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England's Stuart Broad. (Photo by Jon Super / POOL / AFP)

Stuart Broad Clears Air About His Relationship With Joe Root After West Indies Snub

Published on June 7, 2022June 7, 2022

Stuart Broad, England pacer cleared the air about his relationship with former captain Joe Root on Monday. The veteran bowler was not picked for the tour of West Indies along with bowling partner James Anderson earlier this year. The 1-0 loss in the Caribbean Islands ended up being Joe Root’s final assignment as captain of the England Test side.

Following a 4-0 drubbing at the hands of Australia in the Ashes, the revamped England management chose to send a new-look pace unit. Stuart Broad picked up 13 wickets from three Tests in Australia Ashes 2021/22 at a decent average of 26 but was axed for the Caribbean tour.

The likes of Saqib Mahmood, Mark Wood, Chris Woakes, and Craig Overton featured in the three-match Test series. James Anderson has taken 646 wickets in 170 tests and is leading England’s Test wicket-taker while Stuart Broad is second on England’s all-time list of wicket-takers, with 541 in 153 matches.

James Anderson, Stuart Broad (Credits: Twitter)

Stuart Broad Cleared The Air Concerning Relationship With Ex-Skipper Joe Root After Being Omitted For West Indies Tour

England had recalled their senior pace duo of James Anderson and Stuart Broad for the home assignment against inaugural WTC winners New Zealand. The 35-year-old pacer was recalled to the squad for Ben Stokes’ maiden series as Test captain. The right-arm pacer marked his return with figures of 1/45 and 3/76 in the five-wicket win over New Zealand at Lord’s.

Opining that holding a grudge over Joe Root regarding the selection snub would be pathetic, Stuart Broad said: “Joe and I spoke at length when he stood down as captain and I said to him how much he’s meant to me and what a privilege it was playing under him. Joe and I are great friends. And I’ve always been someone who can distinguish between business and pleasure. I can’t fall out with someone because they don’t pick me in a team, that would be a bit pathetic.”

The senior duo of Stuart Broad and James Anderson were seriously contemplating their future with the Three Lions after being dropped from the away tour.

Stuart Broad Had Doubted His Chances To Represent England

However, they have been encouraged to carry on, at least for the ongoing English summer under the new captain-coach combination of Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum.

Admitting that he seriously doubted his chances of representing England for the home season, Broad said: “I started this season not knowing if I’d pull on the England shirt again, I was just enjoying every day for what it was. Jimmy turns 40 this year, four years ago was he thinking 2018 might be his last at Old Trafford? Probably not. I’ll attack this week with the same mindset: I’ll walk out on that first day, look around the stands, and know how lucky I am to be there.”

England's captain Ben Stokes has placed his trust on pacer Stuart Broad (Credit: Getty Images) — England’s captain Ben Stokes has placed his trust on pacer Stuart Broad (Credit: Getty Images)

Stuart Broad is likely to be retained in the playing XI for the second Test against New Zealand at his home ground of Trent Bridge, Nottingham. England is currently 1-0 ahead in the three-match series. England’s five-wicket win over New Zealand was their first in ten games since beating India at Headingley last August, and it hailed a new era under skipper Ben Stokes and Test head coach Brendon McCullum.

The stunning match-winning knock of unbeaten 115 from the ex-England skipper Joe Root also helped him achieve a major record. His 26th Test ton helped him become only the second England batsman after Alastair Cook to score 10000 runs in the longest format of the game.

Cricket/News

Andrew Strauss Opens Up On James Anderson And Stuart Broad’s Axe For Caribbean Tour

Published on March 15, 2022

Andrew Strauss, England Cricket Board (ECB) interim managing director has expressed no regrets over dropping James Anderson and Stuart Broad for the West Indies Test series. The former England captain also said that the management’s target is to help the team become a top one across formats.

England made a selection bombshell ahead of the three-Test series against the West Indies, omitting veteran pacers James Anderson and Stuart Broad. The pair, who have 1177 Test wickets between them, were far from pleased with the axing. England’s veteran duo fared rather well during the 4-0 Ashes drubbing Down Under.

Andrew Strauss Has No Regrets Over Dropping James Anderson And Stuart Broad For West Indies Tests

Nevertheless, James Anderson and Stuart Broad were left out of the West Indies squad. James Anderson has 640 wickets in 169 Tests, while Stuart Broad picked up 537 wickets in 152 Tests for England.

However, Andrew Strauss has said that it’s not the end of the road for the legendary pair. Andrew Strauss anticipated the backlash over the veterans’ omission. However, he felt the likes of pacers Saqib Mahmood and Matt Fisher would bring fresh energy to the group.

The 100-Test veteran said: “I think the reaction was entirely predictable. You don’t do these things worried about what the reaction is; you do them because you think it’s the right thing to do. It’s great to see Matt Fisher and Saqib Mahmood as part of the England setup.

“I think we’re learning about them all the time, and they’re getting more and more comfortable in this group. And as we said right at the start, it’s forced some of our senior players to have slightly different roles.”

The former South African-born player added after a draw in the first Test in Antigua: “It’s early days, but the feedback I’m getting from the dressing room is they’re accepting the challenge of not having those senior players involved, and I thought the attitude, willingness to do hard graft, spirit and togetherness were there to see in Antigua. We didn’t get the result we wanted, but there were a lot of positives coming out of it.”

Although the first Test in Antigua ended in a draw, England’s new-ball bowlers struggled in both innings. Craig Overton and Chris Woakes picked up only three wickets in the Test, with the West Indies openers putting up 50-plus opening stands in both innings.

Andrew Strauss: England’s Ambition Is To Be The Best Team Across Formats

While Andrew Strauss added that the management aims to reset England’s red-ball cricket, he stressed the need for the team to play well across formats.

Adding that the performance in one format affects the other, the 45-year old said: “While a lot of the focus post-Ashes has been on red ball cricket and the domestic structure, our project is broader than that. Our ambition has to be for us to be the best team in all formats.”

Strauss added: “We have the ability to do that, and in order for that to happen, we have to look at the whole system. Whatever your focus on red ball cricket, it’s like a Rubik’s Cube, and it affects white ball cricket. You cannot look at them in isolation; you have to look at them together.”

The second Test between the West Indies and England starts on March 16 in Barbados. England hope to have Ollie Robinson available for the second Test against West Indies and will not be calling up extra bowling cover, despite interim head coach Paul Collingwood admitting that Mark Wood was “unlikely” to play in Barbados after suffering an elbow impingement that limited his involvement to delivering 17 overs in the drawn Antigua Test.

Cricket/News

Mark Wood : England Pacers Tried Too Hard To Fill Void Of James Anderson And Stuart Broad In 1st Test Against Windies

Published on March 10, 2022

Mark Wood, England pacer feels that his teammate bowlers tried too hard to fill the void created by the veteran duo of James Anderson and Stuart Broad against West Indies. England resumed day two with Jonny Bairstow and Chris Woakes at the crease, and some quick wickets at the start of the day saw the Joe Root-led side getting bowled out for 311 in their first innings. West Indies ended day two with 202/4 and they still trail by 109 runs at stumps.

Mark Wood was the pick of the bowlers for the England side, with figures of 1/24 in 12 overs, and picked up the important wicket of skipper Kraigg Braithwaite who can stay at the crease for long hours. The new ball bowlers, Chris Woakes and Craig Overton did not have the best of outings as they conceded a lot of boundaries. England decided to drop the experienced pair of James Anderson and Stuart Broad for this series after a poor Ashes series in Australia.

Mark Wood: England Pacers Tried A Little Bit Too Hard To Prove A Point By Filling Void Of James Anderson And Stuart Broad

Mark Wood mentioned that England bowlers were trying to prove a point that they can do the job without the likes of veteran pacers James Anderson and Stuart Broad and noted that they did not start well. He added that the lengths bowled weren’t right but was delighted with the comeback in the last few overs. James Anderson has 640 wickets in 169 Tests, while Stuart Broad picked up 537 wickets in 152 Tests for England.

“We maybe tried a little bit too hard, with the void of Anderson and Broad we wanted to try hard and prove we could do it. Of course, it’s weird [without them]. It’s obviously going to be talked about because they are legends. But we just have to admit we didn’t get it right to start with and we’ll be out to get it right next time. We were all a bit inconsistent, we didn’t get our lengths quite right and we were a little bit too full or too short. But actually, I thought we came back really well,” Wood was quoted as saying.

Chris Woakes, Craig Overton, Mark Wood and Ben Stokes picked a wicket apiece. Chris Woakes was too expensive as his economy rate of 4.5 proved. Craig Overton leaked runs at 3.62 per over.

Mark Wood Felt England Tail-enders Could Have Stuck With Jonny Bairstow A Little Bit More

On England missing a big opportunity to get to a big total in the first innings, Mark Wood admitted that the tail-enders should have stayed with the century-maker Jonny Bairstow who kept finding the boundaries from one end.

“As bowlers, we work really hard on our batting and I think we could have stuck with Jonny a little bit more. I was disappointed with my shot. We could have got even more runs. From 48 for four, you think 311 is a really good total. But overnight we were hoping for more. It’s something to work on,” he added.

Jonny Bairstow Photograph: Stu Forster/Getty Images

England resumed at 268 for 6 with Jonny Bairstow on 109 but, with the ball, only six overs old, West Indies had designs on wrapping up the innings quickly. They did so before lunch, but not before Jonny Bairstow had reached 140 and taken the England total into the elusive territory – past the 300-mark for the first time since August 2021.

England recovered from 48 for 4 to a respectable 311 built on Jonny Bairstow’s century. West Indies’ Kraigg Brathwaite and John Campbell then responded well as the visiting bowlers failed to penetrate with the new ball.

West Indies were 44 without loss by lunch, as Kraigg Brathwaite was going along at a run-a-ball, but by tea they were 127 for 4 and England had wrested back some control. Then Nkrumah Bonner and Jason Holder combined for an unbroken 75-run partnership for the fifth wicket that kept their side in the contest.

West Indies 202 for 4 (Holder 43*, Bonner 34*) trail England 311 (Bairstow 140, Seales 4-79) by 109 runs

Cricket/News

Kraigg Brathwaite, Phil Simmons Open Up On Playing Against Revamped England Side In Tests Series

Published on March 8, 2022March 8, 2022

West Indies Kraigg Brathwaite captain, and Phil Simmons, the head coach, cautioned against setting too much significance by the non-selection of England pacers James Anderson and Stuart Broad.

West Indies will be focused on ensuring that their batters grind out enough runs for the bowlers to put England’s revamped Test side under pressure in Antigua, rather than worrying about who is or isn’t in the XI for the tourists.

West Indies come into the series with just one win in their last eight Tests. During that time, they have passed 300 just once in 16 innings, and been bowled out for fewer than 200 on seven occasions.

Kraigg Brathwaite (Photo by DON EMMERT/AFP/Getty Images)

Phil Simmons Wants West Indies Openers To Provide A Solid Start

Desmond Haynes’ selection panel brought back John Campbell and Shamarh Brooks – who last played in March 2021 and December 2020 respectively – and dropped Shai Hope and Roston Chase from the squad.

While opener John Campbell has just two half-centuries to his name in 15 Tests, he made four scores between 33 and 47 in his debut series against England three years ago, and returns to the side after scoring a century for Jamaica in the regional four-day championship.

“I think the last time England were here, and we beat them, the opening pair was Kraigg Brathwaite and John Campbell,” Simmons said. “So let’s hope that’s a good omen for us, because they are back together and they gave the team some good starts.”

“That’s been the aspect of the five-day camp that we had, addressing the fact that batsmen need to bat long, we need to make sure we give the bowlers something to work with.”

Kraigg Brathwaite’s predecessor Jason Holder was able to carry the proud tradition on, sealing a 2-1 win over England when they last visited in 2019. Jason Holder has been a thorn in England’s side previously – averaging 62.83 with the bat and 24.93 with the ball in five home games against them – and is being backed to rise to the occasion again.

Kraigg Brathwaite Confident And Looking Forward To The Challenge

After leading West Indies to a memorable 2-0 win in Bangladesh in February 2021, Kraigg Brathwaite has seen the team’s fortunes dip, with a drawn home series against Sri Lanka followed by three consecutive defeats. West Indies can draw on a strong home record against England, however, and Kraigg Brathwaite was confident that the hosts have enough firepower to maintain their edge.

“As a team, we’re really looking forward to it,” Kraigg Brathwaite said. “We’re feeling confident, and maybe not worrying about England’s team, but what we do as a team and we’re really looking forward to the challenge.”

“I think the series itself is always different to every other series we have. We’re generally very good at home, especially the bowlers do a fantastic job at home. And obviously it’s also our job as batters to get runs, but the series always has a lot of energy and at times that can inspire guys, ” Kraigg Brathwaite said.

The fragility of the batting on both sides is underlined by the fact that only one player other than Joe Root – West Indies’ No. 3 Nkrumah Bonner – currently averages more than 40 in Test cricket. Phil Simmons warned that West Indies could not afford to be complacent about the calibre of the attack fielded by England without experienced pacers Stuart Broad and James Anderson.

“You can call it an advantage but again, no Broad, no Anderson, we keep harping on that,” he said. “So we have not been looking at the fact that there’s no Broad and Anderson, we’ve been looking at who there is, and there’s still some quality bowlers in there, which we still have to bat against.”

Phil Simmons was impressed by the progress of Shannon Gabriel after he joined the squad in Antigua to continue his rehab from a hamstring injury.

“He’s a lot further on than I thought he was,” Simmons said. “He bowled with some pace today, so we’ll see what happens over the next four or five days. This squad was selected for the first Test, so we’ll see where he’s at while he’s training with us and then we can make a decision on the second Test.”

England’s in-form pace bowler Ollie Robinson was ruled out of the first Test against the West Indies. Pacers Mark Wood and Chris Woakes look certain to feature, while fellow seamers Craig Overton and uncapped Saqib Mahmood are likely to battle it out with spinner Jack Leach for the final two bowling spots.

Cricket/News

Aakash Chopra Picks Best Current World XI Who Have Been Products Of Under-19 Cricket

Published on February 4, 2022February 4, 2022

Aakash Chopra has picked the best current World XI comprising players who have played previously at the Under-19 World Cup. Only one Indian cricketer figures in the team, with the likes of keeper Rishabh Pant and all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja failing to make the grade.

The Under-19 World Cups have brought into the limelight plenty of players who have gone on to shine at the senior level. Apart from Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja, some of the other current Indian players like Virat Kohli, Shikhar Dhawan, Cheteshwar Pujara, Shubman Gill, Prithvi Shaw and Ishan Kishan have all set the stage on fire at the Under-19 level.

Aakash Chopra Picked Babar Azam And Virat Kohli In His XI

In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra picked Babar Azam as the first player in the XI.

He elaborated: “Babar Azam, you saw him playing drives in the under-19 World Cup, he was looking good. He comes from a cricketing family and it was the first time we got to see his potential, although you don’t know how much that potential will be realized.”

Virat Kohli, the former Indian skipper who stepped down as India’s most successful Test skipper recently was certainly picked by the cricketer-turned-commentator.

Aakash Chopra had the following to say about the former Indian skipper: “After him, Virat Kohli. That’s a personal story because when he was selected for India under-19, he was already a part of the Ranji Trophy team and I have seen him closely. The qualities were there, it seemed the boy will do well but I will be honest, I didn’t feel he will do this well.”

Virat Kohli and Eoin Morgan Image Credit: Getty Images.

Two other modern batting greats – Australia’s Steve Smith and New Zealand’s Kane Williamson – also made it to the team chosen by Aakash Chopra.

The latter observed: “Steve Smith, if you see his photo as a kid, you will say a leg-spinner had come who could bat a little but he will become Steve unstoppable Smith. Kane consistent Williamson – it was the same World Cup where Virat Kohli was there against him. In fact, Kohli dismissed Williamson.”

The 44-year-old picked Dinesh Chandimal, Eoin Morgan and Shimron Hetmyer to complete his batting lineup.

Aakash Chopra said: “After that, Dinesh Chandimal. I will keep him in the team as a wicket-keeper. Eoin Morgan, World Cup-winning captain. He used to play for Ireland at that time, now he is England’s captain. Shimron Hetmyer – we had seen his ability to hit sixes in under-19 cricket.”

Eoin Morgan who is the limited-overs skipper of England currently, captained the Ireland team at the 2006 Under-19 World Cup. He also finished as the second-highest run-scorer in the tournament, with his 338 runs only behind Cheteshwar Pujara’s 349. Eoin Morgan has the most career runs in U19 World Cup history for Ireland with 606 runs in 13 innings from 2004 to 2006 followed by Pakistan’s Babar Azam, who has 585 runs in 12 innings from 2010 to 2012.

Aakash Chopra Picked Pacers Shaheen Shah Afridi And Kagiso Rabada

Aakash Chopra picked all-rounders Bangladesh’s Mehidy Hasan Miraz and England’s Chris Woakes as the first two bowlers in his bowling lineup.

He elaborated: “Mehidy Hasan Miraz – one of my favorite players, his performance has been very good. Off-spin, batting – he is brilliant. Then Chris Woakes, he also made the journey from the under-19 World Cup to the England side.”

Shaheen Shah Afridi (Image Credit: Twitter)

The former India opener chose Pakistan’s pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi and South Africa’s pacer Kagiso Rabada as the final two players in his XI.

Aakash Chopra observed: “Then Shaheen Afridi and Kagiso Rabada. These are two other big names whom you see and say – Well done yaar, these boys have done very well.”

Shaheen Shah Afridi represented Pakistan at the 2018 under-19 World Cup. He snared 12 wickets in the five matches he played in the tournament, with a best of 6/15.

Cricket/IPL 2022/News/The Ashes, 2021-22

It’s Stupid To Blame IPL For Ashes 0-4 Drubbing: Kevin Pietersen

Published on January 22, 2022

Kevin Pietersen -the ex-England skipper has said that it’s “stupid” to blame the Indian Premier League for England’s embarrassing Ashes 0-4 loss to Australia in the recently-concluded 5 Test match series.

Former England captain David Gower was “annoyed” after England’s meek surrender resulting in another Ashes defeat and said current skipper Joe Root had players who were “unavailable” because of the IPL.

Kevin Pietersen: One Can’t Blame IPL For Test Cricket Demise In England

Kevin Pietersen, an Ashes winner in 2005, 2009, 2010-11, and 2013, laughed at the remark.

“It is stupid. You can’t blame the IPL for the demise of Test cricket in England. It’s the system, it’s the county cricket system, which is poor,” Kevin Pietersen, who is representing World Giants in the Legends League Cricket, said during an interaction on Thursday.

Kevin Pietersen file image | Faheem Hussain - Sportzpics — Kevin Pietersen file image | Faheem Hussain – Sportzpics

“It’s crazy to blame the Indian Premier League because if you have a look at the Test team, there’s only maybe (Ben) Stokes (Jonny) Bairstow and (Jos) Buttler who play the IPL. Hardly any of the Test team players play the IPL… So how can you blame the IPL?”

Off-the-field, the English cricketers were also mired in a controversy after a report claimed that there was a “drinking culture” in the team with the players and coaches drinking late into the night before police broke up the session.

Kevin Pietersen said there was no harm in it as the players are affected by the bio-bubble restrictions. England faced an embarrassing 0-4 defeat in the recently-concluded Ashes series, drawing criticism for their uninspired performances throughout the five Tests Down Under.

Moeen Ali And Jos Buttler Were England Cricketers Retained By CSK And RR In IPL 2022 Respectively

A total of 27 players were retained in the retention list for IPL 2022 by the eight existing teams. Ace players like Rohit Sharma, MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli, and Kane Williamson have been retained by their respective teams ahead of the mega auction in 2022.

Eoin Morgan , Sam Curran, Jos Buttler — Eoin Morgan, Sam Curran, Jos Buttler

England players like all-rounder Moeen Ali and wicketkeeper-batter Jos Buttler were retained by CSK and RR respectively for IPL 2022. England’s 2019 World cup winning skipper Eoin Morgan, who led Kolkata Knight Riders to IPL 2021 final, was released by the franchise.

Sam Curran picked nine wickets for CSK before he was ruled out of the tournament owing to a lower back injury. Sam Curran was pipped by his compatriot Moeen Ali in CSK’s all-rounder spot in the retention list.

Ahead of the second leg of IPL 2021, Jonny Bairstow (SRH), Dawid Malan (PBKS), and Chris Woakes (DC) had pulled out of the tournament due to personal reasons. All three players were released by their respective franchises.

Star England all-rounder Ben Stokes and pace bowler Jofra Archer also were released by the franchise after they couldn’t participate in the entire IPL 2021 season due to various injuries. Punjab Kings duo of pacer Chris Jordan and spinner Adil Rashid along with Delhi Capitals pace bowlers Chris Woakes and Tom Curran are the other released players from England.

IPL 2022 Mega Auction. Image Credits: Twitter

Cricket/IPL 2022/News

IPL 2022: 1214 Cricketers Registered Their Names For Mega Auction

Published on January 22, 2022

IPL 2022 mega auction will be held on February 12 and 13 in Bengaluru with two new franchises based out of Lucknow and Ahmedabad entering the fray from the upcoming season IPL 2022 onwards. Their addition means a total of 10 teams will be bidding for the top T20 stars from across the globe.

The registration for the upcoming IPL 2022 mega auction ended on January 20 and a total of 1214 players have registered their names for the two-day event. Of this, 896 are from India while 318 are from overseas.

David Warner And Mitchell Marsh Among 49 Players Who Have Listed Base Price At INR 2 Crore For IPL 2022 Mega Auction

David Warner, the Player of the Tournament at the recent 2021 T20I World Cup, and his Australian team-mate Mitchell Marsh, who was the Player of the Match in the final, are among 49 players who have listed their base price at the maximum of INR 2 crore for the IPL 2022 mega auction. Among the notable absentees from the initial longlist, are Mitchell Starc, Sam Curran, Ben Stokes, Chris Gayle, Jofra Archer, and Chris Woakes.

Mitchell Marsh and David Warner. (Photo by Alex Davidson/Getty Images)

Among the big names on the list, which includes 17 Indians and 32 overseas players, are Ravichandran Ashwin, Shreyas Iyer, Shikhar Dhawan, Ishan Kishan, Suresh Raina, Pat Cummins, Adam Zampa, Steven Smith, Shakib Al Hasan, Mark Wood, Trent Boult, Faf du Plessis, Quinton de Kock, Kagiso Rabada and Dwayne Bravo.

Shreyas Iyer will be one of the most sought-after players in IPL 2022 mega auctions. The right-handed batsman has the experience of playing 87 games in the IPL. He has scored 2375 runs at an average of 31.67 including 16 fifties.

Devdutt Padikkal, Harshal Patel, And Odean Smith Marked Their Reserve Price In The Highest Bracket

The likes of Devdutt Padikkal, Harshal Patel, and even the emerging West Indies allrounder Odean Smith, have not been shy of marking their reserve price in the highest bracket.

The two-day IPL 2022 Mega Auction will see 10 Teams bidding for some of the finest talents in world cricket. The players’ list incorporates 270 capped, 903 uncapped, and 41 Associate players.

The detailed list is as below:

Capped Indian (61 players)
Capped International (209 players)
Associate (41 players)
Uncapped Indians who were a part of previous IPL seasons (143 players)
Uncapped International who were a part of previous IPL seasons (6 players)
Uncapped Indians (692 players)
Uncapped Internationals (62 players)

Note: If every franchise were to have a maximum of 25 players in their squad, 217 players will be taken in the auction (of which up to 70 may be overseas players).

The country-wise breakdown of 318 overseas players is listed below:

Country	Players Registered	Country	Players Registered
Afghanistan	20	Bhutan	1
Australia	59	Namibia	5
Bangladesh	9	Nepal	15
England	30	Netherlands	1
Ireland	3	Oman	3
New Zealand	29	Scotland	1
South Africa	48	UAE	1
Sri Lanka	36	USA	14
West Indies	41
Zimbabwe	2

A total of 33 players have been retained/picked ahead of the Player Auction. The existing 8 IPL Franchises have retained a total of 27 players while the 2 new IPL teams have picked 6 players ahead of the Auction.

The list is as below:

CSK	DC	KKR	MI	PBKS
Ravindra Jadeja	Rishabh Pant	Andre Russell	Rohit Sharma	Mayank Agarwal
MS Dhoni	Axar Patel	Varun Chakaravarthy	Jasprit Bumrah	Arshdeep Singh
Moeen Ali	Prithvi Shaw	Venkatesh Iyer	Suryakumar Yadav
Ruturaj Gaikwad	Anrich Nortje	Sunil Narine	Kieron Pollard

RR	RCB	SRH	Team Ahmedabad	Team Lucknow
Sanju Samson	Virat Kohli	Kane Williamson	Hardik Pandya	KL Rahul
Jos Buttler	Glenn Maxwell	Abdul Samad	Rashid Khan	Marcus Stoinis
Yashasvi Jaiswal	Mohammed Siraj	Umran Malik	Shubman Gill	Ravi Bishnoi

England’s Ollie Robinson Photograph: Andrew Couldridge/Action Images/Reuters

Cricket/News/The Ashes, 2021-22

Ollie Robinson Must Improve His Fitness Says Bowling Coach; England 188 In Reply To Australia’s 303

Published on January 15, 2022

Ollie Robinson must improve his fitness to deal with the demands of Test cricket, bowling coach Jon Lewis said after the 28-year-old suffered a back spasm on the opening day of the final Ashes Test against Australia on Friday.

Ollie Robinson took two early wickets in Hobart, sending back David Warner and Steve Smith for a duck, but later sustained the back problem that limited his bowling to eight overs.

Ollie Robinson PA Images via Getty Images

Ollie Robinson Must Improve His Fitness: Jon Lewis

Australia, who enjoy an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-Test series, ended the first day of the pink-ball contest on 241-6. Ollie Robinson has taken 37 wickets in eight Tests for England since his debut against New Zealand at Lord’s in June last year. Jon Lewis said the team was hoping Ollie Robinson could recover overnight and return to bowling on Saturday.

“(His fitness) is something he needs to improve”, Lewis said. “He’s got a record of playing a lot of games of county cricket but international cricket is of higher intensity and you play it all year round.

Travis Head of Australia scores a century during day one of the Fifth Test in the Ashes series between Australia and England Image Source : GETTY — Travis Head of Australia scores a century during day one of the Fifth Test in the Ashes series between Australia and England Image Source: GETTY

“So he’s got to get used to understanding what it takes to be a full-time year-round international cricketer and playing that extra day, five days of Test cricket. Those things can come and go so we’re hoping with treatment overnight he can come back tomorrow and be free enough to bowl.”

Australia resumed innings on 241 for 6 on the second day of the 5^th Ashes Test in Hobart. The rain and bad weather forced early stumps on Friday (1st Day) after Travis Head’s rapid hundred and a gritty half-century from Cameron Green put the host in a comfortable position.

Pat Cummins Picks 4 Scalps To Restrict England to 188 After Travis Head’s 101 See Australia Cross 300 Run Mark

Travis Head, who scored 152 in the opening test at Brisbane and missed the previous Test for Covid-19, counterpunched England’s early success with an aggressive 101 off 113 balls in the day-night test as Australia came back strongly after losing the toss. Cameron Green contributed an authoritative 74 and Marnus Labuschagne scored a rapid 44 before the rain arrived around half an hour after tea and prevented further play.

Mitchell Starc took 3 scalps while Pat Cummins picked 4 as England was bowled out at 188 after Australia was bowled out for 303. Chris Woakes’ 36, Joe Root’s 34, and debutant Sam Billings’ 29 were England’s notable contributors with the bat in hand.

Cricket/IPL 2022/News/The Ashes, 2021-22

England’s Pathetic Performance In Ashes May See ECB Barring Them From Playing IPL 2022

Published on January 12, 2022

England has produced a pathetic performance in the ongoing 2021-22 Ashes series against Australia. The Joe Root-led side has already surrendered the series and is currently 0-3 down after 4 Tests concluded.

The below-par performances of the England cricketers in Ashes have now put their participation in the upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in jeopardy. It has been learned that the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is planning to conduct a full review into England’s defeat Down Under.

England May Ban Test Cricketers From Participating In IPL 2022 After Ashes 2021/22 Defeat: Report

According to a report, director of cricket Ashley Giles would be preparing a report which will include a number of recommendations to improve the Test team’s fortunes. Baring English cricketers from taking part in the IPL would be one of the ideas.

The Indian T20 league usually lasts two months, however, this year it’s set to get longer with the introduction of two new teams namely Ahmedabad and Lucknow. The IPL 2022 is set to clash with the initial phase of England’s Test summer as the knockout stages are likely to overlap with their first Test against New Zealand in June.

Rajasthan Royals batsman Jos Buttler in action | Sportzpics for BCCI / Pankaj Nangia

The IPL 2022 players auction is scheduled to take place in February in which a lot of England players are expected to take part. So far, only Jos Buttler and Moeen Ali have been retained by their respective franchises. It has also been learned that the players participating in the IPL will be asked to cut short their time in India so that they can feature in some domestic games to prepare for the New Zealand Tests.

Michael Atherton Criticized England Cricketers For Emphasizing IPL Over International Fixtures

On the other hand, former England players have time and again criticized current players for emphasizing IPL over international fixtures. Michael Atherton, former England captain, stressed the fact that the cricketers should not miss national duties for the cash-rich T20 league.

“The leading multi-format players are paid seven-figure sums, but, incredibly, the ECB washes its hands of them for two months of the year during the Indian Premier League,” Atherton wrote in his column.

Michael Atherton Image Source : GETTY IMAGES — Michael Atherton Image Source: GETTY IMAGES

“The players should be told that, while the ECB will be accommodating of the request to play in IPL, a 12-month contract is exactly that, and the granting of a no-objection certificate to play in IPL and other franchised competitions is contingent on it being in the best interests of the England team,” he added.

Also, from 2022, the Indian Premier League is set to become grander, as the Indian T20 League will be a 10-team affair. This means that there would be more matches, and the tournament might extend into June. Chennai Super Kings (CSK) has decided to retain the services of all-rounder Moeen Ali, while the Rajasthan Royals (RR) have retained Jos Buttler.

The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) emerged as the champions of the 2021 edition of the IPL, and won the IPL title for the 4th time, beating the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) side in the summit clash of the tournament. A total of 27 players were retained in the retention list by the eight existing teams. Ace players like Rohit Sharma, MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli, and Kane Williamson have been retained by their respective teams ahead of the mega auction in 2022.

Eoin Morgan, who led Kolkata Knight Riders to IPL 2021 final, was released by the franchise. Ahead of the second leg of IPL 2021, Jonny Bairstow (SRH), Dawid Malan (PBKS), and Chris Woakes (DC) had pulled out of the tournament due to personal reasons.

All three players were released by their respective franchises. Ben Stokes and pacer Jofra Archer also were released by the franchise after they couldn’t participate in the entire season due to various injuries. Punjab Kings duo of Chris Jordan and Adil Rashid along with Delhi Capitals pacer Tom Curran are the other released players from England.

List of England players to be available for IPL 2022 auction: Adil Rashid, Ben Stokes, Chris Jordan, Chris Woakes, Dawid Malan, Eoin Morgan, Jason Roy, Jonny Bairstow, Liam Livingstone, Sam Billings, Sam Curran, Tom Curran, Jofra Archer (doubtful).

Chris Silverwood, England head coach Getty Image.

Cricket/News/The Ashes, 2021-22

Chris Silverwood To Miss Sydney Test After Family Member Tests Covid-19 Positive

Published on December 30, 2021

Chris Silverwood, England’s under-pressure coach would miss the fourth Test in Sydney after a family member tested positive for the coronavirus as England’s beleaguered Ashes 2021/22 tour went from bad to worse on Thursday. Chris Silverwood and his family have to isolate in Melbourne for 10 days while the rest of the team heads to Sydney for the 4th Test clash starting on January 5.

The touring party has now registered seven positive cases — three support staff and four family members — since an RT-PCR testing regime was implemented on Monday after the virus was first detected during the Boxing Day Test.

Chris Silverwood Getty Images — Chris Silverwood- Getty Images

Chris Silverwood’s Family Member Is Covid-19 Positive And In Isolation As The England Head Coach Will Miss 4th Sydney Test

Australian reports said England fast bowling coach Jon Lewis, spin coach Jeetan Patel, and strength and conditioning boss Darren Veness were also believed to be in isolation. Batting coach Graham Thorpe is expected to take over as head coach from Chris Silverwood in the interim.

It is another major setback for England on a tour where almost nothing has gone right, suffering three heavy defeats in Brisbane, Adelaide, and Melbourne in 3 Tests to ensure Australia retained the hallowed Ashes urn with two Tests still to play.

“A fourth successive round of PCR tests will be administered today,” the England Cricket Board said in a statement, adding that the team would share a charter flight with Australia to Sydney on Friday.

The timing could not have been worse for Chris Silverwood, whose job is widely seen as on the line. Joe Root’s captaincy has also been criticized, but fast-bowler Chris Woakes insisted he had the support of the players.

“Absolutely. Joe is a great cricketer, he’s got a great cricket brain and I think his record as England captain is actually pretty good,” he told English media.

“Definitely it feels like Joe will continue. Hopefully, he will. It’s clear that the captaincy isn’t having an effect on his batting, which a lot of the time with captains can be the case.”

Joe Root will overtake predecessor Alastair Cook’s record of 59 Tests at the helm when he leads the side out in Sydney. Australia has experienced a surge in Covid cases in recent weeks, with an Omicron variant outbreak centred in Sydney that on Thursday recorded more than 12,000 cases.

England’s fate was sealed as they were razed for just 68 on day three of the third Test at the MCG, losing the game by an innings and 14 runs and falling 3-0 down in the five-match series. Joe Root has carried England’s batting in 2021, with his tally of 1,708 dwarfing the return of the team’s second-highest run-scorer this year, Rory Burns (530) runs.

Sydney To Host The 4th Test While The 5th Test Will Be At Hobart Where There Are Less Covid-19 Cases

In New South Wales, where Sydney is located, anyone considered close contact is supposed to isolate for seven days, but authorities have pledged the rules would not impact the “sacred” Ashes.

“The SCG (Sydney Cricket Ground) Test is sacred, an important date at the start of the third year of our life with Covid-19,” NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard said this week.

” I want to assure the cricket-loving public, under our rules, any players with exposure to a known case of Covid-19 would be asked to test and isolate only until a negative result was received.”

Australia Chief Executive Nick Hockley. (File)

Cricket Australia chief Nick Hockley was adamant the Test will go ahead.

“We’ve got very robust Covid-safe plans that are led by the venues working closely with the health authorities,” he told broadcaster ABC, with crowds of some 35,000 expected for the first few days.

“As long as everyone follows the advice, I think people can come in the knowledge they’re going to be safe.”

The fifth and final Test is in Hobart, where there have been far fewer Covid cases than in Sydney. Rory Burns, Haseeb Hameed, Ollie Pope, and Zak Crawley have floundered against Australia’s high-quality attack en route to England suffering a series defeat after just 12 days of cricket.

Chris Silverwood believes he retains the support of his England players despite the side tumbling to a harrowing Ashes defeat in Australia, losing the 3 Tests by heavy margins.

Chris Silverwood also stressed England does know their best team but the four changes made for the Boxing Day Test were needed after crushing defeats in Brisbane and Adelaide.

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