Tag: England

India wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has been fined by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for breaching the Code of Conduct during the third day of the first Test against England at Headingley.

The 27-year-old was found guilty of a Level 1 offence under Article 2.8, which relates to “showing dissent at an umpire’s decision during an international match.”

The incident occurred towards the end of the 61st over in England’s first innings, when the on-field umpires inspected the condition of the ball but opted not to replace it.

The wicket-keeper, unhappy with the decision, expressed his frustration by arguing with the umpires and then throwing the ball on the ground.

Following the incident, Rishabh Pant was handed an official reprimand and received one demerit point, his first such offence within a 24-month period.

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Pant admitted the breach and accepted the sanction proposed by Richie Richardson of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees, thereby avoiding a formal hearing.

The charge was levelled by on-field umpires Paul Reiffel and Chris Gaffaney, along with third umpire Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid and fourth umpire Mike Burns.

According to ICC regulations, Level 1 breaches can lead to a minimum sanction of an official reprimand and a maximum of a 50% match fee fine along with one or two demerit points.

Despite facing disciplinary action, Pant played a pivotal role with the bat, scoring a valuable century that helped India set a target of 371 runs.

In this match, he not only scored centuries in both innings but also became the first Indian wicketkeeper to achieve this feat.

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Rishabh Pant became the first India batter to score hundreds in both innings of a Test against England before the hosts hit back to leave themselves 371 to win the series opener at Headingley on Monday.

England openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett survived a potentially tricky six-over spell against Indian pacer to take their team to 21-0 at stumps, with the hosts now needing a further 350 runs to go 1-0 up in this five-match series.

Swashbuckling wicketkeeper Pant, who made 134 in the first innings, completed a 130-ball century, including 13 fours and two sixes on the fourth afternoon before falling for 118.

Pant’s dismissal ended a stand of 195 with KL Rahul that started with the match in the balance when India were 92-3 in their second innings.

Rahul went on to make 137 but from the relative safety of 333-4, India lost their last six wickets for 31 runs as they slumped to 364 all out, with fast bowler Josh Tongue doing the bulk of the damage in a burst of three wickets in four balls.

India also collapsed in the first innings. Despite hundreds from captain Shubman Gill, Pant, and Yashasvi Jaiswal, they were dismissed for 471 after losing their last seven wickets for 41 runs.

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The outstanding Jasprit Bumrah, the world’s top-ranked Test bowler, took five wickets in England’s first-innings 465 and will be the danger man for the tourists in the decisive final innings of the match.

However, England reached a target of 378 — their record successful fourth-innings chase in Test cricket — against a Bumrah-led India attack at Edgbaston three years ago.

If England do make 371, it will be the second-highest winning fourth-innings chase in a Test at Headingley, surpassing the 362-9 they made against Australia in 2019 when captain Ben Stokes sealed a dramatic Ashes win with an unbeaten century.

Pant is just the second wicketkeeper in Test history to score hundreds in both innings of the same match, following Andy Flower’s scores of 142 and 199 not out for Zimbabwe against South Africa in 2001.

After a morning session in which India skipper Gill was the only batter dismissed, Rahul and Pant upped the tempo in their contrasting styles.

Pant completed an 83-ball fifty before driving Shoaib Bashir for two soaring sixes in three balls.

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LEEDS: India ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah has shattered Pakistan legend Wasim Akram’s record to etch his name into history books here at Headingley.

Earlier, the former captain of Pakistan, Wasim Akram, had taken the most Test wickets by an Asian bowler in SENA countries — South Africa, England, New Zealand, and Australia.

During his legendary career, Wasim Akram played 32 Test matches across these countries and achieved a remarkable total of 146 wickets.

Most Test wickets in SENA countries (by Asian bowlers)

Jasprit Bumrah – 147*

Wasim Akram – 146

Anil Kumble – 141

Ishant Sharma – 130

Muttiah Muralitharan – 125

Now, Jasprit Bumrah has shattered Akram’s record for the most wickets by an Asian bowler in Australia, South Africa, England and New Zealand, etching his name into the record books as the most successful bowler.

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The right-arm pacer achieved the feat against England on day two of the first Test, dismissing both openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett. The former was removed early in the innings for five while the latter’s crucial wicket was taken late in the day.

The wicket helped Bumrah climb the list with 147 wickets in just 32 matches, surpassing Wasim Akram’s tally of 146 wickets in the same number of matches.

England finished day two of the first Test match with 209-3, still trailing by 262 in reply to India’s first innings 471-run total. For, India Jasprit Bumrah was the standout bowler for India, taking each of the three wickets.

It’s worth noting that the Indian team management has announced that Jasprit Bumrah will participate in just three matches of the Test series against England.

This strategic decision is aimed at carefully managing his workload, ensuring that he remains fit and minimises the risk of injury.

Before the start of the much-anticipated series against England, Bumrah stated the reason behind declining Indian team captaincy.

“I’ve spoken to the people who have managed my back. I’ve talked to the surgeon as well, who’s always spoken to me about how smart you have to be about the workloads, Bumrah told Dinesh Karthik during the interview on Sky Sports.

READ: Rishabh Pant breaks plethora of records with fiery ton against England

LEEDS: India batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar has revealed the genius ploy of captain Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant during the opening Test first innings against England.

Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant added a mammoth 209-run stand on the fourth wicket which put India in a commanding position.

Tendulkar, while analysing the duo’s partnership, highlighted the tactical conversation between them.

“I also noticed something interesting during Bashir’s spell. Shubman and Rishabh were speaking loudly in Hindi between deliveries. It was not just casual talk,’ he said on X (formerly Twitter).

“They were playing mind games with the bowler, trying to disrupt his rhythm. These minor details may not appear on the scoreboard, but they can have a significant impact on the game,” Tendulkar said of Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant.

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The little master heaped high praise on Rishab Pant for his batting while mentioning the southpaw’s trademark unconventional ‘falling sweep’.

“Rishabh’s falling paddle sweep is not accidental. It is intentional and extremely clever. Going down with the shot allows him to get under the ball and scoop it over leg slip with control,” Sachin Tendulkar wrote.

Rishabh Pant, who scored his seventh century in Test cricket, sometimes plays an unconventional ‘falling sweep’, a shot in which he often finds himself in an awkward condition.

Pant’s 136 off 178 balls, laced with a dozen boundaries and half a dozen maximums, featured the audacious ‘falling paddle sweep’ multiple times.

During his sublime century against England, Rishabh Pant broke multiple records.

The left-handed batter surpassed MS Dhoni, former Indian captain record of most Test centuries (6) as a wicketkeeper batter for India. Along with that, the 27-year-old now has 1,746 runs in SENA nations at an impressive average of 38.80 from 27 Tests, overtaking MS Dhoni.

Apart from this record, Rishabh Pant also became the first visiting wicketkeeper to score three centuries in England, while no other keeper has more than one hundred on English soil.

READ: Rishabh Pant breaks plethora of records with fiery ton against England

LEEDS: India wicketkeeper batter Rishabh Pant has broken multiple records with a blazing century in the opening match of the five-match Test series against England.

With a century at the iconic Headingley, the left-handed batter surpassed MS Dhoni, former Indian captain record of most Test centuries (6) as a wicketkeeper batter for India.

Apart from this record, Rishabh Pant also became the first visiting wicketkeeper to score three centuries in England, while no other keeper has more than one hundred on English soil.

Rishab Pant’s 134-run knock featuring half a dozen sixes also took him past Rohit Sharma’s tally of most maximums in the ICC World Test Championship.

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Previously, Sharma had smashed 56 sixes in 40 matches while Rishab Pant has 58 maximums in just 35 matches. In addition to this, the southpaw further strengthened his record as the most prolific batter in SENA countries (South Africa, England, New Zealand, and Australia).

The 27-year-old now has 1,746 runs in SENA nations at an impressive average of 38.80 from 27 Tests, overtaking MS Dhoni.

Rishab Pant continued to showcase his dominance against England by scoring an impressive century, making 134 runs off 178 balls at a strike rate of 75.28, an innings peppered with six maximums and 12 boundaries.

With the left-hander’s valuable contribution, Team India propelled to a commanding first-innings total of 471 runs.

Notably, this century marked Pant’s fourth Test hundred against England, setting a new world record for the most Test centuries by a wicketkeeper against them.

He surpassed the previous joint record of three centuries held by Tom Latham, Adam Gilchrist, Ian Healy, and Brad Haddin.

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England captain Ben Stokes has brushed off the threat posed by India’s ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah in the five-match test series, set to commence tomorrow at Leeds.

In the lead-up to the series, there were ample discussions regarding Bumrah’s skilful bowling and England’s bazball approach. However, the right-arm pacer is only available for three Tests due to workload management and injury concerns.

Speaking ahead of the much-anticipated series, Ben Stokes dismissed the notion of fearing Bumrah’s threat.

“No fear. In international cricket, you come up against quality opposition all the time. We know his class and what he brings to any team he plays for, but in terms of fear, definitely, he said.

“I don’t think one bowler alone is going to win the series for either team. All 11 [players] have to stand up. I don’t think there is just one person in either team holding the key to success,” Ben Stokes added.

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The 31-year-old pacer had a stellar run in 2024, having picked up 71 wickets in just 13 games at an average of 26.27. However, despite India ending the series on a losing note, Bumrah stood out with his phenomenal bowling down under.

However, Jasprit Bumrah sustained a back injury in the last Test against Australia, hence keeping him out of the Champions Trophy 2025.

A few days earlier, the fast bowler mentioned his injury problems and the number of the matches he will be play in the upcoming series.

“[We will] plan on the go. Three Test matches is what I’m looking at. Obviously that number is not decided. First [Test] is definitely on, that is going to happen.

The rest we’ll see how things are, what is the workload, what are the scenarios going on. Three Test matches is what I can manage at this moment. And I don’t want to be in a desperate scenario,” Bumrah stated.

With India set to play five Test matches without experienced Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah will carry most of the burden as he leads an inexperienced pace attack.

For context, Bumrah has enjoyed bowling in English conditions, taking 37 wickets in nine Tests.

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Former England captain Michael Vaughan has questioned Three Lions captain Ben Stokes’ readiness for the five-match Test series against India, which is set to begin tomorrow at Leeds. 

While speaking with an English news outlet, Vaughan expressed his amusement over Ben Stokes’ lack of match practice ahead of a packed summer.

“I’ve been staggered by the lack of time in the middle that Ben’s had as a batter. He didn’t have a great year last year when he got his injuries,” Vaughan said.

He also questioned England’s skipper’s absence from the Lions’ practice game against India A.

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‘A Scottie Scheffler or a footballer going into a major event would be playing. He’s had no game time. Why wouldn’t you want to play for England Lions just for a knock, not to bowl?

He was bowling against Zimbabwe, and clearly he’s fine, but why wouldn’t you just want a bit of time in the middle? Call me old school, but I think it’s quite nice to go out and hit a few balls,” he added.

The 50-year-old hailed Ben Stokes as an intelligent captain, deeming him a vital cog in England’s chances down under.

“England can only win in Australia with him, and that’s him being the all-rounder. If he goes to Australia just as the batter, that completely breaks the balance of the team and as much as he’s a genius captain, the team are 30-40 per cent better when he bowls. To win in Australia, he has to be bowling and batting well,” he concluded.

For the unversed, Ben Stokes returned for the first time after knee surgery, playing against Zimbabwe in a one-off historic Test.

The all-rounder did not have a good outing with the bat, scoring only nine runs; however, Stokes was impressive with the ball, taking three wickets in the match.

READ: Major blow for India as key player likely to miss first Test against England

LEEDS: In a significant blow to India, Karun Nair, who was set to play his first match since 2017, is doubtful for the first Test against England, which is set to commence tomorrow.

According to the reports, the right-handed batter sustained an injury during the net session while facing pacer Prasidh Krishna.

Karun Nair’s name emerged in 2016 after scoring an unbeaten 303 in his third Test, before disappearing.

However, he earned his place in the Indian team for the England tour after scoring a plethora of runs in Domestic cricket.

The Rajastan-born batter topped the run charts for Vidarbha in the 2024-25 season, having made 863 runs at 53.93 in a title-winning Ranji Trophy campaign.

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Earlier, Nair also had a stellar 50-over season, in which he scored five centuries in eight innings at an impressive average of 389.50 in the Vijay Hazare Trophy.

In addition to this, the 33-year-old batter was also on song for India ‘A’ during the first practice match against England Lions in the first unofficial Test in Canterbury.

He scored his fourth double century in first-class cricket, the second in England. Last year, he smashed a majestic unbeaten double hundred for Northamptonshire.

The five-match Test series will mark the start of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025–27 cycle for both teams, with India set to enter a new era under the leadership of their new captain, Shubman Gill.

For the unversed, India will be without their senior duo, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who recently retired from Test cricket, bringing down the curtain on their illustrious careers.

India squad for England Tests:

Shubman Gill (captain), Rishabh Pant (vice captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, Nitish Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akashdeep, Arshdeep Singh and Kuldeep Yadav.

READ: Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy unveiled for England-India Test series

The new Anderson-Tendulkar trophy honouring the two greats of the game has been unveiled ahead of the Test series between India and England, set to commence tomorrow at Leeds.

The Anderson–Tendulkar Trophy, a joint initiative between the ECB and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), will now represent all future Test series between England and India.

Previously, the series in England was played for the Pataudi Trophy and the series in India for the Anthony De Mello Trophy.

The Pataudi family will continue to be honoured, with a newly commissioned Pataudi Medal to be presented to the winning captain of each England–India Test series.

The trophy features imagery of Anderson and Tendulkar in action, along with their engraved signatures– a fitting tribute to two of the game’s most iconic figures.

Both Anderson and Tendulkar are widely regarded as all-time greats. They are the most-capped players in the history of Test cricket: Tendulkar played 200 matches, and Anderson 188.

Anderson, considered one of the finest exponents of swing bowling, took 704 Test wickets, the most by a fast bowler in the format. The Lancashire seamer ranks third on the all-time list, behind only spinners Muttiah Muralitharan and Shane Warne.

Tendulkar, one of the most complete batters to have graced the game, remains the highest run-scorer in Test history with 15,921 runs. He made his debut at the age of 16 and went on to enjoy a distinguished 24-year international career.

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Speaking on the occasion, James Anderson expressed pride to have his name on this prestigious trophy.

“It’s a proud moment for me and my family to have this iconic series named after Sachin and myself. The rivalry between our two nations has always been something special, full of history, intensity and unforgettable moments, James Anderson said.

“To be recognised in this way is a real honour. I’m looking forward to seeing the next chapter unfold in England this summer. It promises to be compelling, competitive cricket – exactly what you’d expect from two great sides. This is elite sport at its finest,” James Anderson added.

Sachin Tendulkar mentioned the longest format of cricket, noting that it teaches a player to fight against all odds.

“For me, Test cricket embodies life – you give your best, and if things go wrong, it gives you another day to regroup, think, unlearn, and bounce back. It is the highest form of the game that teaches you endurance, discipline and adaptability, against all odds. I owe my foundation to Test cricket, as it has seen me grow from disappointments to triumphs, from aspirations to fulfilment, Sachin Tendulkar stated.

Sachin Tendulkar further highlighted both teams’ role in nurturing the future of Test cricket, emphasising the celebration of red-ball cricket.

“India and England have played a big role in shaping Test cricket in a way that it remains an evolving inspiration for subsequent generations.

And now, as I share this recognition with my on-field challenger and an off-field gentleman, James, I hope that the world celebrates the essence of Test cricket even more, allowing it to traverse boundaries yet untrodden,” Sachin Tendulkar concluded.

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LEEDS: Shubman Gill has a chance to make history in his first match as captain, as India prepare to face England in the opening game of the five-Test series at the iconic Headingley ground, starting on Friday.

The 25-year-old replaced regular skipper Rohit Sharma, who, along with Virat Kohli, announced retirement ahead of the tour, marking the beginning of a new era for Indian Test cricket.

A win at Headingley would make Gill only the third Indian captain to lead the side to victory at this venue, after Kapil Dev (1986) and Sourav Ganguly (2002).

Even stalwarts like MS Dhoni and Kohli couldn’t break the Headingley jinx. In fact, during India’s last appearance here in 2021, Kohli’s men suffered a crushing innings defeat.

It’s important to highlight that India has not clinched a Test series victory on English soil since 2007.

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Moreover, on June 20, when Shubman Gill walks out for the toss, he will become India’s fifth-youngest Test captain.

In doing so, he will step into the illustrious lineage of cricketing legends such as Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi and Sachin Tendulkar.

Since making his debut during the 2020–21 Australia tour, he has featured in 32 Tests, scoring 1,893 runs at an average of 35.05.

However, this will be his first full red-ball tour of England, having only featured in the WTC finals in 2021 and 2023.

The five-match series kicks off at Headingley, with the remaining Tests scheduled at Edgbaston, Lord’s, Old Trafford, and The Oval.

India squad for England Tests:

Shubman Gill (c), Rishabh Pant (vc), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, Nitish Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akashdeep, Arshdeep Singh and Kuldeep Yadav.

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