Eoin Morgan Age, Biography, career, stats, networth, Ranking & News

Eoin Morgan

Ben Stokes
Ben Stokes
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Ben Stokes Chokes On A Tablet While Being Alone In A Hotel Room Ahead Of Ashes 2021/22

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Ben Stokes, England’s all-rounder, feared it “might be the end” after he almost choked on a tablet while alone in his hotel room ahead of the Ashes. The all-rounder, writing in a column, said the tablet had gone down the wrong way and got stuck in his windpipe.

Ben Stokes averages 37.05 in 71 Tests, where he amassed 4631 runs with 10 tons and has also taken 163 scalps averaging 31.38 with the ball in hand. His name wasn’t included in the Ashes 2021/22 initial squad, but the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) later announced that Ben Stokes would be available for the series, which is due to start on December 8.

England all-rounder Ben Stokes. File photo: Action Images via Reuters/Ed Sykes
England all-rounder Ben Stokes. File photo: Action Images via Reuters/Ed Sykes

Ben Stokes Choked On A Tablet While Being Alone In Hotel

The 30-year-old Ben Stokes is a proven match-winner, and his unbeaten 135 in a record run chase at Headingley carried England to a stunning one-wicket victory and ensured the 2019 Ashes were squared.

England all-rounder Ben Stokes has revealed that a tablet that was taken wrongly caused him to “choke horribly” and fear for his life ahead of the first Ashes Test against Australia from December 8. Ben Stokes is making a comeback to international cricket after taking a long break to address his mental well-being and rest his left index finger, which was fractured.

“Until it actually came out, I thought this might be the end,” he added. “I was on my own in my room and I couldn’t breathe as it became lodged and started to dissolve. It felt like my mouth was on fire. Without going into too much detail I have never seen as much saliva as I did on Sunday morning, it was a genuinely frightening experience.”

Ben Stokes, England all-rounder
Ben Stokes, England all-rounder (Photo | AP)

Ben Stokes took an indefinite break from cricket in July to focus on his mental health while also recovering from a second operation on a broken finger, and was a late addition to England’s squad for the tour of Australia.

Ben Stokes Hopes That His Pre Test Dramas Are Over

The 30-year-old all-rounder said the finger injury was coming along really well and that he was in a good place mentally. However, he was given another scare when he took a ball to his forearm during practice that left him in excruciating pain.

“I couldn’t lift it … I thought it was broken,” Stokes added. “Thankfully the pain and reaction settled down once I was back in the dressing room and the physios could be sure it wasn’t actually a break. It was only after I got back to the hotel room that I took stock of what a day I’d had.

“The adrenaline had worn off and I was exhausted. Happy that I’m here to tell the tale, but hoping that my pre-Test dramas are now over.”

The five-Test series is due to begin in Brisbane on December 8. Australia retained the Ashes in 2019 after a 2-2 draw in England. However, an injured Ben Stokes missed the New Zealand and India Test series in England, the second half of IPL 2021 at UAE, T20I World Cup to prioritize his mental wellbeing over cricket.

Ben Stokes Image Source : GETTY IMAGES
Ben Stokes Image Source: GETTY IMAGES

Ben Stokes broke his hand, taking a catch for Rajasthan Royals in India leg of IPL 2021, and a repeat X-ray and CT scan revealed that he has a fracture of his left index finger.

Ben Stokes last played for England in the ODI series against Pakistan in July 2021, when he returned to captain the team at short notice after Eoin Morgan and the rest of the initial squad were forced into isolation by a number of Covid-19 positives cases in England camp. His last Test came against India in March 2021.

England’s full squad for The Ashes: Joe Root (captain), James Anderson, Jonathan Bairstow, Dom Bess, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Zak Crawley, Haseeb Hameed, Dan Lawrence, Jack Leach, Dawid Malan, Craig Overton, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood, Ben Stokes.

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Kane Williamson. Photo: @ICC
Kane Williamson. Photo: @ICC
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Salman Butt Thinks Inaugural WTC 2019-21 Winning Skipper Kane Williamson Is The Best Skipper

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Salman Butt, the former Pakistan-tainted skipper picked the best captain out of the modern-day greats Virat Kohli, Kane Williamson, and Joe Root. The trio has achieved a lot of success as captains in the last decade as India, New Zealand, and England have stood out as the dominant sides in world cricket.

Out of the three, New Zealand’s Kane Williamson is the only player, who currently leads his team in all three formats. Virat Kohli relinquished his T20I captaincy after 2021 T20 WC concluded and now he only leads India in Tests and ODIs. While Joe Root is the captain of the Test side with England working well with the split captaincy as Eoin Morgan is the limited-overs skipper under whom England won the 2019 World Cup.

Virat Kohli, Joe Root
Virat Kohli, Joe Root

Salman Butt Thinks Kane Williamson Is The Best Skipper But Praised Joe Root And Virat Kohli As Well

A fan on his Youtube channel asked Salman Butt to name his pick out of the three modern-day greats, the former Pakistan skipper chose Kane Williamson as the best among the famous trio.

“I think Kane Williamson is the best captain. Yes, Joe Root and Virat Kohli are brilliant as well, and they have led their sides superbly, but overall, generically, Williamson is the man when you consider all leaders across formats,” Butt said on his YouTube channel.

Kane Williamson (AP)
Kane Williamson (AP)

New Zealand has played dominant cricket in the past few years under Kane Williamson’s leadership, as they also reached the finals of the last three ICC marque tournaments – the 2019 ODI World Cup, the 2021 World Test Championship, and the 2021 T20 World Cup. Out of which, New Zealand clinched the inaugural WTC title by beating India in the summit clash.

Meanwhile, the Indian team has also reached heights under Virat Kohli’s leadership in Test cricket with Test series win over Australia Down Under and victories on England and South Africa soil. Meanwhile, Joe Root has led England in 56 Tests and won 27 besides losing 21 but averaged around 48 as Test skipper. Virat Kohli has captained India in 65 Tests and India won 38 and lost 16.

Salman Butt: Both Rohit Sharma And Babar Azam Are Elegant

Kane Williamson will lead New Zealand in the upcoming two-match Test series against India. Virat Kohli will miss the first Test as his deputy Ajinkya Rahane will lead the side in his absence. The Asian giants will look to take revenge for the WTC final defeat. Salman Butt was also asked to choose between Pakistan skipper Babar Azam and India’s swashbuckling opener Rohit Sharma, but he said both are elegant in their own batting prowess.

“You have asked me which suit is better – Armani or BOSS. Both Rohit Sharma and Babar Azam play elegant shots. Both are elegant in a different way,” Butt added.

Controversial Pakistan batsman Salman Butt
Controversial Pakistan batsman Salman Butt (File Photo | AFP)

The Kiwis will feel buoyed by the return of their regular captain Kane Williamson, who missed the three-match T20I series, which New Zealand lost 3-0. Kane Williamson scored 7230 runs in 85 Tests averaging 53.95 with 24 tons. He has led New Zealand in 37 Tests in which Kiwis won 22 Tests,  lost 8 Tests, and the remaining 7 were drawn.

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Eoin Morgan | Photo: England Cricket
Eoin Morgan | Photo: England Cricket
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Eoin Morgan Feels Eye Catching T10 Format Can Be Played In Olympics

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Eoin Morgan feels the Olympics is a huge opportunity to grow the game of cricket by including the T10 format in the showpiece event.

England skipper Eoin Morgan came out in support of the T10 format being included in the Olympic Games as the 10-over game is a sort of “eye-catching entertainment” and is fan-friendly too.

Eoin Morgan
Eoin Morgan–Instagram

Eoin Morgan Is A Huge Fan Of T10 And Wants The Format To Be Included In The  Olympics

In addition to numerous modern-day tried and tested white-ball players, namely Chris Gayle, Andre Russell, Dwayne Bravo, Eoin Morgan, Moeen Ali, Chris Jordan, Faf du Plessis, T10 League 2021 comprises four retired Indian cricketers in Yusuf Pathan, Munaf Patel, Abhimanyu Mithun and Yo Mahesh (157 domestic matches across formats).

“I am not actually quite sure because I am always trying to bring in new ideas and grow the game even bigger. The Olympics is a huge opportunity to do that. Ever since I have played T10, it’s sort of eye-catching entertainment because I am a huge fan,” said Morgan on the sidelines of Abu Dhabi T10 League where he is playing for Delhi Bulls.

“All my family and friends watch the game and they go out and come back and watch another game. It’s very fan-friendly and if you are looking to sell our game to people who haven’t watched cricket before, I think it’s a really flexible way to do that.”

Eoin Morgan along with Delhi Bulls teammates in action (Image: Abu Dhabi T10)
Eoin Morgan along with Delhi Bulls teammates in action (Image: Abu Dhabi T10)

“Introduce them to watch different formats and I haven’t found a better way than T10 for a format to play in the Olympics,” he added.

Delhi Bulls have won all their three games in the ongoing T10 League, and Eoin Morgan feels the team can go on to win the title this year.

“We have a strong team and missing Jason Roy obviously hurts us. We have plenty of talent and are looking forward to it,” said Morgan.

Earlier this year, the ICC had confirmed that it will bid for cricket’s inclusion in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Eoin Morgan: Dwayne Bravo Will Be Key To Delhi Bull’s Success

The England skipper, who is playing under the leadership of T20 legend Dwayne Bravo, feels the former West Indies all-rounder will be a key player if Delhi Bulls win the Abu Dhabi T10 League.

“I think it will be huge, Bravo is one of the most experienced T20 cricketers in the world if not the most, you think how long he has been around and how many games he has played,” said Morgan.

Eoin Morgan feels that the T10 format can be played in Olympics| Courtesy -Twitter
Eoin Morgan feels that the T10 format can be played in the Olympics| Courtesy -Twitter

“The biggest factor that he is a winner and won competitions around the world and won the T20 World Cup as well, so he is going to be essential and hopefully achieving success,” he signed off. 

Eoin Morgan believes that the T10 format of cricket is an eye-catching entertainment, and it can be played in the Olympics. Morgan, who is currently plying his trade for Delhi Bulls in T10 League 2021-22, lauded Dwayne Bravo and feels that the veteran all-rounder can lead the team to a title win.

The Abu Dhabi T10 cricket league is a 10-over format game, and six teams, namely Deccan Gladiators, Chennai Braves, Team Abu Dhabi, Bangla Tigers, Northern Warriors, and Delhi Bulls, are competing with each other in the tournament. The 2021-22 edition, which started on November 19, will take place for 15 days, and the summit clash will be held on December 4.

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Sunil Gavaskar. (Photo Source: Twitter)
Sunil Gavaskar. (Photo Source: Twitter)
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Jimmy Neesham’s Innings In Semi Final At A Strike Rate Of Over 240 Praised By Sunil Gavaskar

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Jimmy Neesham almost single-handedly turned things around for New Zealand in their semi-final against England before Daryl Mitchell finished things off, and former India captain Sunil Gavaskar said that it is good to see the Kiwi all-rounder do justice to his talent.

Jimmy Neesham smashed 27 off 11 balls just as New Zealand’s required run rate was creeping above 14.
Jimmy Neesham scored 27 off 11 balls. (Reuters Photo)
Jimmy Neesham scored 27 off 11 balls. (Reuters Photo)

Jimmy Neesham Praised By Sunil Gavaskar: Good To See Jimmy Neesham Do Justice To His Talent

James Neesham played an important cameo, hitting an 11-ball 27 with one four and three sixes to take New Zealand to the final. Eoin Morgan said England was in the game till the arrival of Jimmy Neesham, who completely changed the complexion of the match, playing shots not even his batters could execute on a sluggish pitch.

“Jimmy Neesham has been a player who would play one special innings in about eight or nine and he played that today,” Gavaskar told India Today.

“What an innings, scoring at a strike rate of over 240. He was hitting the ball well. He had a bit of luck with that Jonny Bairstow catch which went over the boundary and it became a six. But clearly, Neesham has got the ability. He is a big hitter, he can bowl usefully and Kane Williamson showed faith in him by giving him the 20th over of the England innings so yes, it is good to see Jimmy Neeshan do justice to his talent,” he said.

File image of former India captain Sunil Gavaskar | AFP
File image of former India captain Sunil Gavaskar | AFP

Sent in to bat, England posted 166 for 4 with Moeen Ali remaining not out on 51. The Black Caps chased down the target with one over to spare, with opener Daryl Mitchell playing a pivotal role with an unbeaten 47-ball 72.

Sunil Gavaskar Would Like To See ‘Fine Talent’ Underachiever Martin Guptill To Play A Substantial Knock-In Final

Sunil Gavaskar said that he would like to see an innings of this manner from opener Martin Guptill, who was dismissed for four runs off three balls on Wednesday.

“I would like to see Martin Guptill do that as well. He is another fine talent but he has been an underachiever most of the time. Hopefully, we will see that in the final,” he said.

Sunil Gavaskar said that New Zealand’s unity and the effect that captain Kane Williamson has on them is a reason why they are able to perform in big tournaments. The BlackCaps had earlier made it to the final of the 2019 50-over World Cup as well, besides winning the inaugural World Test Championship recently.

“They have a lot of belief in themselves. They are a very close-knit unit. It’s a small country soo when they get together as a team, you can see the unity. They are led by an absolutely terrific person. A person who will never put pressure on them, who is respected for the way he handles situations and for the way he himself bats and for the legend that he is in the sport.”

Martin Guptill - AP
Martin Guptill – AP

“I think these things make a difference. When you have a leader who is respected and for whom the team will give that extra mile and an arm and a leg, it makes a difference. You see that in their approach. It was never an easy target but they did it with deliveries to spare,” said Gavaskar.

The 35-year-old Martin Guptill sits just behind Virat Kohli as the highest run-getter in T20 international history and one of only three players – the other being Rohit Sharma – to pass 3000 runs. His 3119 T20I runs have come at an average of 32.15, with a strike rate of 136.50.

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South Africa Cricket Team (Image Credit: Twitter)
South Africa Cricket Team (Image Credit: Twitter)
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Mark Boucher Said It’s A Bitter Pill To Swallow As Proteas Are Knocked Out Of Semi-Finals Spot Despite Winning 4 Games Out Of 5

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Mark Boucher, the South Africa head coach, says missing out on the semi-finals of the ongoing T20 World Cup 2021 due to an inferior net run rate was a bitter pill to swallow.

South Africa emerged as a strong contender in the group of death-Group 1 to qualify for the semi-finals as the tournament progressed, but despite winning four of their five matches, the Proteas failed to make the top four.

Mark Boucher. Twitter/@SuperSportTV
Mark Boucher.- Twitter/@SuperSportTV

Mark Boucher Said It’s A Bitter Pill To Swallow As Proteas Are Knocked Out Of Semi-Finals Spot Despite Winning 4 Games Out Of 5 Due To Inferior Run Rate

In their final group game, they defeated Eoin Morgan-led England by 10 runs which weren’t enough to seal a top-four spot as England and Australia, who also had eight points each, had a better net run rate than the Proteas.

“It’s not successful because you’re knocked out of the World Cup. It’s a bitter pill to swallow” Boucher said at the post-match conference.

“I think we played some very good cricket throughout the campaign, cricket under a lot of pressure as well after having lost our first game. We put in a lot of hard work in training, our chats were good. I think we beat the in-form side in white-ball cricket for a while now,” he added.

South Africa Cricket Team (Image Credit: Twitter)
South Africa Cricket Team (Image Credit: Twitter)

Having lost the toss and asked to bat, South Africa needed to restrict England below 130 to qualify for the semis but weren’t able to do so. The Proteas posted 189 on the board batting first and had to restrict England under 131 to reach the last four but failed to stop the 2010 champions, who went to semis from Group 1 along with Australia.

England couldn’t overhaul the actual target of 190 but finished with 179 for 8 in 20 overs with Moeen Ali (37) and Dawid Malan (33) playing breezy cameos to snuff out South Africa’s semi-final hopes.

“It’s a tough one for the guys in the changing room. We knew what we had to do today, the equation was very difficult for us to have to get through.

“I just said to the guys just try to control what we can control. Unfortunately, we can’t control what other results are out there. We did the job today but it’s quite bitter,” Boucher said.

Mark Boucher rued the missed opportunities South Africa could have capitalized on in the games against Australia and Bangladesh.

Mark Boucher Rues Losing 1st Game To Australia And Taking Long To Reach Target Of 85 Odd Against Bangladesh

South Africa had almost defended 118 for 9 in their campaign opener against Australia. It was the only game they lost among 5 games.

“Well, the first game. The first game was tight. We just didn’t bat well enough. It was tough. We lost the toss. We batted first and we weren’t 100 percent sure what a good total was because we were the first game to go out there and be played.

“We may be looked at getting 160 but probably needed about 130, 140 to be competitive. We could have maybe done better there, ” said Mark Boucher.

South Africa had a chance to improve its net run rate against Bangladesh. However, they took 13.3 overs to chase 85. If they had done it inside eight overs, things could have been different.

“Chasing a small total against Bangladesh, people can maybe look at that and said we should have gone a bit harder there, but that wasn’t the intention, and we lost three wickets on a wicket that is going all over the shop. Unfortunately ifs and buts, they didn’t count now,” Mark Boucher maintained.

Rassie van der Dussen -- AFP
Rassie van der Dussen. Photo Credit: AFP

Mark Boucher, however, was happy with the side’s good show at the tournament, which he believes will stand them in good stead.

“This team know that is we are on a journey, upward curve, that we are learning along the way. You know, we by no means are a finished product,” the 44-year-old said.

“These games will stand us in very good stead because as I said, every game we played was under pressure. That’s one thing we probably haven’t done very well in the past is playing big games, pressurised games, and we really did well in this particular competition,” Mark Boucher further said.

Flying under the radar by quietly going about their business, South Africa had an impressive tournament. After losing to Australia, they rallied on to defeat Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, West Indies, and mighty England. Mark Boucher feels this young Proteas side is a work in progress and is headed in the right direction.

“Yes, it’s a young side. We are still developing and hopefully, we can go from strength to strength from here, take this confidence through, as well.

“It’s not something we just arrived at a World Cup and all of the sudden start playing good cricket. We have won a lot of games in recent times. So, we are heading in the right direction. We just need a bit of good luck and a bit of fortune to go our way and hopefully, we can sort of putting something in the trophy cabinet soon,” Mark Boucher stated.

Kagiso Rabada made history as he became the first South African to take a T20I hat-trick, as the Proteas ended their T20 World Cup campaign with a 10-run win over England.

However, it was a heartbreak for South Africa as they finished third despite having eight points due to a lower Net Run Rate than both, England and Australia. Rassie van der Dussen (94) and Aiden Markram (52) were key for the Proteas as they finished on a strong 189/2.

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Joe Root
Joe Root Photograph: Sri Lanka Cricket
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Joe Root Excited On The Return Of Ben Stokes To England’s Ashes 2021/22 Squad

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Joe Root, England skipper, has welcomed all-rounder Ben Stokes’s return to the Ashes squad, saying that it’s the most exciting thing for him to see star all-rounder’s return to cricket after a break.

Ben Stokes had taken an indefinite break from cricket in July to focus on his mental health and recover from a finger injury. He was not included in England’s initial squad for the Ashes 2021-22 series.

Ben Stokes, Joe Root ECB Twitter
Ben Stokes, Joe Root ECB Twitter

Joe Root Excited As Ben Stokes Ready To Play Cricket Again In The Ashes 2021/22

However, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) later announced that Ben Stokes would be available for the series, which is due to start on December 8.

“I’d got an inkling. I’d had some good conversations with Ben over the period while he’s not been playing. It was just such a joy to hear him speak, you could almost hear his smile, if that makes sense, on the phone. You could tell he was so much happier within himself.

“Just the fact he feels he’s in a place where he’s ready to play cricket again is the most exciting thing,” Joe Root said.

Ben Stokes, England all-rounder
Ben Stokes, England all-rounder (Photo | AP)

The England captain also praised Ben Stokes’s honesty, adding that they made it very clear to him that he has to be in the right space to go and play.

“We made it very clear to Ben, it’s got to be right for you. You have to be in the right space to go and play, physically and mentally. One thing about Ben, he’s very honest, he won’t shirk any difficult conversations and he’s been true to that through the whole thing.

“We have been through a lot on and off the field. To see him now back in a place where he is able to enjoy his cricket again and feel more himself, that’s the best part of the whole thing. It’s just really exciting,” Joe Root added.

Ben Stokes had decided not to participate in the England-India Test series, the second half of IPL 2021 at UAE, and the T20I World Cup to prioritize his mental well-being over cricket. He, however, would return for Ashes.

Ben Stokes Last Featured For England In ODI Series Against Pakistan

Unfortunately, Ben Stokes broke his hand, taking a catch for Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League 2021, and a repeat X-ray and CT scan revealed that he has a fracture of his left index finger. Ben Stokes recently underwent a second surgery on his broken finger.

Eoin Morgan and Ben Stokes -Getty
Eoin Morgan and Ben Stokes -Getty

Ben Stokes last played for England in the ODI series against Pakistan in July, when he returned to captain the team at short notice after Eoin Morgan and the rest of the squad were forced into isolation by a number of Covid-19 positives. He batted twice and bowled a handful of overs, as England won the series 3-0, but only played twice in the Hundred thereafter before stepping away from the game indefinitely.

Ben Stokes averages 37.05 in 71 Tests, where he amassed 4631 runs with 10 tons and has also taken 163 scalps averaging 31.38 with the ball in hand.

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Jos Buttler smashed his maiden T20I ton | Photo: Rajasthan Royals
Jos Buttler smashed his maiden T20I ton | Photo: Rajasthan Royals
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Ben Stokes Terms Jos Buttler As Best In The World After His Unbeaten 101 Innings Against Sri Lanka

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Ben Stokes, England’s all-rounder, labeled keeper opener Jos Buttler as “best in the world” following the right-handed batter’s century against Sri Lanka in the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.

Jos Buttler smashed his maiden ton before England displayed an all-around performance to defeat Sri Lanka by 26 runs in the Super 12 match of the T20 World Cup at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Monday.

Ben Stokes Image Source : GETTY IMAGES
Ben Stokes Image Source: GETTY IMAGES

Ben Stokes Tweet Jos Buttler Is The Best Batsman In The World

England scored 163 in 20 overs and then restricted Sri Lanka to 137 to register their fourth win in four games in the tournament. Sri Lanka needed 34 from the final three overs to win the match, but the Lankan Lions lost their last five wickets for eight runs. England has now won all its four matches in the Super 12 stage, and they are all but set to qualify for the semi-finals.

Ben Stokes had decided not to participate in the England-India Test series, the second half of IPL 2021 at UAE, and the T20I World Cup to prioritize his mental well-being over cricket. He, however, would return for Ashes. Unfortunately, Ben Stokes broke his hand, taking a catch for Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League 2021, and a repeat X-ray and CT scan revealed that he has a fracture of his left index finger.

Ben Stokes’ teammate, Rajasthan Royals opener Jos Buttler, wasn’t at his usual best before he came to his own with a scintillating 124 versus Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), just a few days before BCCI suspended IPL 2021 due to Covid-19 threat. Jos Buttler didn’t play the second leg of IPL 2021 held a UAE.

“Best in the world @josbuttler,” tweeted Ben Stokes on Monday.

https://twitter.com/benstokes38/status/1455199358924824576?s=20

Jos Buttler joins elite list with maiden T20 World Cup hundred (AP Photo)
Jos Buttler joins the elite list with maiden T20 World Cup hundred (AP Photo)

Jos Buttler put on a fine show of T20 batting on Monday in Sharjah as he struck his maiden T20I hundred. The England batter became the first to get to the 3-figure mark in the T20 World Cup 2021 as he hammered 101 not out in just 67 balls on a tough pitch against Sri Lanka in their Super 12 match.

Jos Buttler became the first England men’s team batter to hit a hundred in all 3 formats of international cricket. He also became the second England men’s team batsman after Alex Hales hit a hundred in a T20I World Cup. Jos Buttler also joined an elite list of batters who have scored hundreds in the showpiece T20 event.

Jos Buttler joined the likes of Chris Gayle (2), Ahmed Shehzad, Alex Hales, Mahela Jayawardene, Brendon McCullum, Suresh Raina, and Tamim Iqbal after the stunning knock on Monday.

Jos Buttler Felt Staying Patient Was The Key When England Lost Early Wickets

England might have managed to defeat Sri Lanka in the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, but wicketkeeper-batter Jos Buttler admitted that his side England was under pressure in the second innings, and he hailed the bowling attack in ensuring the Three Lions walk away with another victory.

.”I think staying patient was the key (when England lost early wickets), but I managed to get a partnership with Morgan. I found it really tough early on in the innings. There was a point when we were thinking to get to the 120-run mark, but then we got going and got 160-plus. I use the same bat, even in the nets. It feels good,” said Buttler after the game ended.

Eoin Morgan | Photo: England Cricket
Eoin Morgan | Photo: England Cricket

England was reeling at 47/3 at the end of the 10th over, but a 100-plus stand between Jos Buttler and Eoin Morgan helped the 50-over World Champions post an above-par total of 163/4 in 20 overs.

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Head coach Brendon McCullum says KKR will make couple of changes in Mumbai (Image Courtesy: KKR Twitter)
Head coach Brendon McCullum with skipper Eoin Morgan (Image Courtesy: KKR Twitter)
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Brendon McCullum Admits His Style Of Coaching Or Leadership For KKR During IPL 2021 Was Perhaps “Wild”

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Brendon McCullum, Kolkata Knight Riders head coach, has said that his coaching style during the IPL this year, initially in India and later in UAE, was “a little wild”.

After struggling in the first leg of the tournament in India, KKR made a remarkable turnaround when the event was moved to the UAE, reaching the finals to play eventual champions Chennai Super Kings, where they lost.

Kolkata Knight Riders
Kolkata Knight Riders (Image Credit: Twitter)

Brendon McCullum’s Style Of Coaching Or Leadership Was Perhaps Wild

KKR ended the season as runners-up, which was impressive, because they had won just two of their seven games in the India leg of the tournament. Eventually, CSK was the better team on the day as KKR fell short of their third IPL title.
Brendon McCullum
Brendon McCullum BCCI

Brendon McCullum played in the IPL as a player from 2008 to 2018. Brendon McCullum featured in 109 matches in the IPL and amassed 2881 runs with a strike rate of 131.61. In the opening season, Brendon McCullum’s 158 not out for the Kolkata Knight Riders is still engraved in every IPL fan.

“My style of leadership or coaching was perhaps a little wild,” Brendon McCullum said.

Shubman Gill amassed 478 runs in 17 games, while Nitish Rana amassed 383 runs and Rahul Tripathi managed 397 runs, while the likes of Eoin Morgan (133 runs) and Dinesh Karthik (223 runs) failed to deliver with the bat. Pacer Lockie Ferguson picked 13 scalps, spinners Sunil Narine picked 16, and Varun Chakravarthy picked 18 scalps- the highest by a KKR bowler. Indian pacers Shivam Mavi and Prasidh Krishna were also among the wickets.

Brendon McCullum: KKR Rocked In The Second Half Of IPL 2021

The former New Zealand captain, though, was pleased to see the comeback KKR made in the league.

“It takes a little while to really dig down and thankfully we were able to do it in the second half of the tournament and we got a bit more intent into batting and then we were able to play a bit more of an aggressive form of cricket. Thankfully it translated to results and we got on a bit of a roll.”

Venkatesh Iyer scored his maiden IPL fifty in the game vs MI.© Instagram
Venkatesh Iyer scored his maiden IPL fifty in the game vs MI.© Instagram

KKR had just two wins out of seven matches at the end of the first leg and was placed seventh. But, in the second half of the tournament in the UAE, they won five out of their remaining league matches to make the playoffs, and then, the finals.

“We rocked in the second half of the tournament, we were kind of dead and buried (after starting with two wins and five losses). We were under a fair amount of pressure with two wins from seven games and seventh on the table out of eight. The expectations on us were pretty low,” said McCullum, who won the IPL 2012 title with KKR as a player.
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) head coach Brendon McCullum was full of praise for the impact that opener Venkatesh Iyer and the rest of the Indian top-order batsmen (Rahul Tripathi, Shubman Gill, and Nitish Rana) had in the second half of the 2021 Indian Premier League (IPL).
In opening the innings with Shubman Gill, Venkatesh Iyer scored 370 runs in 10 innings and even put in handy shifts with the ball, taking three wickets in the season. In just 10 IPL 2021 games, all at UAE, the opener Venkatesh Iyer has 370 runs beside his name, averaging 41.11 with as many as 4 fifties. It was his debut IPL season, where he also picked 3 scalps averaging 23 with the ball.

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Michael Vaughan. (Image Credits: Getty)
Michael Vaughan. (Image Credits: Getty)
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Ben Stokes Is A Player That Australia Fear: Michael Vaughan On Ben Stokes Return For Ashes 2021/22

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Michael Vaughan, former England captain, has joined the bandwagon of players, present and former, to express excitement about all-rounder Ben Stokes’ return for the Ashes series. However, Michael Vaughan feels Australia should be concerned, as the all-rounder is an imposing prospect.

Ben Stokes has announced his return to international cricket, claiming he is looking forward to joining his mates in Australia and is ready for the Ashes 2021/22, following which he was added as a late inclusion to the squad. The seam-bowling all-rounder, who opted for a mental-health break in August, said he is prepared to play his best cricket this winter.

Ben Stokes, England all-rounder
Ben Stokes, England all-rounder (Photo | AP)

Michael Vaughan: Ben Stokes Is A Player That Australia Fear, And He Has Unfinished Business With The Australians

Writing in his column, former England skipper Michael Vaughan wrote that Australia should feel worried by the return of all-rounder Ben Stokes, considering the all-rounder’s Headingley heroics in 2019.

Michael Vaughan wrote: “Crucially, he is also a player that Australia fear. The scars he inflicted on them at Headingley two years ago will not have fully healed, and the sight of him walking out at Brisbane – or wherever he manages to play his first Test – will send a few shivers up local spines.”

Michael Vaughan (Image Credit: Twitter)
Michael Vaughan (Image Credit: Twitter)

Michael Vaughan also noted that Ben Stokes, who missed the last tour Down Under, will arrive in Australia with a point or two to prove after losing his only series in the country.

The 46-year old added: “Stokes also has unfinished business with the Aussies. Winning in Australia will be on the cricketing bucket list, and having missed the last series Down Under after the Bristol nightclub incident, I can completely understand how this was a series he felt he simply couldn’t miss. He will not have wanted to go down in history as having only played one Test series in Australia.”

Ben Stokes emerged on the scene eight years ago when England toured Australia for the 2013-14 Ashes series. In an otherwise disastrous tour, the 30-year-old scored his maiden Test hundred in Perth and was a rare silver lining for England. Eight years later, Ben Stokes is one of the best all-format all-rounders in the game and has delivered in big games and series.

Ben Stokes recently underwent a second surgery on his broken finger. Ben Stokes had decided not to take part in the England-India Test series, the second half of IPL 2021 at UAE, T20I World Cup to prioritize his mental wellbeing over cricket but returned for Ashes 2021/22. The seam-bowling all-rounder could not play in the 2017-18 Ashes in Australia after his involvement in the street brawl and the disciplinary process that followed.

Ben Stokes last played for England in the ODI series against Pakistan in July, when he returned to captain the team at short notice after Eoin Morgan and the rest of the squad were forced into isolation by a number of Covid-19 positives. He batted twice and bowled a handful of overs, as England won the series 3-0, but only played twice in the Hundred thereafter before stepping away from the game indefinitely.

Michael Vaughan Backed Australia As Clear Favorites To Win Ashes 2021/22

Although Michael Vaughan has backed hosts Australia to win the series, he thinks Ben Stokes’ return has offered England plenty of hope and optimism as most of the chosen cricketers of England aren’t in great touch and are in inconsistent form in the past Test series against India and New Zealand.

Vaughan added: “I would still make Australia clear favourites to win the series – remember, we only drew 2-2 on home soil, where we’re strong, when we had him at his best – but it does feel like this has opened up a new world of possibilities.”

Ashes Urn Photo: cricket.com.au
Ashes Urn Photo: cricket.com.au

The left-handed batsman played one of the greatest Ashes knocks in the memorable Leeds Test in 2019. Chasing an improbable 359-run target, England looked down and out at 286-9. However, in the company of last man Jack Leach, Ben Stokes helped England pull off one of the most thrilling one-wicket heists in Test history. It was largely due to Ben Stokes’ 135*, England could force a share of the spoils.

Ben Stokes broke his hand, taking a catch for Rajasthan Royals in India leg of IPL 2021, and a repeat X-ray and CT scan revealed that he has a fracture of his left index finger. As a result, he missed the 2 Tests against New Zealand, while his last Test came against India in March 2021. Ben Stokes averages 37.05 in 71 Tests, where he amassed 4631 runs with 10 tons and has also taken 163 scalps averaging 31.38 with the ball in hand.

England’s full squad for The Ashes: Joe Root (captain), James Anderson, Jonathan Bairstow, Dom Bess, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Zak Crawley, Haseeb Hameed, Dan Lawrence, Jack Leach, Dawid Malan, Craig Overton, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood, Ben Stokes.

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KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant. (Photo Source: Twitter)
KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant. (Photo Source: Twitter)
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KL Rahul And Rishabh Pant A Major Threat To Pakistan: Matthew Hayden

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Matthew Hayden, the former Australia opener and newly appointed Pakistan batting consultant, said leadership will be key in the much anticipated India-Pakistan T20 World Cup clash in “dogfight conditions” in Dubai on Sunday.

Terming the match a real dogfight, Matthew Hayden, who is working with the Pakistan team as a batting consultant, said the margin for error will be very little in the big match, so leadership will be the key to the outcome.

Matthew Hayden
Matthew Hayden (Image Credit: Twitter)

Matthew Hayden: Leadership Will Be The Key

Matthew Hayden cited examples of MS Dhoni and Eoin Morgan, who led their respective IPL franchises CSK and KKR to the IPL 2021 with success when their own individual performances with the bat were not at expected levels.

“Their individual performances were not as good as they have previously done as per their statistical records but the way they led their troops and conducted themselves played an important part in their teams reaching the IPL final in UAE conditions,” Hayden said in a media interaction.

“I feel leadership will be key in the coming match as conditions in UAE leave very little margin for error and there are dogfight conditions out there.”

Babar Azam
Babar Azam (Photo by Aamir QURESHI / AFP via Getty Images)

Matthew Hayden said Pakistan captain Babar Azam had a role to play in the match as a leader and a premium batter.

“There will be additional pressure on him as captain and batsman because he will be targeted and everyone will be wanting to like they say, put him in their pocket. Babar has command and presence and he needs to fulfill that role in a batting sense and captain.”

India and Pakistan will face off in their Super 12s opener on Sunday, October 24 as fireworks are expected in the game between the two arch-rivals. Pakistan’s next game will see them take on New Zealand just two days later. Defeats in those two games would probably spell curtains on their campaign.

Babar Azam has scored 2,204 runs in international T20I cricket in 61 matches at an average of 46.89 with one century and 20 half-centuries. He has scored 7055 runs in 196 T20s averaging 46.11 with 6 tons and 59 fifties.

Matthew Hayden: KL Rahul Possesses A Major Threat To Pakistan

Matthew Hayden also observed that having followed Indian cricket very closely over the years, he believed that dashing batsmen KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant pose the biggest threat to Pakistan in the match.

“More or less I have watched KL Rahul grow and he is a major threat to Pakistan. I have watched him grow up as a boy. I have seen his struggles and his dominance in shorter formats.

“I have seen someone like Rishab Pant, his brash nature and beautiful vision for the game, how he has destroyed bowling attacks because he has got the opportunity because he sees it that way.”

KL Rahul, one of the top run-getters in the IPL 2021, smashed a sparkling fifty against England in India’s first warm-up match and also looked in great touch against Australia in the second warm-up match. On the other hand, Rishabh Pant had a pretty good IPL 2021 himself and hit some lusty blows against England in the 1st warm-up game.

KL Rahul Image Source : GETTY IMAGES
KL Rahul Image Source: GETTY IMAGES

The Australian opener also said, having watched the game’s various elements and been part of it. He can say that nothing matches the rivalry between Pakistan and India, with the Ashes between England and Australia coming a close second to the arch-rivals games.

“For an Australian obviously the Ashes and matches against England are tops but nothing matches the rivalry of these two teams.”

Matthew Hayden said Pakistan has some wonderful assets that will perform on the given day. He termed Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Fakhar Zaman as key players for Pakistan.

“I have learned for whatever reason you are always under pressure, you don’t need to create additional pressure to what the game demands.”

Asked about his short-term role as a batting consultant with the Pakistan team, Matthew Hayden said his main purpose was to bring calmness and control among cricketers and tell the players to remain focused because T20I World Cups are quite challenging.

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