Tag: England

Uncapped batter James Rew has been called up to the England squad to replace the injured Jordan Cox ahead of the forthcoming Test match against Zimbabwe, which gets underway at Trent Bridge on 22 May.

Cox was ruled out of the squad after injuring his abdominal muscles while batting for Essex against Somerset in the latest round of the County Championship.

In his absence, 21-year-old Rew has been called up to the England squad due to his impressive form for Somerset this season. Rew is currently averaging 54.21 with the bat, including a highest score of 152.

A graduate of the England Lions pathway, Rew toured Australia with the Lions last winter and played a pivotal role in the Young Lions team that reached the ICC U19 World Cup final in 2022, alongside current internationals Rehan Ahmed and Jacob Bethell.

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Rew will join the Test squad at their pre-series training camp next week as they prepare for the start of the international summer.

England aims to use the upcoming Test against Zimbabwe to build momentum ahead of their five-match Test series against India, which begins on June 20 at Headingley.

The match at Trent Bridge will mark Zimbabwe’s first Test in the UK since 2003, representing a historic return after more than two decades.

England squad for Zimbabwe Test

Ben Stokes (Durham) – captain, Gus Atkinson (Surrey), Shoaib Bashir (Somerset), Harry Brook (Yorkshire), Sam Cook (Essex), Zak Crawley (Kent), Ben Duckett (Nottinghamshire), Ollie Pope (Surrey), Matthew Potts (Durham), James Rew (Somerset), Joe Root (Yorkshire), Jamie Smith (Surrey), Josh Tongue (Nottinghamshire).

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ANTIGUA: Cricket West Indies (CWI) has announced a largely unchanged 15-player squad for the upcoming ODI series against Ireland and England.

West Indies will play three ODIs against Ireland, slated to commence on 21 May. This will be followed by a similar number of ODIs against England, beginning on 29 May.

West Indies squad remains unchanged from the successful series against Bangladesh and England in 2024. The tours will provide the West Indies with an opportunity to build a team for the 2027 World Cup.

Shimron Hetmyer is among the notable exclusions from the previous squad that whitewashed Bangladesh 3-0 in December 2024, while Wicketkeeper-batter Jewel Andrew returns to the team.

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West Indies Head Coach Daren Sammy welcomed the team building ahead of the next World Cup.

“These matches form a critical component towards the 2027 World Cup, and there are signs of the team building consistency following the series sweep against Bangladesh and the win over England late last year,” he said.

“We expect the conditions to be challenging but we are creating a culture and mindset which emphasize playing the brand of cricket that is taking us closer to some of our overall objectives,” he added.

The West Indies are eyeing a direct qualification for the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in South Africa and Zimbabwe as they currently sit in ninth place in the ICC ODI rankings.

West Indies Squad:

Shai Hope (C), Jewel Andrew, Keacy Carty, Roston Chase, Matthew Forde, Justin Greaves, Amir Jangoo, Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Brandon King, Evin Lewis, Gudakesh Motie, Sherfane Rutherford, Jayden Seales, Romario Shepherd

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Star all-rounder Sikandar Raza has been recalled as Zimbabwe announced their 15-member squad for the one-off Test against England, scheduled to begin on May 22 at Trent Bridge.

The fixture holds historical significance, as it will be Zimbabwe’s first Test on English soil in over two decades, with their last appearance dating back to 2003.

Zimbabwe recently played a competitive two-match Test series in Bangladesh, which ended 1-1. The visitors had stunned the hosts with a three-wicket win in the first Test before Bangladesh bounced back to level the series.

Three changes have been made to the squad that toured Bangladesh. Sikandar Raza replaces Jonathan Campbell, adding much-needed experience and balance to the side.

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Clive Madande, fit again after an injury layoff, slots in as the backup wicketkeeper in place of Nyasha Mayavo.

Pacer Newman Nyamhuri has been brought in for the seamer-friendly English conditions, replacing young spinner Vincent Masekesa, who impressed on debut with a five-wicket haul but misses out this time.

Zimbabwe head coach Justin Sammons acknowledged the magnitude of the occasion and urged his players to back themselves against a world-class England outfit.

“We’re up against one of the best teams in the world, but the message is simple — we belong here,” said Sammons. “I want to see the guys walking out there with belief, embracing and enjoying the moment.”

Zimbabwe squad for England Test

Craig Ervine (captain), Brian Bennett, Ben Curran, Trevor Gwandu, Clive Madande, Wessly Madhevere, Wellington Masakadza, Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava, Newman Nyamhuri, Victor Nyauchi, Sikandar Raza, Tafadzwa Tsiga, Nicholas Welch, Sean Williams.

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The England Men’s selection panel has named a 13-player squad for the upcoming Rothesay Test match against Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge, which begins on Thursday, 22 May 2025.

This historic fixture marks Zimbabwe’s first Test on English soil since 2003 and is set to launch England’s international summer.

The squad includes two uncapped players at Test level – Essex duo Sam Cook and Jordan Cox.

Cook, 27, has been one of the most consistent bowlers in County cricket in recent years.

He boasts 318 first-class wickets at an average of 19.77 and impressed on the England Lions tour of Australia over the winter, taking 13 wickets across three matches.

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Nottinghamshire seamer Josh Tongue earns a recall to the Test squad, having last featured during the Ashes in 2023.

After overcoming a series of injuries, he has been in impressive form this season with 15 wickets at an average of 24 in the Championship.

The batting lineup remains mostly the same from England’s previous Test series against New Zealand, with Zak Crawley keeping his place despite short of runs-he has not scored a half-century in his last five Tests.

This will also be England captain Ben Stokes’ first competitive match of the year after suffering from a hamstring injury for the second time in six months in England’s final Test in New Zealand.

England Men’s squad for Test Match against Zimbabwe

Ben Stokes (Durham) – Captain, Gus Atkinson (Surrey), Shoaib Bashir (Somerset), Harry Brook (Yorkshire), Sam Cook (Essex), Jordan Cox (Essex), Zak Crawley (Kent), Ben Duckett (Nottinghamshire), Ollie Pope (Surrey), Matthew Potts (Durham), Joe Root (Yorkshire), Jamie Smith (Surrey), Josh Tongue (Nottinghamshire)

READ: Ravi Shastri calls for surprise inclusions in India’s squad for England Tests

England fast bowler Olly Stone will miss the majority of a five-match Test series against India after undergoing knee surgery, which will rule him out for 14 weeks.

Stone played the last of his five Tests against Sri Lanka in September and had been hoping to push for further honours with Nottinghamshire this year.

But the latest in a long line of fitness issues means he will be starting a long recovery period of more than three months as the county season gets underway on Friday.

He joins fellow England quicks Mark Wood and Brydon Carse on the sidelines at the start of the domestic campaign.

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“England and Nottinghamshire fast bowler Olly Stone has been ruled out of all cricket for 14 weeks following scans and subsequent surgery this week, which confirmed a right knee injury,” the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said in a statement.

“Stone experienced increasing discomfort during Nottinghamshire’s pre-season tour of Abu Dhabi last month.

“Further scans conducted this week revealed the need for surgery. He will now begin a period of rehabilitation, working closely with the medical teams at both the ECB and Nottinghamshire.”

England will face Zimbabwe in a one-off Test from May 22 in preparation for the visit on India, with the five-match Test series beginning on June 20.

Stone could be back in action by the time of the final two Tests but is more likely to return for the London Spirit in the Hundred, which begins on August 5.

READ: ‘It’s selfish’: Michael Vaughan warns against giving white-ball captaincy to Ben Stokes

England star batter Harry Brook, on Monday, pulled out of the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League (IPL), saying he needed “to recharge” and focus on international cricket.

The 26-year-old, who is regarded as a front-runner to replace Jos Buttler as England white-ball captain, was signed to Delhi Capitals for the new IPL season beginning later this month.

“I have made the very difficult decision to pull out of the upcoming IPL,” Brook posted on his social media. “I apologise unreservedly to the Delhi Capitals and their supporters.”

Free-scoring batsman Brook also withdrew from his contract with the Delhi side last season after the death of his grandmother.

He now faces a possible two-year suspension under rules designed to prevent late pullouts from the money-spinning T20 league by overseas players. Exceptions can be made, mostly for injuries.

“I love cricket. Ever since I was a young boy, I have dreamt of playing for my country, and I am extremely thankful to have the opportunity to play the game I love at this level,” Brook added.

England are set to play five Tests against India from June during their home summer this year, followed by an Ashes tour to Australia starting in November.

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Either side of the India Tests, England host white-ball series against each of the West Indies, South Africa and Ireland plus a one-off Test against Zimbabwe in May.

“It is a really important time for England cricket, and I want to fully commit to preparing for the upcoming series,” he further stated. “In order to do this, I need time to recharge after the busiest period in my career to date.”

Buttler resigned as white-ball captain after England’s dismal group-stage exit at the Champions Trophy, where they failed to win a match.

“I know not everyone will understand, and I don’t expect them to, but I have to do what I believe is right, and playing for my country remains my priority and focus, said Brook.

“I remain hugely grateful for the opportunities I have been given and the support I receive.”

Harry Brook played one previous season in the IPL for Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2023, when he scored a 55-ball century against Kolkata Knight Riders.

The 2025 IPL begins on March 22, when defending champions Kolkata host Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at Eden Gardens.

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England cricket supremo Rob Key said on Thursday “it would be stupid” to rule Test captain Ben Stokes out of consideration for the role of skipper of the struggling white-ball team.

Jos Buttler stood down last week following a poor display by the side at the ongoing 50-over ICC Champions Trophy 2025 tournament in Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where his team lost all three of their group games.

England have now suffered 10 defeats in 11 white-ball fixtures this year.

Vice-captain Harry Brook had appeared to be the heir apparent to Buttler, but he is likely to be a mainstay in all three international formats, meaning a formidable workload.

England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) managing director for men’s cricket Rob Key is considering his options for the role of white-ball captain, which include expanding Stokes’s remit.

The 33-year-old Durham all-rounder has proved himself an inspirational captain since succeeding Joe Root as Test skipper. But his age and injury problems mean he has largely operated as a Test specialist for 16 months.

Appointing Ben Stokes as limited-overs captain would mean extending his “Bazball” alliance with Brendon McCullum, now the coach of England’s white-ball teams as well as being in charge of the Test side.

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“I think nothing’s off the table really,” Key told reporters at Lord’s. “Ben Stokes is one of the best captains I’ve ever seen. It would be stupid not to look at him. It’s just the knock-on effect of what that means.”

Stokes, currently sidelined with a hamstring injury, has not played a Twenty20 international since the T20 World Cup final in November 2022 and has not featured in a one-day international since the 2023 50-over World Cup in India.

Former England batsman Key acknowledged that England’s limited-overs form had declined sharply and their batting had “fallen off a cliff”.

England won the ODI World Cup under the captaincy of Eoin Morgan in 2019 and triumphed at the T20 World Cup under Buttler three years later. But they have slumped to seventh in the ODI rankings and are third in the T20I rankings.

“We were very poor in the Champions Trophy,” said Key. “But the truth is, we haven’t been particularly good in white-ball cricket, probably since the last era when (retired captain) Eoin Morgan did it.”

England have been criticised for pursuing an ultra-aggressive approach under McCullum, regardless of the match situation, but Key said the former New Zealand captain’s coaching methods were more nuanced.

“It’s not true that the only thing he (McCullum) says is go harder, go harder, go harder,” said Key. “He speaks all the time about soaking up pressure as well.”

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Legendary batter Sunil Gavaskar has hit back at Nasser Hussain and Michael Atherton after the former England captains raised concerns over India playing all their ICC Champions Trophy 2025 matches in Dubai.

With India refusing to travel to Pakistan due to political tensions, the ICC scheduled all their group-stage games in Dubai, a move that sparked debate over fairness. However, Gavaskar dismissed England’s complaints, calling them excuses for their own failures.

Speaking to Sports Today, the Indian legend criticized the constant whining from former English cricketers, urging them to reflect on their own team’s early exit from the tournament rather than fixating on India.

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“I think these are all wise and experienced people. Why don’t you actually look at why your team has not qualified? That’s what I was going to ask you, sir,” Sunil Gavaskar stated.

“Rather than constantly focusing on India, are you even looking at your own backyard? Your players are in such a fragile mental state, they don’t seem to care about results as long as they meet certain expectations.”

England’s semi-final hopes were dashed after losses to Australia and Afghanistan, prompting Hussain and Atherton to question whether India had an unfair advantage. But Gavaskar was quick to shut down the narrative.

“All the time, they are moaning, ‘India has got this, India has got that.’ It’s constant. We must just ignore it. Let them keep moaning. We have better things to focus on. That is the kind of attitude you must have,” he further stated.

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Sunil Gavaskar also highlighted India’s massive influence in world cricket, both in terms of on-field dominance and financial contributions through media rights and sponsorships.

“They just cannot seem to understand where India stands in international cricket in terms of quality, income, talent, and, more importantly, in terms of generating revenue,” he said.

“India’s contribution to global cricket through television rights and media revenue plays a massive role. They need to understand that their salaries also come from what India brings to the world of cricket.”

READ: Champions Trophy: England registers unwanted ODI record after defeat to South Africa

KARACHI: England cricket team registered an unwanted ODI record after their crushing defeat against South Africa in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 here at the National Bank Stadium on Saturday.

England came in the eight-team tournament after losing the series 3-0 to India, but they failed to turn their fortunes around and ended the competition without securing any wins.

Consequently, the former World Cup champions have now recorded their longest losing streak in One Day Internationals (ODIs), totaling seven consecutive losses.

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This run began with an eight-wicket defeat against the West Indies last November. Previously, England’s longest losing streak in men’s ODIs was 11 matches, which occurred between 2000 and 2001.

England began their tournament campaign against their arch-rivals Australia on 22 February, posting a record total of 351 runs for the loss of 8 wickets while batting first.

However, a sublime century from wicketkeeper batter Josh Inglis, along with half-centuries from Alex Carey and Matthew Short, enabled Australia to successfully chase down the total, losing just five wickets and finishing with 15 balls to spare.

Due to a rainout in the crucial Group B match between former champions Australia and South Africa, England needed to win both of their remaining matches to qualify for the semi-finals.

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Unfortunately, Afghanistan thwarted their chances with a narrow eight-run victory, driven by Ibrahim Zadran’s impressive knock of 177 runs and Azmatullah Omarzai’s five-wicket haul.

England’s struggles continued in their final group match, where they scored a meager 179 runs. In reply, South Africa easily chased down the total, losing three wickets and finishing with 125 balls to spare.

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KARACHI: South Africa secured a semi-final spot with a convincing seven-wicket victory over England in the 11th match of the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 at the National Bank Stadium on Saturday.

The Proteas successfully chased a modest target of 180 runs, losing three wickets in 29.3 overs. This victory also allowed South Africa to top Group B, which included Afghanistan, Australia, and England.

South Africa’s new opening pair, Tristan Stubbs and Ryan Rickelton, fell inside the power play with a score of 47 courtesy of Jofra Archer bowling.

Stubbs, who was playing his first match in the eight-team tournament, was castled on a duck while Rickelton fell on the score of 27 after hitting five fours.

After early inroads from England, Heinrich Klaasen joined Rassie van der Dussen and forged a 127-run stand. Klaasen departed when his team needed just six runs. His  64 off 56 deliveries featured 11 fours.

On the other hand, Van der Dussen remained firm and carried his team to a comfortable win with an unbeaten 72 off 87 deliveries. His well-crafted innings included half a dozen fours and three sixes.

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For England, Archer was the only silver lining, who bagged two wickets, while Adil Rashid picked up one wicket.

Marco Jansen, was awarded Player of the Match for his brilliant bowling and fielding.

The Proteas only needed to ensure they didn’t lose the current match by 207 runs to move forward in the eight-team tournament.

A strong bowling display kept Afghanistan from overtaking them in net run rate. As a result, South Africa and Australia secured the two qualifying spots for the Final Four from Group B.

Earlier, a combined bowling effort helped South Africa bundle England to a meagre 179 in the 11th match of the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 here at National Bank Stadium on Saturday.

England captain Jos Buttler, in his last match as captain, opted to bat first, however, the decision backfired as Phil Salt (8) fell prey to Marco Jansen in the first over.

Jansen displayed his brilliance with the new ball, removing Jamie Smith (0) and Ben Duckett (24) soon afterward to leave England reeling at 37-3.

Joe Root and Harry Brook (19) then joined hands to construct a 62-run stand for the fourth wicket before Keshav Maharaj broke the partnership.

Root, who top-scored with 37 from 44 balls, fell in the next over, leaving his team in a struggling position with the scoreboard reading 103-5.

South Africa bowlers did not allow England to make a comeback as they took two more wickets in quick succession before Buttler and Jofra Archer forged a crucial 42-run stand for the eighth wicket.

Archer scored a gutsy 25 off 31 with the help of four boundaries, while Buttler managed a scratchy 21 off 43 without any boundary.

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However, both batters fell in successive overs before Wiaan Mulder dismissed Adil Rashid (2) to wrap England’s innings at 179.

Mulder and Jansen took three wickets each for South Africa, while Maharaj bagged two. Lungi Ngidi and Kagiso Rabada managed one wicket each.

Playing XIs

England: Phil Salt, Ben Duckett, Jamie Smith (wk), Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jos Buttler (c), Liam Livingstone, Jamie Overton, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Saqib Mahmood

South Africa: Aiden Markram (c), Ryan Rickelton, Rassie van der Dussen, Tristan Stubbs, Heinrich Klaasen (wk), David Miller, Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi

READ: Former cricketer slams decision to ‘rest’ senior players after Champions Trophy debacle