Tag: England

England opener Ben Duckett has revealed the strategy behind his success against India ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah after being named the ‘Player of the Match’ for his 149 runs in the opening Test at Leeds.

Ben Duckett made 62 in the first innings, followed by a 149 off  171 deliveries, peppered with 21 boundaries and a six while chasing an imposing 371-run total.

With Duckett’s sublime knock, England chased down the target with five wickets in hand and leading the five-match series 1-0.

The 30-year-old, who made a comeback to the England side in December 2022, has accumulated 2,511 runs at an impressive average of 47.37 in 30 Test matches.

Following the match, Ben Duckett revealed the strategy behind his success against threatening Jasprit Bumrah, who went wicketless in India’s second innings.

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“It was pretty obvious Jasprit was a big threat of theirs,” he said. “It was about realising whenever he came on it was going to be a short, sharp burst, trying to see him off and not necessarily playing any big shots, Duckett added.

The southpaw emphasized seeing off Bumrah, noting that it’s about taking your pride out of things.

“It’s just realising that and taking the ego out of things. When he’s coming on, it’s to get the breakthrough, get me out, and if you get through that period it gets easier.”

Ben Duckett credited the change of mindset behind his success after making a comeback.

“My mindset personally is a bit different to what it has been over the last couple of years,” the Kent-born batter told reporters.

“Potentially there’s a bit of maturity kicking in. Playing more Test matches, learning from mistakes, is number one. Failures are easy to make changes and learn from, rather than just when you do well,” Ben Duckett said while highlighting the importance of learning from failures.

READ: Gautam Gambhir clears the air on Bumrah’s participation in remaining England Tests

India team head coach Gautam Gambhir has downplayed any alteration to Jasprit Bumrah’s workload management plan, despite the team suffering a five-wicket defeat against England in the first Test on Tuesday.

Before the five-match Test series, the Indian team management outlined a workload management plan for Jasprit Bumrah, allowing him to feature in only three Test matches.

The precautionary major was taken in light of Bumrah’s back surgery after the Border-Gavaskar series.

Following the post-match press conference, Gautam Gambhir commented on Jasprit Bumrah’s workload management in the rest of the series.

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“I think for us to manage Bumrah’s workload is more important because there’s a lot of cricket going forward and we know that what he brings to the table as well,” Gambhir said.

“So before he came on this tour, it was already decided that Jasprit Bumrah is going to play three Test matches, but let’s see how his body turns up. But we haven’t decided which two other Test matches he’s going to play, ” he added.

Gambhir emphasized the inexperience of the Indian pace attack while urging patience with the fast bowlers.

“This bowling attack has one bowler with five Tests under his belt, one has four, one has played two, and one hasn’t yet debuted. We will have to give them time,” he said.

“If we start judging our bowlers after every Test, how will we develop a bowling attack? Outside Bumrah and (Mohammad) Siraj, we don’t have that much experience, but they have quality, which is why they are in this dressing room, the head coach concluded.

For context, India went on to lose the first Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar trophy despite posting a total of 471 in the first innings.

The second Test between India and England will commence in Birmingham on 2 July.

READ: Schedule for Pakistan’s white-ball tour to Bangladesh announced

India wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant etched his name into the record books with twin centuries in the Headingley Test against England, but his outstanding effort wasn’t enough to save his side from the defeat.

Pant, who was in sublime touch throughout the match, scored 134 off 178 deliveries in the first innings, hitting 12 fours and six sixes.

He followed it up with another masterclass in the second innings, a 118-run knock off 140 balls, laced with 15 boundaries and three maximums.

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Despite his brilliance, India suffered a comprehensive five-wicket defeat, making Rishabh Pant part of an unfortunate record in Test cricket.

With this feat, the left-hander became just the fourth Indian, and 12th overall, to score centuries in both innings of a Test that ended in defeat.

He now joins an elite but ill-fated group that includes Vijay Hazare (1948 vs Australia), Sunil Gavaskar (1978 vs Pakistan), and Virat Kohli (2014 vs Australia).

Here’s the complete list of players with twin centuries in a losing cause:

• George Headley (v England, 1939)
• Vijay Hazare (v Australia, 1948)
• Clyde Walcott (v Australia, 1955)
• Sunil Gavaskar (v Pakistan, 1978)
• Andy Flower (v South Africa, 2001)
• Brian Lara (v Sri Lanka, 2001)
• Andrew Strauss (v India, 2008)
• Hashim Amla (v India, 2010)
• Virat Kohli (v Australia, 2014)
• Brendan Taylor (v Bangladesh, 2018)
• Rishabh Pant (v England, 2025)

For the unversed, India set England a challenging target of 371 runs, which the hosts successfully chased down in the final session, losing five wickets in the process.

Star batter Joe Root remained not out at 53 runs, while Jamie Smith contributed an unbeaten 44 runs.

However, it was Ben Duckett who played a crucial role in England’s triumphant chase, scoring 149 runs off 170 balls, including 22 boundaries and one six.

This victory marked the second-highest run chase at Headingley, surpassing the previous record of 362 for 2 set against Australia during the 2019 Ashes.

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Former England captain Michael Vaughan has taken a hilarious dig at India for their dismal fielding performance in the first Test at Headingley. 

England defeated India by five wickets in the first Test of the five-match series at Leeds, with Ben Duckett shining with a swashbuckling 149 runs.

With England requiring 350 runs on the final day, the hosts put on a record 188-run opening partnership, thanks to a shambolic fielding display from the visitors.

Michael Vaughan took to X (formerly Twitter) to highlight the Indian team’s poor show on the field.

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“Just to let you all know, I have offered myself to India as a fielding coach .. My academy does a roaring trade,” he wrote.

The defeat turned the spotlight on the Indian fielders, with Yashasvi Jaiswal dropping four catches in the match. The southpaw dropped Ollie Pope on day two, who went on to score a century in England’s first innings.

Not only that, Yashasvi Jaiswal also dropped Ben Duckett in the first innings when he was batting on 67. The 23-year-old also handed a reprieve to Harry Brook while batting on 83 in the first innings; however, he was eventually dismissed on 99.

Perhaps the first innings drops did not hurt India much, but in England’s final essay, Jaiswal fumbled an easy catch of Ben Duckett when he was on 97.

READ: WATCH: Mohammad Abbas, Ishan Kishan win hearts in County Championship

LEEDS: Ben Duckett’s sublime knock and Joe Root’s composed half-century sealed a thrilling win for England over India in the opening Test of the five-match series here at the iconic Headingley on Tuesday.

Chasing a daunting 371-run target on day five, England hit the winning runs on the loss of five wickets, with Joe Root remaining not out on 53 runs, while Jamie Smith contributed an unbeaten 44 runs.

The victory marked the second-highest run chase at Headingley, surpassing the previous record of 362-2 against Australia in the 2019 Ashes.

England started the final day’s proceedings with 21-0, requiring another 350 runs to secure a memorable victory against India.

The opening pair of Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett batted superbly for a record 188-run stand. Both batters dominated the Indian bowlers, as the visitors put on a poor fielding display.

Ben Duckett, who scored a sublime century, broke the record for the highest runs against India in the fourth innings of a Test match. Previously, Joe Root had held the record with an unbeaten 142* at Edgbaston in 2022.

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With the mammoth stand, England were in command of a daunting 371-run chase despite wickets falling in a heap. Crawley and Duckett successfully held off the Indian bowlers until lunch, scoring quickly as the home side reduced the target.

However, India pacer Prasidh Krishna brought the visitors back into the game with back-to-back wickets in a short period.

Krishna first removed Zak Crawley, who made 65 off 126 deliveries, laced with seven boundaries. In the span of only two balls, he also sent back Ollie Pope, reducing England to 206-2.

With England requiring 188 more runs, Shardul Thakur dismissed Ben Duckett and Harry Brook on back-to-back deliveries. Duckett, who made 149, was caught while Brook was sent back for a golden duck.

At tea, England were 269 for 4, needing 102 more runs. Ben Stokes (13) and Joe Root (14) remained not out, with India searching for more wickets.

For India, Prasidh Krishna and Shardul Thakur claimed two wickets each while Ravindra Jadeja picked up one wicket.

Earlier, India were bundled out for 364 runs in their second innings with England triggering a lower-order collapse.

READ: Ben Duckett shatters multiple records with century against India

LEEDS: England opener Ben Duckett has shattered multiple records with his sublime 149-run knock against India in the ongoing first Test here at Headingley on Tuesday.

Duckett, who scored a sublime century, broke the record for the highest runs against India in the fourth innings of a Test match. Previously, Joe Root had held the record with an unbeaten 142* at Edgbaston in 2022.

In addition to this, Duckett also became only the second opener after Alastair Cook to score consecutive half-centuries at the iconic Headingley cricket ground. Previously, former England captain Alastair Cook had achieved this feat at this iconic ground.

The 30-year-old is also the first England opener to score a fourth innings century since Cook against Bangladesh at Mirpur in 2010.

The mammoth 188-run stand between the openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett also tumbled multiple records. The partnership that cruised England is the highest fourth innings stand against India.

Moreover, this is also the highest opening stand in a fourth innings of a Test match in England. Previously, England’s Geoffrey Boycott and Mike Brearley put on a 154-run partnership against Australia in 1977.

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With the mammoth stand, England were in command of a daunting 371-run chase despite wickets falling in a heap. Crawley and Duckett kept Indian bowlers at bay till lunch, scoring briskly as the home side brought down the target.

However, India pacer Prasidh Krishna brought the visitors back into the game with back-to-back wickets in a short period.

Krishna first removed Zak Crawley, who made 65 off 126 deliveries, laced with seven boundaries. In the span of only two balls, he also sent back Ollie Pope, reducing England to 206-2.

With England requiring 188 more runs, Shardul Thakur dismissed Ben Duckett and Harry Brook on back-to-back deliveries. Duckett, who made 149, was caught while Brook was sent back for a golden duck.

At tea, England were 269 for 4, needing 102 more runs. Ben Stokes (13) and Joe Root (14) remained not out, with India searching for more wickets.

READ: WATCH: Mohammad Abbas, Ishan Kishan win hearts in County Championship

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.

WATCH: Mohammad Abbas, Ishan Kishan win hearts in County Championship

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.

READ: Joe Root joins elite list, equals Rahul Dravid’s world record

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