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England’s old stage-seizer sparks anarchic scenes on thrilling fourth day at Edgbaston

Vithushan Ehantharajah19-Jun-2023The devil on Joe Root’s shoulder just before 11am. The demon terrorising Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith just before 7pm. A day in the life of Stuart Broad is rich and varied.On Monday, Broad added a new entry to his roller-dex of Ashes moments. A vital top-order dual hit on Labuschagne and Smith in the space of 12 deliveries means we enter the final day of a compelling first Test with victory as likely for England as Australia.Removing the No.1 and No.2-ranked batters in the world is worthy of dedicating a thousand words to Broad, particularly at a time when England were desperate for something to take with them into Tuesday. Most of those words might as well be Broad’s own from back in April, when he claimed he’d invented a mystery outswinger in order to get Labuschagne and Smith uncertain outside off stump … which is exactly what they proved to be when they came into his sights this evening.But we know the 36-year-old Broad does not simply bowl ‘top-of off wobble-seam, top-of-off wobble-seam, surprise outswinger’. He is a rambunctious spirit possessing an inner light that is less soothing and more strobe – and evidently infectious, as Root found out before walking out to play a reverse-ramp to the first ball of the morning, delivered by Australia’s skipper Pat Cummins”I sit next to Rooty in the changing room, and he just went, ‘I fancy a reverse-scoop for six, first ball’,” Broad revealed. “I said, ‘If it’s in your gut, you’ve got to go for it – that’s what we’re about.’ And he goes, ‘I’ll decide when I’m walking out’. Obviously he didn’t change his mind.”Root missed with that initial gambit. But the statement had been made. The dressing-room and crowd were immediately dialled up to 11. For that agenda-setting first half-hour, he remained a batter possessed, going on to successfully scoop Scott Boland for six and four in successive deliveries, until – with the field now dancing to his beat – he reverted briefly to more typical accumulative nudges. But then, on 46, he skipped down the track to Nathan Lyon and was stumped for the first time in his career.Stuart Broad wheels away in delight after dismissing Steve Smith during an inspired spell•AFP/Getty Images

It was from that point on England began losing their grip on the game, having had a fist-full of it at 129 for three – a lead of 136 – with Root and Harry Brook at ease and scoring freely. Were it not for important late-order runs, this game might be skewed much further Australia’s way. Broad finished unbeaten on 10 but ensured that 44 more were added during his time at the crease, alongside Ollie Robinson and James Anderson.”Today’s just been one of those days that sums up Ashes cricket really,” Broad said. “You’re getting ahead of the game, then you lose a wicket, you think you’re getting ahead of the game, then you lose a wicket again.”As for those key dismissals, Broad was asked if he has a mental edge over both, particularly after handing Labuschagne a first golden duck of his career in the first innings, as part of a haul of three for 68 that included bagging David Warner for a 15th time. “Be nice, wouldn’t it?” he said with a smile. “I’ve had a lot great battles, and they’ve probably won most of them.” He’s certainly winning this one.Related

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• Edgbaston Ashes classic brewing as Stuart Broad breaks game open

“One thing we know as a bowling group, you’ve got to try and put them under pressure early,” he added. “They’re the sort of guys, if they get to 30, 40, they don’t give it away cheaply. We know as a group we want to try and make them play as much as we possibly can early. They’ve scored a lot of runs against us as a group, so to see the back of them twice in this Test match without too much damage is awesome.”For Broad to have had the match he has so far is a testament to Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum. As much for the rejuvenation in the quick’s career under their tenure as for the decision to select him in this fixture. Smith’s demise – the ball seaming away after angling in to catch an edge through to Jonny Bairstow – was Broad’s 50th wicket under the new regime, taking him to 587 overall.There is one more day for Broad to impose himself on this game, then plenty more beyond that, with four Tests to come. And as much as his own individual plans to the likes of Usman Khawaja and Travis Head will determine who ends up on top, there is a more collective approach to be adopted around striking a balance between attack and defence with unconventional fields, bordering on rascal.”When you’ve got a set target to defend, you’ve got to keep one eye on the boundaries as well,” Broad said. “And actually, on a pitch like this, where it’s quite slow and hard to create a mistake from a batter, you don’t want to leak too many runs easily waiting for that ball to break through. I think we’ll be smart with the fields we use. We need to protect the boundaries in certain players’ strengths. But ultimately our No.1 focus is to take wickets, and how do we do that? From creating pressure.”You’ll probably see more fielders scattered around, almost like in-out fields. You know how Warnie used to bowl?” he added. “He’d have four people around the bat and three people on the boundary. Three an over is not hurting you, then you get the wicket and you can apply some pressure.”Joe Root was egged on by Broad to deploy his ramp shot to the first ball of the day•Getty Images

Citing Shane Warne felt like a deliberate nod to the 2005 fixture here, which England secured by two runs on a pulsating final day. The similarity between the targets – 282 then, 281 now – and the fact Tuesday is also sold out adds to the sense that this Ashes series will recreate that great spectacle of 2005.”I’m quite conscious I don’t want to build up too much hype of that ’05 Edgbaston because I’m not sure we want that going to two runs tomorrow from our point of view, do we?” Broad said.But a veteran whose success has fundamentally come from his unrivalled feel of the game is all too aware of how the cards are lining up, on the field and off it. Four days in, it’s not hard to imagine that day five will be every bit as gripping as what’s gone before.”It does feel like the same energy as ’05,” Broad said. “And if we have a series like that we’re going to inspire a lot of kids to play the game, aren’t we?”

The organisers have said that they are in the process of establishing and operating a new franchise that will be based in St Lucia for CPL 2019

ESPNcricinfo staff10-Aug-2019St Lucia Stars have been axed from the Caribbean Premier League, and the franchise will not be participating in CPL 2019 as the Stars. On August 7, CPL Limited terminated the participation agreement between it and the Royal Sports Club, LLC, the entity that operated the St Lucia franchise.While announcing the decision via a media release, the CPL didn’t elaborate on the reasons behind the termination. The release did say that CPL were “in the process of establishing and operating a new franchise to be based in St Lucia that will participate in the 2019 Caribbean Premier League.”Jay Pandya, the chief executive and owner of Royal Sports Club LLC and Global Sports Ventures based out of Pennsylvania, expressed his disappointment with the CPL’s decision in a statement to ESPNcricinfo.”We completely disagree with the CPL press release and will be working to address any issues the CPL may have in an appropriate manner and forum,” Pandya said.ESPNcricinfo understands the franchise had several outstanding payments, which was one of the reasons behind its axing.The 2019 season is scheduled to begin on September 4.The Stars had never won CPL, with their best finish coming in 2016, when they finished third on the table, but lost in the Eliminator to Trinbago Knight Riders. In 2018, they finished fifth among the six teams, with seven points from ten matches. They had several star players on their roster in 2018, with Darren Sammy, Kieron Pollard and Rahkeem Cornwall among the local stars, and David Warner, Niroshan Dickwella and Mitchell McClenaghan among their overseas players.This year, they bagged Lasith Malinga and Fawad Alam in the draft as their main overseas players.

He says India are favourites “if they get the right balance of youth and experience”

ESPNcricinfo staff24-Jun-20232:07

Can Samson cement his place in India’s ODI middle-order?

Is India’s ODI top six loaded with too many right-handers at the moment? Former head coach Ravi Shastri seems to think so and would like to see at least two left-handers in India’s top six for the ODI World Cup later this year.”You need to strike the right balance. Do you think a left-hander will make a difference at the top? It does not have to be opening, but in the top three or four. You have to weigh all those options. Ideally, in the top six, I would like to see two left-handers,” Shastri told .With Rishabh Pant not playing any competitive cricket this year due to injuries suffered in a car accident, India have lost a key left-hander in one-day cricket. They have gone with Ishan Kishan for a few games this year. Ravindra Jadeja is another option but he doesn’t have a lot of experience batting in the top six. Yashasvi Jaiswal made it to India’s Test squad for the West Indies series, but his name remained absent from the ODI list.Related

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• Rishabh Pant's recovery progressing faster than expected

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The World Cup is set to start on October 5. Pant, if he gets fit in time, will likely get his place back, but what are the other left-handed options?”You have Ishan Kishan. In the wicketkeeping department, you have Sanju [Samson]. But the left-handers, you have [Yashasvi] Jaiswal, Tilak Varma. There is enough left-handed talent that can replace any senior player at the moment.”Shastri was also adamant that India needed to form a pool of youngsters and get them in the mix ahead of the World Cup. While he voiced concerns about India’s red-ball depth, he was pretty happy with talent coming through in white-ball cricket.”There are so many youngsters. There is Jaiswal and, I might miss out a few here, Tilak Varma, Nehal Wadhera. There is [Sai] Sudharsan, who played so well in the [IPL] final. There is Jitesh Sharma,” he said.”Among the bowlers, there is a crop of young fast bowlers. Quite a few, there is Mukesh [Kumar], names do not come to my mind now. But, there are at least four or five who can be groomed around that 135kmph-140kmph mark. So I am not worried about the talent in white-ball.”You have a lot of injuries these days. I always like a pool of 15-20. You should always be prepared, you should have a plan B, plan C.”Shastri: Sanju Samson is a “match-winner”•BCCI

Another name that Shastri was quite vocal about was Sanju Samson. The Kerala batter has been in and out of the India side but has been included in the squad for the ODIs in the West Indies next month. Shastri likened Samson to a young Rohit Sharma and felt the wicketkeeper-batter could be the “match-winner” India are looking for.”There is Sanju [Samson], who I believe is yet to realise his potential. He is a match-winner. There is something that is missing. I will be disappointed if he does not finish his career all guns blazing. It is like when I was the coach, I would have been disappointed if Rohit Sharma had not played in my side as a regular Test player. Hence, his opening the batting. I feel similar with Sanju,” he said.Shastri felt that with a number of youngsters ready to knock the door down, India should get started on succession planning. “There are seniors ready to be phased out and there are youngsters ready. No question about it when it comes to T20 cricket. Lesser in 50-over cricket and even fewer in Tests,” he said.”Because of the IPL, you see an abundance of high-quality, young, white-ball players. But, one should not get carried away by that and think they should be automatic red-ball choices. No, I would rather see the red-ball record. I would sit with the selectors and find out more about who the [red-ball performances] were against, in what conditions, what are their strengths, what is the temperament of the bloke like.”For me, temperament is key. It is paramount. Does the guy have the stomach for a fight? When it gets hot in the kitchen, is he is ready to bite the bullet? These are qualities I look for in a [Test] player. When I use the word fearless as a coach, these are the qualities that make a fearless cricketer. Backing his own ability and his strengths, and not wavering.”Luckily for India, the volume of players that play the game, compared with other countries, [is high]. I think you should always have a strong bench across formats.”Shastri was confident that India go into the ODI World Cup at home as favourites, and could “win this one” if they got the balance of the side right. “They are playing at home. I think they are one of the favourites. I am telling you now; I think they can win this one. Provided they get the right balance of experience and youth. And there is enough time to identify the squad that you want. And if you get your full-strength side, I think India are favourites, with England and Australia.”

Meanwhile, Kedar Jadhav is set to play for Maharashtra for the first time since December 2016, in their match against Baroda in Vadodara

ESPNcricinfo staff05-Nov-2018No Ashwin, Vijay for Tamil NaduRain affected Tamil Nadu’s prospects in the first round when they were at full-strength. They’ll have to do without R Ashwin, M Vijay and Vijay Shankar for their second-round match against Hyderabad in Tirunelveli. While both Vijay and Shankar will be travelling with the India A squad to New Zealand, Ashwin will be preparing for the Test series against Australia.K Vignesh, CV Varun and Shahrukh Khan have been named in the squad to replace the missing trio.Saha sets tentative comeback dateWriddhiman Saha, who has been battling injury issues since the start of the year, has set a tentative return date. “I am feeling much better now. I hope to be back in action by mid-December. I am preparing and training accordingly. Hope my body recovers in time and I’m fit to play (Ranji Trophy). I’ve started net sessions but I am yet to get match-fit,” Saha said at an event in Kolkata.While Saha may have missed the bus for the Test series against Australia, he could still play a significant role for Bengal if his return goes as per schedule.Jadhav to turn out for MaharashtraKedar Jadhav will turn out for Maharashtra in their match against Baroda at the Moti Bagh Stadium in Vadodara. He hasn’t represented Maharashtra since December 2016 due to national commitments and injury issues.It is worth remembering that Jadhav first came into the national reckoning due to a blockbuster Ranji season, when his 1224 runs in 2013-14 took Maharashtra from Group C all the way to the final. The last time he played for his state though, Jadhav was only a batsman. He’s now become someone who can chip in with a few overs of spin too. Playing a four-day match while batting and bowling, and crucially coming through unscathed and without injury, will perhaps be an important step in Jadhav proving his fitness.CM Gautam droppedThe Karnataka side that is taking on defending champions Vidarbha in Nagpur will be without a familiar face. CM Gautam, veteran of 94 first-class matches, is not part of the team. Gautam had a middling 2017-18 season, scoring 285 runs in eight games at 31.66 average. The squad is only for the first game, so there is still a chance for him to come back.Gambhir steps down as Delhi captainNitish Rana has been named Delhi captain for the 2018-19 Ranji Trophy, after Gautam Gambhir, who led them in the 50-over Vijay Hazare Trophy, stepped down from the role a week before the start of the season. Rana will begin his captaincy stint on November 12, when Delhi kick off their season against Himachal Pradesh, in a match that will also feature Ishant Sharma, who is returning from rehab for ankle complaints suffered since the Oval Test against England.Gambhir, who led Delhi to the Hazare final last month, made the announcement via Twitter. “Time to pass the captaincy baton to youngsters, hence have requested the DDCA selectors not to consider me for that role,” he wrote. “I will be in the background helping the new leader to win games.”At the start of this season, Gambhir had been asked by the Delhi selectors to lead the team in the limited-overs tournaments in the absence of Rishabh Pant and Ishant Sharma, who had both led the side in last year’s Ranji Trophy. But when offered the opportunity to continue in the role for this season, Gambhir told the selectors that it would be good to groom a young leader.”Gautam has intimated the state team’s chief selector Amit Bhandari that he would like to opt out of captaincy,” Delhi and Districts Cricket Association (DDCA) president Rajat Sharma told . “He suggested that someone younger be groomed for the job. Nitish Rana will lead the side and Dhruv Shorey will be his deputy.”Earlier this year, the 37-year-old Gambhir had also stepped down as Delhi Daredevils’ captain during the IPL season, after the franchise managed only one win in their first six games.Rana, the new state team captain, was the second-highest scorer for Delhi, behind Gambhir, in the 2017-18 Ranji Trophy, with 613 runs in 12 innings at an average of 55.72. Shorey, Rana’s deputy, also had a productive tournament, scoring 593 runs in 12 innings, including a hundred in the final.Delhi squad: Nitish Rana (capt), Dhruv Shorey (vice-capt), Gautam Gambhir, Hitel Dalal, Himmat Singh, Anuj Rawat, Ishant Sharma, Kulwant Khejroliya, Vikas Mishra, Lalit Yadav, Simarjit Singh, Vaibhav Rawal, Varun Sood, Sarthak Rajan, Shivank Vashisth

Total of 26 players picked up in open market ahead of August competition

ESPNcricinfo staff11-May-2023Grace Scrivens, England Under-19 captain, has been retained by London Spirit for this year’s Women’s Hundred, with several of the Under-19 team that recently reached the World Cup final in South Africa also signed for their maiden campaigns.A total of 26 players have been picked up in the open market, following the inaugural Women’s Draft, which took place in March.And Scrivens – who was one of the stand-out players in South Africa with 293 runs and nine wickets across England’s seven games – will once again be heading for Lord’s, where she’ll be captained by her senior counterpart, Heather Knight, when this year’s Hundred begins in August.”I’m delighted to be back,” Scrivens said. “Playing at Lord’s in front of such a big crowd was so exciting last season and I can’t wait to do it again.”Ryana MacDonald-Gay (Oval Invincibles), Liberty Heap (Manchester Originals), Josie Groves and Alexa Stonehouse (both Trent Rockets) are among the other Under-19 players to be picked up for the tournament.”I’m happy to see a lot of the Under-19 team being announced,” Scrivens added. “We really enjoyed the World Cup campaign and it’s great to see everyone continuing their professional progression in a world class competition like The Hundred.”Birmingham Phoenix have picked up a trio of non-England players, in Abtaha Maqsood (Scotland), Sterre Kalis (Netherlands) and Erin Burns (Australia).Other notable signings include the USA’s Tara Norris, a breakout star of the inaugural WPL, who has also joined London Spirit, while Georgia Adams Southern Vipers’ captain, returns to her original team, Southern Brave.

Full list of signings

Birmingham Phoenix: Abtaha Maqsood, Erin Burns, Chloe Brewer, Sterre Kalis

London Spirit: Grace Scrivens, Tara Norris, Niamh Holland

Manchester Originals: Liberty Heap, Phoebe Graham, Fi Morris
Northern Superchargers: Marie Kelly, Aylish Cranstone, Phoebe Franklin

Oval Invincibles: Eva Gray, Ryana MacDonald-Gay, Kira Chathli

Southern Brave: Georgia Adams, Rhianna Southby, Danielle Gregory

Trent Rockets: Josie Groves, Emma Jones, Naomi Dattani, Alexa Stonehouse

Welsh Fire: Alex Griffiths, Claire Nicholas, Sarah Bryce

His Test cap number, 350, will be painted square of the wicket for the duration of the match

AAP19-Dec-2022Australia and South Africa players will all wear floppy hats during the national anthems at the Boxing Day Test in tribute to cricket icon Shane Warne.The first MCG Test since Warne’s tragic death in March, aged 52, was always going to be an emotional affair and Cricket Australia have revealed the tributes that will be rolled out for the legendary spin king.Warne made the Boxing Day Test his own during his glittering career, highlighted by his MCG Ashes hat-trick in 1994 and taking his 700th wicket at the ground 12 years later, and he will once again take centre stage.His Test cap number, 350, will be painted square of the wicket for the duration of the match.At 3.50pm on Boxing Day, a graphic of Warne will be displayed on the MCG screens while highlights packages of the famous Victorian will roll out across the match.Fans are being encouraged to wear a floppy hat and don Warne’s trademark zinc cream when attending the second Test of the series.”Shane is an icon to cricket fans globally for the greatness of his cricketing achievements, his charisma and his infectious enthusiasm for the game,” CA chief executive Nick Hockley said. “His place as a legend of Australian and world sport is assured.”Whilst we continue to mourn his passing, it is fitting that we honour Shane at his beloved Boxing Day Test at the MCG.”I know I speak for the whole cricket community in saying that our thoughts continue to be with Shane’s family and friends and particularly his children Brooke, Jackson and Summer.”Warne was last week honoured by his former Big Bash League team, the Melbourne Stars, during a match at the MCG.A memorial service to farewell Warne held at the ground in March was attended by more than 50,000 people.

Team-mates told her “go for the hundred because you don’t get opportunities like this very often”

Firdose Moonda15-Feb-2023Muneeba Ali knows that cricketers don’t get days like the one she had against Ireland very often. Only one of them will become the first woman from their country to score a T20I hundred. When more centurions come, they will join an elite club.It’s only once every couple of years that a cricketer can say they’ve scored a century at a World Cup. Before today, across seven editions of the Women’s T20 World Cup, there were five centurions: Deandra Dottin, Meg Lanning, Harmanpreet Kaur, Heather Knight and Lizelle Lee.Muneeba is the first woman from Pakistan to score a T20I hundred and the sixth to achieve the feat at a World Cup, and she did it all without even a T20I fifty to her name. Her previous best in the format was 43.”I enjoyed that,” she said afterwards. “We don’t get these chances in international cricket regularly so I cherish this moment.”And so she should.In what became a stirring riposte to being beaten 2-1 at home to this same Ireland team, Pakistan piled on the second-highest score of the tournament so far and then dismissed Ireland for under 100. The victory was set up by Muneeba, who started gently when she flicked the second ball she faced fine for Pakistan’s first four and steered the fourth past deep third and then brought out a power game that left Ireland out of answers.She pulled Leah Paul behind square, swatted Arlene Kelly down the ground and swept Cara Murray through short fine leg. But she had to survive being dropped on 47, when she heaved Paul to long-on, where Louise Little charged in and then had to pull out of the catch to avoid clashing into mid-on, to bring out her favourite shot: the drive through extra cover. There were four of them, including the hit that saw her reach her century, and it was the result of a mis-field, one of several from an Ireland outfit that had a tough day out but could still admire Muneeba’s effort. “It was difficult to be on the other end but as a spectacle it was outstanding,” Arlene Kelly said.Kelly blamed a bowling performance that saw Ireland spray the ball “two sides of the wicket,” and “string together a couple of dot balls and then give a loosener,” for how heavily they conceded but also acknowledged that Muneeba’s approach put them under pressure. Like many batters at this tournament – England, Australia and India’s line-ups for example – Pakistan “want to take a fearless approach,” Muneeba said, and approach their batting proactively rather than reactively.That reflected in the way Muneeba paced her innings. She knew from about the 12th over, after she’d reached fifty, that a hundred was there for the taking. By the 15th over, she was on 70 and her hundred came in the 19th over, with her second fifty scored in only 26 balls. “There were enough overs and I had enough runs and my team-mates were telling me to go for the hundred because you don’t get opportunities like this very often,” she said.She took on Laura Delany and Kelly, both medium-pacers – evidence that she “enjoys playing pace and is still learning against spin,” but she said she will continue to “work on my boundary options.” Crucially, Muneeba wants to concentrate on batting through the innings and giving Pakistan the ability to end innings on a high note.”There are always some overs which are more productive than others but what is important is how you finish an innings and that is something we could do well today,” she said. “In the first few overs we took our time to settle and that’s how it normally should be. Today was my day and I built a good innings.”Not long after that innings ended, Muneeba had to come out and keep wicket in Pakistan’s defence. Asked if she found it difficult to concentrate on that task after the highs of her hundred, she smiled and replied in the negative. “That wasn’t hard because I got good runs so I was enjoying my time in the middle. I wanted us to win.”And after they did, it all sunk in: days like these don’t come very often at all. “I realised only after the match that I had done something special.”

Ollie Pope has been dropped while Chris Woakes is out with a thigh strain. Virat Kohli, meanwhile, has confirmed that R Ashwin is fully fit

The Preview by Andrew McGlashan29-Aug-20185:46

Compton: England top-order lacks backbone

Big Picture

This series feels very alive. India are coming off one of their finest wins outside Asia while England have previously shown that when stung by defeat, and criticism, they have it in them to bounce back on home soil. The next few days at the Ageas Bowl promise much.There has already been talk about whether Virat Kohli’s team can emulate Don Bradman’s 1936-37 Australian side in coming back from 2-0 down to take the series 3-2. That is better left for next week and the build-up to The Oval should India manage to square the series here. And what a conclusion that would set up.First they need to back up Trent Bridge with a performance of similar fortitude and skill. Having twice got their selection wrong in the opening two Tests, there is now a well-balanced feel to the line-up: the return of Jasprit Bumrah made a significant difference to the pace attack and though the openers didn’t score heavily in Nottingham they played their part. It all means there is a good chance of Kohli naming an unchanged XI for the first time in his captaincy.For England most of the attention is centered around the misfiring top order. Jonny Bairstow has been cleared to play as a batsman, but time is running short for some of them to deliver a match-shaping innings. Joe Root needs to define a contest like his opposite number – it is more than a year since his last Test century.In the wake of the defeat at Trent Bridge, it was easy to lose sight of the fact it is England who remain 2-1 up. Last year they responded to a thrashing against South Africa, also at Trent Bridge, to clean up in the next two matches. A similar response this week and, regardless of the persistent issues, it will be a notable feather in Root’s cap to have beaten the No. 1 Test side. However, victory for India and that dip at a very special comeback will be a step closer.

Form guide

England LWWWL (last five Tests, most recent first)
India WLLWW

In the spotlight

Four years ago Alastair Cook came to the Ageas Bowl at one of his lowest ebbs. He was horribly out of form and India had inflicted a heavy defeat at Lord’s to go 1-0 up. In one of those sliding-doors moments, Cook was dropped at slip on 15 and went on to make a gusty 95 in what became a handsome England win. What Cook, now back in the ranks, would give for a little bit of that luck and a similar score this time. He will have the last two Tests of the series regardless of what happens at the Ageas Bowl, but further low scores would create huge pressure on him at The Oval.India didn’t need R Ashwin to play a massive role at Trent Bridge because of the impact of the seamers and it’s probably a good job given the problem he had with his hip. But India can’t bank on Hardik Pandya taking five wickets all the time so Ashwin may be needed in both an attacking and defensive role. At the beginning of the series he bowled beautifully at Edgbaston – perhaps as well as he ever has overseas – but the conditions at Lord’s then his injury have given him a bit-part role since. There is still time for him to have a major say in the series.Getty Images

Team news

Root again confirmed his team a day out. Bairstow’s finger has healed enough for him to retain a place as a batsman, moving up to No.4, but the gloves go to Jos Buttler. Sam Curran has replaced Chris Woakes, who has a thigh strain, while Moeen Ali comes in for Ollie Pope whose two Test matches came batting at No. 4 – a position he had never occupied in first-class cricket.England: 1 Alastair Cook, 2 Keaton Jennings, 3 Joe Root (capt), 4 Jonny Bairstow, 5 Ben Stokes, 6 Jos Buttler (wk), 7 Moeen Ali, 8 Sam Curran, 9 Adil Rashid, 10 Stuart Broad, 11 James AndersonKohli confirmed that Ashwin has fully recovered from his hip niggle. This means there’s a chance of India naming an unchanged XI. However, Kohli has also predicted plenty of help for the spinners as the match wears on, which opens up the possibility of Ravindra Jadeja coming in as second spinner, perhaps in place of Mohammed Shami.India (probable): 1 Shikhar Dhawan, 2 KL Rahul, 3 Cheteshwar Pujara, 4 Virat Kohli (capt), 5 Ajinkya Rahane, 6 Hardik Pandya, 7 Rishabh Pant (wk), 8 R Ashwin, 9 Mohammed Shami/Ravindra Jadeja, 10 Ishant Sharma, 11 Jasprit Bumrah

Pitch and conditions

The pitch had a tinge of green but is expected to be a bat-first surface albeit with a challenging first session for the batsmen. Spin can come into play at the ground – Moeen took a six-wicket haul in the fourth innings in 2014 – but the pitch is not expected to change character quickly. The forecast is for a dry and mild five days, if the match lasts that long.

Stats and Trivia

• James Anderson needs seven wickets to overtake Glenn McGrath as the most prolific pace bowler in Test history. Anderson has 11 wickets at an average of 19.45 in two Tests at the Ageas Bowl.
• Virat Kohli is six runs away from 6000 Test runs. Only nine Indian players have scored more than 6000 Test runs. And he is 104 away from 4000 runs as captain, with only nine players having scored that many as captain.
• Ishant Sharma needs one wicket to reach 250 in Tests

Quotes

“We’ve bounced back from difficult defeats before and that’s the challenge for us to do it again here.”
“England would want to come back strongly. We understand that and we will have to be even better with what we did in Nottingham to be able to get results our way.”

Gary Ballance’s superb century rescued his side and then tipped proceedings firmly in their favour against Worcestershire.

ECB Reporters Network25-Sep-2018
ScorecardGary Ballance has played a significant role in ensuring Yorkshire’s Division One survival in the Specsavers County Championship and a superb century rescued his side and then tipped proceedings firmly in their favour against Worcestershire.The one-time England batsman followed up his hundred in the draw against Nottinghamshire and 85 in the victory over Lancashire by holding together the Tykes innings after Worcestershire had been bowled out for 340 at Blackfinch New Road.Ballance fought a virtual lone hand while completing his third ton of the campaign – and steering Yorkshire past the threat of being asked to follow on – until he was joined by Jack Brooks in a run-laced final session. The pair added a record-breaking 171 in 27 overs for the ninth wicket and shepherded the visitors into a lead that had seemed unlikely when they joined forces at 232 for 8.It surpassed Yorkshire’s previous ninth wicket best against Worcestershire of 150 by Azeem Rafiq and Matthew Hoggard at New Road in 2009.Brooks is certainly signing off in style before joining Somerset on a three-year contract as he followed up his six-wicket haul in Worcestershire’s first innings with 82 before he was dismissed in the penultimate over.It left Ballance unbeaten on a chanceless 189 from 213 deliveries with two sixes and 29 fours as Yorkshire closed on 417 for 9 – a lead of 77. But, as well as Ballance and Brooks played, Worcestershire were left to reflect on another situation in a season of promise that slipped from their grasp when well placed – a major factor in their relegation to Division Two.They seemed powerless to stop the onslaught and were also handicapped by the absence after tea of paceman Josh Tongue with a foot injury as Ballance and Brooks cut loose almost at will.Worcestershire resumed on 319 for 8 and Ben Coad struck with the fourth delivery of the day without addition to the score as he trapped Ben Twohig leg before. Brooks then added to his five-wicket haul by wrapping up the innings as Dillon Pennington was caught behind to leave Tongue unbeaten on 30.When Yorkshire began their reply, Adam Lyth made a quickfire 27 before he fell lbw to Wayne Parnell and Jack Leaning was undone by a fine delivery from Tongue and was comprehensively bowled. Hey Spinner Ben Twohig struck with the final delivery before before lunch as Jeet Raval went to cut and dragged the ball onto his stumps.Former Worcestershire batsman Tom Kohler-Cadmore went leg before to Twohig and Jonathan Tattersall had his off stump knocked out by a Tongue delivery which kept low. Pennington, who had impressed in Worcestershire’s win at Scarborough, had Tim Bresnan pouched at second slipTongue’s third success was also clean bowled in the form of Tykes skipper Steven Patterson and, shortly after tea, debutant James Logan was lbw to Moeen Ali. But then the balance of power shifted dramatically as Ballance and Brooks raced along at more than six an over.The carnage only ended when Brooks, having struck 15 fours in his 99-ball knock, edged Moeen – by now bowling medium pace – through to keeper Ben Cox. A total of 203 runs came from 32 overs after tea.

Stunning run of T20 form earns batsman another chance in format he still believes is ‘the pinnacle’

George Dobell at Lord's21-May-20181:57

Will Buttler be able to adapt his IPL game for Tests?

Jos Buttler has admitted he was as surprised as anyone by his Test recall and said it feels like “another debut”.Buttler, who has not played a Test since December 2016, was hailed for his “unique gifts” by new national selector, Ed Smith. But, having not played a first-class match this year or made a first-class century since January 2014, it was a selection that took almost everyone – and certainly Buttler – by surprise.But while he concedes a Test recall was not on his “radar” in the short term, Buttler insists he had never given up hope of a return to the format he believes is “still the ultimate” form of the game. And, whatever happens in this latest recall to the side, he has promised he will do things his own way.”It was quite a lot of a surprise,” Buttler said of his recall. “It wasn’t particularly on my radar. But, through a change of selectors, I’ve been afforded an incredible opportunity. So it’s a fantastic surprise and an incredible opportunity. It feels like another debut, really.”I wasn’t resigned to not playing Tests again, but I was very aware that it might never happen. I knew I was going to be available for a lot of championship cricket for Lancashire at the end of the summer, so that was a real focus of mine for targeting red-ball cricket. But you always think that maybe that race is run and it will never happen again.”He comes back into the Test team in a fine vein of form. He struck five half-centuries – including an unbeaten 94 and an unbeaten 95 – in his final six IPL innings and, though he accepts there will be some “differences” in the challenges facing him in Test cricket, he hopes to retain the same positivity and aggression that has served him well in T20 cricket.Buttler has outperformed the rest of his IPL side in May•ESPNcricinfo Ltd

“Of course there are differences,” he said. “I’m pretty sure I won’t be opening and trying to slog it in the first six overs.”But hopefully I can entertain. From the conversations I’ve had with Joe Root, the captain, and Ed Smith, the selector, they very much want me to play the way that suits me and in the fashion they believe will get the best out of me in that No. 7 role. They want me to play in the way I play in white-ball games.”For me it’s about expressing myself, trusting my instincts and allowing that to flourish rather than fighting it. I’m not just going to go out there and slog, but I am going to try to be positive.”There have been some great cricketers from all generations who have done it their own way. That’s what’s been asked of me: to play in a way that suits me.”Although he admits it was “hard to leave” the IPL early, Buttler is in no doubt as to where his priorities lie.”It was tough to leave the IPL halfway through,” he said. “It’s an incredible tournament and I’ve loved the last three years I’ve been there.”But I’m delighted to leave as well to come and have this opportunity. Test cricket is the ultimate format and I think it always will be for players of my generation. You get that feeling talking to everyone: they still feel Test cricket is best.”And Virat Kohli signing for Surrey to get used to playing in England shows that Test cricket is still at the forefront of players’ minds. It’s still the pinnacle.”