Tag: England

LONDON: India and England players paid a heartwarming tribute to the late English player Graham Thorpe on day two of the fifth Test at the Oval on Friday.

Thorpe, who represented England in 100 Tests and 82 ODIs, took his own life on August 4, 2024, after a recurring struggle with anxiety and depression.

Graham Thorpe amassed over 6,700 Test runs for England and almost 22,000 across all first-class cricket.

Consequently, day two of the final India Test is celebrated as ‘Day for Thorpey’.

 

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In a heartfelt tribute to the late Graham Thorpe, headbands were sold to raise money for mental health charity Mind. The tribute was presented at a venue which he called home while playing for Surrey from 1988 to 2005.

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The England players wore headbands in his memory, as he famously wore one during his career.

India is batting in its second essay and is leading by 32 runs with Sai Sudharsan and Yashaswi Jaiswal on the crease.

Earlier, India bundled out England for 247-9 runs with Harry Brook top scoring with 53 off 64 balls. Chris Woakes was unable to bat due to a shoulder injury sustained on the opening day, which ruled him out of the rest of the match.

For India, Mohammad Siraj and Prasidh Krishna took four wickets each on a pitch favourable for seam bowlers.

England lost their way in pursuit of India’s first innings total of 224 runs despite having a solid opening partnership of 92 runs.

Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett added 92 runs for the first wicket in just 12.5 overs. With this stand, the opening pair surpassed Alastair Cook and Andrew Strauss to record the most runs as a pair against India.

However, Akash Deep ended the brisk opening stand with Ben Duckett, who fell after making 42 off 38 balls with the aid of two maximums and five fours.

Following the wicket, India sensed an opening and struck at regular intervals to put breaks on England’s charge, eventually the home side finishing 29 runs ahead of India’s total.

READ: Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley break England’s longstanding record against India

LONDON: England’s opening pair Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley created history on Friday after setting a new opening record here at the Oval in the fifth Test of the series against India.

The opening pair provided England a belligerent start after bundling out the visitors for a modest 224-run total.

Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett added 92 runs for the first wicket in just 12.5 overs. With this stand, the opening pair surpassed Alastair Cook and Andrew Strauss to record the most runs as a pair against India.

Cook and Strauss have opened for England for six years from 2006 to 2012, amassing an overall of 4711 runs in 117 innings. England’s most successful opening pair notched up 12 century stands and 18 half-centuries in that period at an impressive average of 40.96

Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett have so far amassed 984 runs as an opening pair in 18 innings, whereas Cook and Strauss had scored 932 runs in 20 innings against India.

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Additionally, Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett levelled with the former West Indies opening pair of Gordon Greenidge and Desmond Haynes for most half-century stands against India in Test cricket.

The duo have stitched together eight 50-plus opening stands against India.

Meanwhile, Akash Deep ended the brisk opening stand with Ben Duckett, who fell after making 42 off 38 balls with the aid of two maximums and five fours.

In a short time, Zak Crawley was also removed, making 64 off 57 balls, reducing the home side to 129-2 in pursuit of India’s first innings total.

It is pertinent to note that India is trailing 2-1 in the series and needs a win to level the series, whereas a draw will hand the England Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy.

READ: Ireland unveil squad for T20I series against Pakistan

LONDON: England key pacer Chris Woakes has been ruled out of the fifth Test against India after suffering a shoulder dislocation during the opening day of the match at the Oval.

The 36-year-old injured himself in an attempt to stop a boundary on Thursday, resulting in an awkward landing. After his attempt, he looked in utter discomfort and left the field.

Chris Woakes’ injury was assessed overnight and before the start of play on day two. After his assessment, England confirmed that he will not feature in the remainder of the Test match.

The injury has further put the England team in deep trouble after they decided to put a fresh bowling attack in a bid to win the series.

The inexperienced attack comprising Gus Atkinson, Josh Tongue, and Jamie Overton was led by Chris Woakes in the final Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar trophy.

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However, Gus Atkinson stood up with a five-wicket haul, helping England bundle out India for a modest 224-run total.

Karun Nair top-scored for India with 57 off 109 balls, ending a 3149-day wait for his half-century in the format after scoring a mammoth triple century against the same team.

For England, Gus Atkinson starred with the ball, bowling a fiery spell, taking five wickets for just 33 runs in 21.4 overs.

At the time of filing this story, England were 109-1 in only 16 overs at Lunch, with Zak Crawley (52) and captain Ollie Pope (12) unbeaten on the crease.

Earlier, England’s openers forged a belligerent opening stand, scoring 92 runs in only 12.5 overs. Ben Duckett remained the core aggressor, who made 43 from 38 balls with the aid of two sixes and five fours.

For India, Akash Deep picked up one wicket in seven overs and gave away 46 runs.

READ: Lancashire issues apology after Pakistan fan removed for refusing to cover jersey

Ben Stokes is preparing himself for an “emotional” tribute to Graham Thorpe when the late former England batter is honoured during this week’s fifth and deciding Test against India at the Oval.

Thorpe took his own life on August 4, 2024, having battled depression and anxiety for several years, with police confirming he had died following an incident on a railway line near his home.

The left-handed batsman, who spent his entire professional career in south London with Oval-based Surrey, scored 6,744 Test runs at an average of 44.66 in 100 matches from 1993 to 2005.

He later held various coaching positions, including a role as England’s batting chief, where he worked with current players such as Test captain Stokes and Joe Root.

A Day for Thorpey will be held on Friday, August 1, in support of mental health charity Mind on what would have been his 56th birthday.

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“Thorpey’s been a very influential character as a player and a coach in English cricket,” Stokes told reporters at the Oval on Wednesday.

“A few of us in that dressing room spent a lot of time with him coming through the ranks and, as we got into the main (England) team, Thorpey spent a lot of years around us.”

The all-rounder, who will miss the Oval finale because of a shoulder injury, added: “It’s going to be a special day for all English fans, a special day for his family to see how much he meant to English cricket and how much he means to the current England dressing room.”

Coroner Jonathan Stevens recorded an official verdict of suicide at an inquest last week but said there had been “shortcomings in the care” provided to the retired cricketer in his final months.

The fifth Test at the Oval starts on Thursday, with England 2-1 up in the series.

READ: WCL 2025: Pakistan Champions owner comments on India’s withdrawal from semi-final

India captain Shubman Gill has thrown his support behind head coach Gautam Gambhir following a heated exchange with the Oval pitch head groundsman ahead of the fourth Test against England.

A day earlier, India’s head coach Gambhir was involved in a verbal spat with the pitch curator Lee Fortis. The curator raised concerns about the heavy footmarks and the training equipment on the main pitch.

In doing so, he suggested that the Indian team should view the pitch from 2.5 meters away from the strip. As a result, Gautam Gambhir was seen pointing his finger at Fortis.

“You don’t tell us what we need to do. You don’t tell us what we need to do, okay. You don’t need to tell us. You don’t tell any of my squad what we need to do.

You have no right to tell us. You’re just a groundsman; you stay in your capacity. You are just a groundsman, nothing beyond. You are just a groundsman,” Gautam Gambhir had said to Lee Fortis.

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Now, Shubman Gill has commented on the incident, who was not present at the venue during the incident

“What happened yesterday, I thought was just absolutely unnecessary,” Gill said in the pre-match press conference.

He backed Gautam Gambhir, noting that the coach has every right to look at the pitch.

“It’s not the first time that we were having a look at the wicket, we have been there for almost two months.

A coach has every right to be able to go close quarters and have a look at the wicket and I didn’t think there was anything wrong with that. I actually don’t know why the curator would not allow us to go have a look at the wicket,” he added.

Shubman Gill said they had never received any instructions during a pitch inspection under certain circumstances.

“As long as I remember, we had never got any instructions. As long as you are wearing rubber spikes or [are] barefoot you can see the wicket from near,” he said.

“We have played four matches already in this series, and nobody stopped us from watching the pitch. All of us have played so much cricket, we have gone to the pitches so many times, including the coaches and captain, I don’t know what the fuss was about,” Shubman Gill concluded.

For the unversed, India is trailing 2-1 in the five-match series against England, despite producing a memorable performance in the fourth Test in Manchester, which secured a draw.

The visitors will be eyeing a win in the final Test at the Oval, which is set to begin tomorrow, to level the series.

READ: Shahid Afridi trolls India Champions ahead of WCL 2025 semi-final

India head coach Gautam Gambhir was involved in a heated exchange with the Oval pitch curator ahead of the fifth Test against England.

The two sides are set to face off in the fifth and final Test at the venue on July 31, with England leading the series 2-1.

England won the opening Test by five wickets in Leeds; however, India fought back with an impressive win in the second game in Birmingham.

The third Test between both sides became a cliffhanger, with England winning the match at Lord’s only by 22 runs on the final day of the game.

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The Indian team arrived in London from Manchester after producing a memorable performance in the fourth Test and had an optional training session.

However, things heated up after the Indian team arrived at the venue as Gautam Gambhir was seen in an animated chat with Surrey head groundsman Lee Fortis.

The dispute happened reportedly due to a disagreement over the use of the square housing the main pitch.

The incident took place when Gautam Gambhir intervened during a discussion between India’s assistant coach, Sitanshu Kotak, and the groundsmen.

Subsequently, Fortis warned Gautam Gambhir about reporting him to the International Cricket Council (ICC) if he continued to ‘swear’ at them.

“You don’t tell us what we need to do. You don’t tell us what we need to do, okay. You don’t need to tell us. You don’t tell any of my squad what we need to do.

You have no right to tell us. You’re just a groundsman; you stay in your capacity. You are just a groundsman, nothing beyond. You are just a groundsman,” Gautam Gambhir replied to Lee Fortis.

After the incident, Lee Fortis denied any heated exchange with India’s head coach.

“I’ve never met him before; he must’ve played here. You saw what he was like this morning. I don’t know, you’ll have to ask him. There’s no side to the story,” Lee Fortis said.

READ: Nathan Lyon breaks silence on omission from West Indies Test

Former South African pacer Dale Steyn has weighed in on the controversy surrounding the drawn fourth Test between India and England, calling out all-rounders Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar for chasing personal milestones once the match result was beyond doubt.

With the Test meandering towards a draw, England skipper Ben Stokes offered Jadeja a handshake to end proceedings early.

India, however, declined the gesture, allowing both Jadeja and Sundar to bring up their centuries before the match was eventually called off, a move that didn’t sit well with everyone.

The incident sparked a debate online, with South African spinner Tabraiz Shamsi defending India’s choice. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Shamsi wrote:

“Why is there such a big deal being made about the Indians choosing not to accept the offer to end the game in a draw immediately? The offer was made, the offer was rejected, and they were fully entitled to make their choice. They got their 100s which they worked hard for. Game over.”

But Dale Steyn saw it differently. Responding to Shamsi, he suggested the Indians put personal glory ahead of the spirit of the game.

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“Shamo, this onion has many layers to it, and each one will make someone cry. The only issue I see here is the one thing people aren’t realizing — the batters weren’t playing for 100s, they were batting for a DRAW. That was the goal,” he wrote.

Steyn further added that once the draw was secured, the right thing would’ve been to shake hands.

“It’s not then the time to realize they’re safe and say, ‘No, we’d prefer some free milestones.’ Although within the rules, it just seems a little… well, odd,” he added.

While conceding that Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar batted well, Steyn believed they should’ve accelerated earlier if centuries were on their minds.

“At least then, we could all agree no team tried to outdo the other in this weird situation,” he concluded.

READ: England to play Australia Prime Minister’s XI in pink-ball match

An England XI will take on the Prime Minister’s XI in a two-day pink-ball match at Canberra’s Manuka Oval on November 29 and 30, slotted between the first Ashes Test against Australia in Perth and the day-night clash at the Gabba.

The match, traditionally a one-day fixture, was upgraded to a multi-day format in 2022-23 and will now serve as a key preparatory outing for England’s red-ball specialists.

This year’s fixture gives the touring side a valuable opportunity to get accustomed to the pink ball under match conditions before the second Test in Brisbane.

While the match doesn’t overlap with the Sheffield Shield, it remains the only fixture England will play outside the five-Test Ashes series once it begins.

Earlier, they’ll have a three-day internal game against England Lions at Lilac Hill in Perth, although it’s expected to be more of a centre-wicket practice session than a competitive fixture.

Last season’s PM’s XI match against India was reduced to a one-dayer due to rain, but it still proved significant.

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Young batter Sam Konstas made headlines with a century that propelled him into national reckoning, later earning a call-up for the Boxing Day Test.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese acknowledged the historical value of the fixture.

“An Ashes series is something every cricket fan looks forward to,” he said. “Like many Australians, I grew up admiring, and begrudging, the brilliance of players like Ian Botham, David Gower, and Graham Gooch.”

He added that he’s looking forward to finalising a competitive PM’s XI squad to challenge a strong English side.

“I look forward to meeting with the selectors to finalise a PM’s XI squad that showcases the best available talent from across Australia to take on the strong English team,” he added.

READ: Pakistan kick off training in Lauderhill ahead of West Indies T20Is

Former England fast bowler Stuart Broad believes Jofra Archer should be rested for the fifth and final Test against India, starting July 31 at The Oval, and has backed Gus Atkinson to take his place.

Archer made a highly anticipated return to Test cricket earlier this series after a four-year absence caused by recurring elbow and back injuries.

The speedster marked his comeback in style during the third Test at Lord’s, taking match figures of 5-105 and playing a key role in England’s dramatic win.

His spell included early damage with the new ball and crucial wickets in the second innings, notably Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, and Washington Sundar.

Determined to help England clinch the series, Jofra Archer pushed through for the fourth Test in Manchester, claiming four wickets for 151 runs.

However, he looked visibly uncomfortable, especially during India’s mammoth second innings where they batted out a draw at 425/4.

With Archer clearly struggling physically, Stuart Broad has urged the team management to avoid risking a long-term injury.

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“We can’t not have Jofra Archer for four years, bring him back and then bowl him into the ground and not see him for another four years,” Broad said.

Broad has called for Gus Atkinson to be given a shot, noting that the young quick hasn’t yet been tested against a top-quality Test opponent.

“I think Gus Atkinson has to play. I know he has not had any workload, but we need to see him. He hasn’t been really challenged against top-level opposition in Test cricket yet,” he said.

Broad also pointed out that Brydon Carse looked “knackered” during the fourth Test and could use a breather, while Josh Tongue, who featured earlier in the series, could be a like-for-like replacement if England opt to rest Jofra Archer.

READ: Ben Dwarshuis helps Australia sweep West Indies in T20I series

Australia opener Usman Khawaja has questioned the incident involving a Pakistan fan during the fourth Test between India and England at Old Trafford.

Usman Khawaja posted on his social media handle regarding the incident that happened during the Manchester Test.

“This can’t be legit,” wrote Usman Khawaja on Instagram.

Earlier, a video emerged on social media in which a Pakistani fan named Farooq Nazar was told to cover up the Pakistan jersey. The spectator was wearing Pakistan’s traditional limited-overs jersey during the India-England match.

“I’ve been asked by control [Lancashire] if you can cover that shirt up, please,” the audio of the video transcribes.

In response, the spectator asked about the written order, and the guard replied that he should email regarding it.

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“Can you give me the written order? I have paid for the ticket. I need it in writing before I comply,” Nazar said in the video.

Later, a lady police officer came in and explained why he needed to cover up his shirt or have it changed.

“I will not cover the jersey because I am representing the country. You can take me out by force. Everyone can film me what you are doing to me. I have paid for the ticket. No Indian crowd complained about me,” he told several security people.

Following the incident, a Lancashire spokesperson stated that they have launched an investigation into the matter.

“We are aware of the incident referenced and are taking steps to understand the facts and context surrounding the matter fully,” the spokesperson said.

It is pertinent to mention that India and Pakistan have had tense relations in the recent past, both politically and in cricket terms.

A recent example was the cancellation of the 2025 World Championship of Legends (WCL) match between India and Pakistan, scheduled for 20 July at Edgbaston.

READ: WATCH: Fan asked to cover Pakistan jersey during India-England Test