396 in their first innings on day two of the second Test against England. Resuming at an overnight 336 for six, India added 60 runs to their total before getting all out in 112 overs with little over 30 minutes left for lunch. As was the case on day one, India had to rely on Jaiswal (209 off 290) to get the majority of the runs. In response, Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett had taken England to 32 for no loss in six overs at lunch. Duckett targeted pacer Mukesh Kumar, who leaked 22 runs in his two overs. After sweeping Shoaib Bashir for a six and four, Jaiswal became third youngest Indian to make a double hundred after Vinod Kambli and the great Sunil Gavaskar. The celebrations were euphoric for a dedicated cricketer who slept in tents at Azad Maidan in Mumbai in his growing up days, having come to the metropolis from a nondescript village in Uttar ...