Tag: England

England must avoid regarding Ben Stokes as a “messiah” or a “Superman” if the champions are to get their World Cup 2023 campaign back on track, according to teammate Mark Wood.

England’s title defence got off to a woeful start when they suffered a nine-wicket defeat by New Zealand in Thursday’s opening match of the tournament – a game Stokes missed with a hip injury.

England’s test captain Ben Stokes is known for his ability across all three main formats to rescue England from difficult positions, notably during the team’s dramatic World Cup final win over New Zealand at Lord’s.

But fast bowler Mark Wood said other members of the team had to “stand up”.

“I don’t want to put too much pressure on him,” Wood told the BBC. “He’s not Superman. It’s not all just about the messiah Stokesy coming back and him doing everything.

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“He’s obviously one of our best players, if not our best player, but all the lads have to stand up as well.”

Ben Stokes is only in India as a batsman rather than his usual all-rounder role because of a longstanding knee problem.

Wood was one of several England bowlers to suffer as New Zealand comfortably chased down a target of 283 inside 37 overs on Thursday, with Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra both compiling impressive unbeaten hundreds.

“New Zealand played really well,” said express quick Wood, whose five overs cost 55 runs. “We were a bit off and they played really well. It’s as simple as that.”

But England, who next play Bangladesh on Tuesday, lost three group games in 2019 before winning the title.

“A great trait of the group is that sort of resilience and bouncing back and calmness,” said Wood. “I trust every member in there, they’ve been through bad times and good times.

“We know that we can do it.”

READ: Inzamam-ul-Haq to head Pakistan’s senior and junior selection committees

AHMEDABAD: Left-handed opener Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra scored dominant centuries and powered New Zealand to a thumping nine-wicket victory over holders England in the ICC World Cup 2023 opener.

Chasing 283, New Zealand comfortably knocked off the runs with 82 balls to spare.

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The Blackcaps had a contrasting start to their pursuit as their opener Will Young perished for a golden duck on the first delivery of the second over with just 10 runs on the board.

The early blow did not harm New Zealand much as Rachin Ravindra joined forces with Devon Conway and launched an astounding counterattack.

The pair utterly dominated the England bowlers and notched up an unbeaten 273-run partnership to steer their side to a triumphant start to the ICC World Cup 2023.

Devon Conway remained the top-scorer for New Zealand with a sensational 152 off just 121 balls with the help of 19 boundaries and three sixes.

Ravindra, on the other hand, was equally impressive with his 123 not out in a mere 96 deliveries, hitting 11 boundaries and five sixes.

Sam Curran was the lone wicket-taker for defending champions England while the rest of their bowlers struggled against Conway-Ravindra baton charge.

England, after being asked to bat first, had a decent start to the innings before Matt Henry stuck in the eighth over to send Dawid Malan back at a total of 40.

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Jonny Bairstow soon followed him after scoring 33 runs off 35 balls as he looked to hit Santner over extra cover but was gobbled by Mitchell.

Joe Root was then joined by Harry Brook, who played a 16-ball cameo of 25 featuring four boundaries and one six, before being caught by Conway in an attempt to clear the ropes again.

Root, then knitted a solid 70-run partnership for the fifth wicket with captain Jos Buttler, before the latter was removed by Matt Henry in his second spell at a total of 188.

Jos Buttler scored a 42-ball 43, laced with two boundaries and two sixes.

Joe Root remained firm as he lost another partner in Liam Livingstone (20) before being bowled by Glenn Phillips while attempting a reverse sweep leaving England at 229-7.

He top-scored with an anchoring 77 off 84 with the help of four boundaries and one six.

England lost the next two wickets in quick succession and was reduced to 252-9 in the 46th over, however, Adil Rashid (15) and Mark Wood (13) added valuable 30 runs in the remaining overs to set New Zealand 283 to chase.

Matt Henry topped the bowling charts for New Zealand with 3-48, while Michael Santner and Glenn Phillips picked two wickets each.

READ: Marcus Stoinis doubtful for ICC World Cup 2023 clash against India

AHMEDABAD: New Zealand have won the toss and elected to field first against England in the first match of the ICC World Cup 2023 at Narendra Modi Stadium.

PLAYING XIs

England

Jos Buttler (c)(wk), Jonny Bairstow, Dawid Malan, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Liam Livingstone, Moeen Ali, Sam Curran, Chris Woakes, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood

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New Zealand

Devon Conway, Will Young, Glenn Phillips, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham (c)(wk), Rachin Ravindra, Mark Chapman, James Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Matt Henry, Trent Boult

HEAD TO HEAD RECORD:

Overall ODIs: Matches 95, New Zealand 44, England 45, Tie 2, NR 4

ODI World Cup: Matches 10, New Zealand 5, England 4, Tie 1

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A team featuring former international stars from Pakistan is going to make its debut in the third season of the Road Safety World Series in September this year.

The league was previously played in India, however, the upcoming season will be held in England, after receiving the approval from England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).

The dates for the tournament are yet to be finalized, however, it is expected to be played from early September for about three weeks. This edition will feature nine teams, after the addition of Pakistan.

The Road Safety World Series is a T20 league featuring international stars from different countries. The league started in March 2020 but was played until 2021 amid the pandemic.

The inaugural edition commenced with teams from India, Sri Lanka, South Africa, West Indies and Australia. However, the tournament was halted only after four games due to COVID-19.

Subsequently, Australia pulled out of the tournament due to travel restrictions. Bangladesh and England were then added to the tournament to replace the Australian side. Indian Legends dominated the league stage and were crowned the inaugural champions of the tournament.

The second season was played in 2022, with eight teams, as New Zealand joined the league with the returning Australia. This season saw the dominance of the Sri Lankan side, having qualified for the finals undefeated. However, they ultimately fell to India in a hard-fought final.

The Road Safety World Series has witnessed some of the all-time greats, such as Brian Lara, Sachin Tendulkar, Brett Lee, Kevin Pietersen, Sanath Jayasuriya, Shane Watson, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Yuvraj Singh, Jonty Rhodes, Chaminda Vaas, Shane Bond and many others.

READ: Stuart Broad calls Shaheen Afridi his favourite bowler

LONDON: England Cricket Board on Tuesday announced a 15-member squad for the one-off Test against Ireland at Lord’s, marking the return of Jonny Bairstow after a prolonged injury layoff. 

With the wicket-keeper batter back in the side, Ben Foakes has been dropped from the team.

Bairstow last played international cricket in September 2021, before a golf accident left him with a fractured leg and dislocated ankle. He missed all of England’s winter programme, including the T20I megaevent in Australia, where his team became the World champions for the second time.

He returned to action only recently in the County Championship for Yorkshire and now looks ready to take the gloves during the Ashes, which begins on June 16.

Another positive for England is the inclusion of James Anderson, who suffered a minor injury while bowling on the opening day of Lancashire’s County clash against Somerset.

The ECB said that they would evaluate his fitness before the Ireland Test and his inclusion bodes well for the hosts.

Fast bowlers Mark Wood and Chris Woakes have also been recalled, with the latter coming back in the Test squad for the first time since March 2022 and if selected, it will be his first Test on home soil in the last two years.

Meanwhile, Jofra Archer, who returned from the ongoing IPL to assess discomfort in his elbow, was not considered after being ruled out for the remaining summer with a recurrence of a stress fracture to his right elbow.

Ben Stokes will be leading the side with right-handed batter Ollie Pope as his deputy.

“We are looking forward to the summer ahead and getting into the swing of things, starting with a good test against Ireland,” said ECB Managing Director for England Men’s Cricket Rob Key.

“It was a seriously tough decision to leave Ben Foakes out of the squad. He has been excellent for England in the last year, but Jonny Bairstow is one of the best players in the world whose performances last summer epitomised what we are about.

“It has been a frustrating and upsetting period for Jofra Archer. He was making good progress until a recurrence of the elbow injury, which kept him out for an extended period previously. We wish him the best of luck with his recovery. I’m sure we will see Jofra back to his best and winning games for England, whatever the format. Hopefully, sooner rather than later.

“I would like to wish the players every success, especially those returning after some time away,” he concluded.

The four-day Test will be played from 1 to 4 June at the Lord’s Cricket Ground, London and will only be the second time when the two nations play a red-ball game. Interestingly, the first one, played in 2019 was also a four-day affair, which England won by 143 runs.

With the home Ashes against Australia in sight, England will be looking forward to getting some game time before facing their arch-rivals.

SQUAD: Ben Stokes (c), James Anderson, Jonathan Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Harry Brook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Dan Lawrence, Jack Leach, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Ollie Robinson, Joe Root, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood.

READ: Stokes fitness doubt in latest England Ashes scare

 

LONDON: James Anderson has suffered a “mild strain to his right groin” just a month before the Ashes get underway, the England and Wales Cricket Board announced late Sunday.

The 40-year-old Anderson, the most successful fast bowler in Test history with 685 wickets, sustained the injury on Thursday’s opening day of Lancashire’s County Championship match against Somerset at Old Trafford and took no further part in a match that ended in a draw on Sunday.

The ECB added Anderson’s fitness will be assessed nearer the time of the lone Test Test against Ireland at Lord’s starting on June 1.

England are due to name a squad for the Ireland game, which precedes a five-match Ashes series against arch-rivals Australia commencing on June 16, later this week.

Anderson had a scan on the injury on Saturday, with Lancashire coach Glen Chapple telling the BBC it was not “anything too serious”.

Nevertheless, England will want to avoid a repeat of the situation in the 2019 Ashes opener at Edgbaston where Anderson bowled just four overs before pulling out, having torn his calf playing for Lancashire.

With substitutes unable to bowl, his absence left a huge hole in England’s attack as Australia won by 251 runs.

That series ended in a 2-2 draw, with holders Australia retaining the Ashes.

Anderson’s latest injury adds to a growing list of fitness problems suffered by England fast bowlers, with Jofra Archer, Olly Stone and Brydon Carse all sidelined in recent weeks.

Archer returned from the Indian Premier League with a recurrence of his longstanding elbow problem, Stone suffered a hamstring injury playing for Nottinghamshire and Carse, uncapped at Test level, was laid low by a side injury playing for Durham.

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RAWALPINDI: As the England Test side embarks on its first tour of Pakistan after 17 years gap, the Pindi stadium witnessed a busy day on Tuesday as both teams raced up their preparations for the opening Test at the venue.   

England will lock horns with the hosts for the three-match Test series, starting from December 1 (Thursday) with the Rawalpindi Test, while the remaining two fixtures will be held in Multan and Karachi respectively.

The players of the two squads carried out robust training sessions on Tuesday ahead of the first Test amid tight security at the stadium.

According to the details, foolproof security arrangements were ensured around the stadium and on the team routes for the practice session which lasted till the afternoon.

Ben Stokes-led side engaged in vigorous fielding drills alongside net sessions for bowling and batting practice for the second consecutive day, while the national squad also geared up their preparations for the home assignment.

It is pertinent to mention here that England will play Pakistan in a test series for the first time since 2005 when they last toured the country for three tests and five ODIs.

England’s white-ball side had already visited the country in September this year for the seven T20 matches and defeated the hosts 4-3 in the series.

READ: Northern thrash Sindh to lift maiden Quaid-e-Azam Trophy title

SYDNEY: Australia wrapped up the three-match one-day international series with a comprehensive 72-run win over England at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Saturday.

Chasing 281 to level the series after Australia won the first match in Adelaide on Thursday, England appeared well on track as Sam Billings and James Vince shared a 122-run partnership for the fourth wicket.

But once Vince was trapped lbw by stand-in Australian captain Josh Hazlewood for 60, the English imploded, losing 4-13 to virtually hand the Australians the match.

On a tricky wicket at the SCG, Steve Smith continued the form he showed in Australia’s six-wicket win in Adelaide with a hard-fought 94 to help Australia to 280-8.

The target always looked difficult on a surface that was playing slow with the occasional bad bounce.

And England got the worst possible start to the run chase when Jason Roy tickled Mitchell Starc’s second delivery down the leg side to keeper Alex Carey.

Three balls later Starc got the key wicket of Dawid Malan with an almost unplayable ball that pitched on leg stump then swung back to take the top of off, leaving England staggering at two wickets for no runs.

Phil Salt and Vince kept playing with the aggression that the England white-ball teams are renowned for, and took the score to 34 after five overs.

But Salt tried one big shot too many, stepping away to try and smash Hazlewood over cover only to miss the ball and see it cannon into his stumps.

Any hopes Australia may have had of crashing through the England batting lineup were dashed by Vince and Billings.

The two mixed caution with aggression as they took the score to 156 before Vince was trapped by Hazlewood as he tried to hoist the Australian skipper over the square leg boundary.

England captain Moeen Ali came in and smashed leg spinner Adam Zampa for a four and a six, then missed a top spinner and was bowled.

At 168-5 after 28.3 overs, Australia were back in control and they tightened their grip one run later when Zampa bowled Billings for 71.

England wickets kept tumbling as Starc (4-47), Hazlewood (2-33) and Zampa (4-45) wrapped up the English tail.

Earlier, Smith’s 94 from 114 balls anchored the Australian innings after Hazlewood won the toss and decided to bat.

Hazlewood was brought into the side for captain Pat Cummins, who was rested with an eye to the upcoming Test series against the West Indies.

The pitch initially offered little help for the seamers but it deteriorated as the innings progressed.

READ: Messi skips World Cup training session as Argentina fear injuries

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England left-handed batter Dawid Malan played a magnificent knock of 78* and powered his side to a massive total of 209/3 before the bowlers decimated Pakistan batting line-up to bolster their side to a resounding victory to claim the seven-match T20I series 4-3.

PAK 142-8 (20 Overs)

Willey to bowl the final over

PAK 135-7 (19 Overs)

Woakes replaces Topley

PAK 129-6 (18 Overs)

17.4: Pulled to deep backward square leg! Didn’t get much above hip height but Nawaz simply helped it down the throat of the fielder, Woakes stooping low for a catch a few yards in.

Curran replaces Willey

PAK 116-5 (17 Overs)

Topley replaces Woakes

PAK 107-5 (16 Overs)

Willey comes back

PAK 100-5 (15 Overs)

Woakes comes back

PAK 92-4 (14 Overs)

Curran comes back

PAK 86-4 (13 Overs)

12.2: Sliding down the leg, Salt appeals, up goes the finger. Ahsan Raza gives out caught behind!

Rashid comes again

PAK 80-3 (12 Overs)

Topley comes back

PAK 71-3 (11 Overs)

Rashid comes again

PAK 68-3 (10 Overs)

Sam Curran comes into the attack

PAK 59-3 (9 Overs)

Rashid continues

PAK 46-3 (8 Overs)

Moeen Ali comes to bowl his first

PAK 41-3 (7 Overs)

Adil Rashid comes into the attack

PAK 37-2 (6 Overs)

Willey continues

PAK 33-2 (5 Overs)

Topley replaces Woakes

PAK 22-2 (4 Over)

David Willey comes into the attack

PAK 18-2 (3 Over) 

Woakes continues

PAK 11-2 (2 Over) 

1.2: Castled! Inswing on the full length, Rizwan falls early too,

Reece Topley to bowl from the other hand

PAK 5-1 (1 Over) 

0.6: Big wicket for England! Babar Gone! Poked in the air and straight at short cover.

Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan come out on the crease to start the chase. Chris Woakes to open the attack for England

PAKISTAN VS ENGLAND (2nd INNING)

England batters Dawid Malan and Harry Brook wreaked havoc over the Pakistan bowling attack and bolstered the touring side to a massive 209/3 in the first inning of the seven-match series decider at Gaddafi Stadium.

ENG 209-3 (20 Overs)

Wasim Jr to bowl the last over

ENG 189-3 (19 Overs)

Rauf back into the attack to bowl his last over

ENG 182-3 (18 Overs)

Hasnain to bowl his last over

ENG 168-3 (17 Overs)

Wasim Jr replaces Hasnain

ENG 154-3 (16 Overs)

Haris Rauf replaces Iftikhar

ENG 149-3 (15 Overs)

Hasnain back into the attack

ENG 146-3 (14 Overs)

Iftikhar continues with his last

ENG 134-3 (13 Overs)

Wasim Jr replaces Shadab

ENG 122-3 (12 Overs)

Iftikhar continues

ENG 112-3 (11 Overs)

Shadab continues

ENG 102-3 (10 Overs)

9.5: Stunning work from Rizwan! Duckett rocks back for a cut, under-edges into the pitch, and the keeper ninjas out his right glove, and whacks off the bails while the batter is still completing his stroke.

Iftikhar continues

ENG 97-2 (9 Overs)

Shadab continues

ENG 77-2 (8 Overs)

Iftikhar Ahmed comes into attack

ENG 65-2 (7 Overs)

Shadab joins the attack

ENG 57-2 (6 Overs)

Rauf continues

ENG 48-2 (5 Overs)

4.3: Jabbed off the pads and Salt is run out by a mile!

4.1: Breakthrough! Hales is pinned plumb in front of all three, a full-length nipbacker, thumping the knee-roll as the bat swung late across the line.

Hasnain replaces Wasim Jr

ENG 39-0 (4 Overs)

Haris Rauf comes into attack

ENG 35-0 (3 Overs)

Mohammad Wasim Jr replaces Nawaz

ENG 20-0 (2 Overs)

Mohammad Hasnain to bowl from the other end

ENG 13-0 (1 Over)

Phil Salt and Alex come out on the crease to open for England. Mohammad Nawaz to lead the bowling attack

PAKISTAN VS ENGLAND (1st INNING)

LAHORE: Pakistan won the toss and elected to field first in the final T20I of the seven-match series against England on Sunday here at Gaddafi Stadium. 

The highly-competitive seven-match series is currently levelled at 3-3 after the first six matches.

Playing XIs

Pakistan: Babar Azam (c), Shadab Khan (vc), Mohammad Rizwan, Shan Masood, Khushdil Shah, Iftikhar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Nawaz, Asif Ali, Mohammad Hasnain,  Mohammad Wasim Jnr

England: Moeen Ali (c), Phil Salt (wk), Alex Hales, Dawid Malan, Ben Duckett, Harry Brook, Sam Curran, David Willey, Adil Rashid, Chris Woakes, Reece Topley

HEAD TO HEAD

Matches-27, England-17, Pakistan-9, No Result-1

LONDON: Gareth Southgate hopes England will feel the benefit of being put under intense pressure in recent days at the World Cup after fighting back from 2-0 down to salvage a 3-3 draw against Germany on Monday.

The Three Lions had already been relegated from the top tier of the Nations League and will head to Qatar on a six-game winless run.

The knives were being sharpened for Southgate after his faith in Harry Maguire backfired for two German goals early in the second half.

Centre-back Maguire has been publicly backed by the England boss despite being dropped at club level by Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag.

Ilkay Gundogan slotted home the opener from the penalty spot after Maguire gifted possession to Jamal Musiala and then chopped down the Bayern Munich midfielder.

Kai Havertz then curled brilliantly into the top corner after Maguire was dispossed in the German half.

England had failed to score from open play in any of their opening five games in Group A3.

But two goals in three minutes transformed the atmosphere around Wembley and the scrutiny on Southgate’s position heading to Qatar.

Luke Shaw was also restored to the starting line-up despite his lack of game time at United and started the fightback by volleying in at the back post.

Moments later, two of Southgate’s substitutes combined to deadly effect as Bukayo Saka set up Mason Mount to curl home.

Harry Kane looked to have completed the turnaround from the penalty spot seven minutes from time after Nico Schlotterbeck’s challenge on Jude Bellingham was punished following a VAR review.

Yet, there was more drama to come as Nick Pope spilled Serge Gnabry’s shot and Havertz pounced on the rebound to snatch Germany a point.

Despite the disappointment of a late equaliser, there was relief for Southgate that England’s attack finally came to life after accusations that his conservative tactics were to blame for a lack of goals.

“The whole experience has been what we needed,” said Southgate, who had been booed by England fans after a 1-0 defeat to Italy in Milan on Friday.

“You are going to have pressure in a World Cup. You can try to avoid pressure, but it’s coming.

“It’s better that we feel it and know how we deal with it. The players reacted in the right way –  we showed character but a lot of quality.”

The home side had plenty of chances to end their goal drought even in a scoreless first half.

Raheem Sterling twice shot too close to Marc-Andre ter Stegen with just the German goalkeeper to beat, while Kane would have had a tap in but for a poor cross from Phil Foden.

Germany were seeking to bounce back from their first defeat under Hansi Flick after their hopes of reaching the Nations League final four were ended by losing 1-0 at home to Hungary on Friday.

“We made individual mistakes – it can’t happen that we give away a lead like that,” said a frustrated Flick. “But we came back, that’s the positive. There’s some work for us to do, but we’re optimistic.”

Germany came alive after the break with Musiala, who played for England at youth level, particularly impressive.

Dutch referee Danny Makkelie needed the assistance of VAR to see Maguire’s mistimed challenge on Musiala as he tried to atone for his error in giving the ball away.

Gundogan coolly slotted into the bottom corner and it seemed game over when Havertz arrowed home his shot from outside the box with 23 minutes to go.

However, three goals in 11 minutes got the England support back on side and gave the team some impetus to build on heading to Qatar.

Any doubt over who Southgate will start in goal against Iran on November 21 appears to over though, as long as Jordan Pickford has recovered from a thigh injury that kept him out of this squad.

Pope has impressed in his early weeks as Newcastle’s new number one, but would have done much better to palm Gnabry’s shot to safety and Havertz took full advantage.

READ: Italy beat Hungary for consolation of Nations League final-four