Virat Kohli Namedropped In Big Take On 'Sledging' Row At Lord's: "Forgive Me For Degrading..."
"Forgive me for degrading the report of a great match with this nonsense, but wouldn't spectators rather see players caring too much, rather than too little, about playing Tests. No one, of course, wants to see physical altercations on the field of play, or sustained nasty verbal abuse. There should be no place, for example, for the shoulder barge that Virat Kohli initiated in the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne last Christmas, when he diverted from his path to deliberately walk into Sam Konstas. In a match where there was plenty of spice and niggle, tempers flared as Carse and Jadeja collided mid-pitch, although the impact was entirely accidental, after Jadeja had deflected the ball towards third man, with both players ball-watching rather than minding each other's path," he wrote.
Atherton also mentioned England's historic ICC World Cup 2019 victory - exactly six years ago - and drew paralells between them with respect to Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer 's performances.
"Six years ago to the day, Lord's had witnessed the most remarkable finish to any cricket match, when the World Cup final was decided on a boundary countback after a Super Over. Now the game delivered an extraordinary finish again, with two of the protagonists from that day, Stokes and Jofra Archer, taking centre stage," Atherton wrote in his column.
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Hindustan Times
14 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
The Latest: England beats Spain in a penalty shootout after 1-1 draw to retain title
BASEL, Switzerland (AP) — Defending champion England has won the Women's European Championship after defeating Spain in the final. HT Image The match in Basel was a repeat of the 2023 World Cup final where Spain defeated the Lionesses 1-0. Coincidentally, the same countries played in the men's European Championship final last year. Spain won that match 2-1. Here's the latest: England has defended its European title by defeating Spain in a penalty shootout. The game was tied at 1-1 after extra time. England won the shootout 3-1 with Chloe Kelly scoring the winning penalty kick. It's 1-1 at full time and the players are coming off the pitch for a quick break. Then it's extra time: two times 15 minutes to break the deadlock. England equalized when Alessia Russo made it 1-1 in the 57th minute. Chloe Kelly whipped one of her trademark crosses into the box from the left and Russo rose above the defense to make it 1-1. Spain heads into the break in the lead after Mariona Caldentey's goal in the 25th. Both teams traded early blows but Spain looked stronger after the goal. La Roja kept most of the possession and did not allow England to threaten much. England also trailed at halftime in the quarterfinal against Sweden and semifinal against Italy, but still won both games. Mariona Caldentey has made it 1-0 for Spain in the 25th minute. Ona Batlle whipped in a cross from the right, after good work by Aitana Bonmati, and Caldentey headed it powerfully home. Swiss former player Lara Dickenmann carried the trophy out onto the field after the closing ceremony of Euro 2025. A large circular banner was unfurled in the center of the field in tribute to the host nation, while smaller banners were displayed nearby with 'Thank You' in Switzerland's four official languages —Italian, French, German, and Romansh. Two large Alpine-inspired shapes were then carried onto the field, with the England flag on one and Spain's on the other. Nearly 30,000 inflatable clappers had been distributed to the fans beforehand, while 40 members of the closing ceremony cast also had them on the field. The Asturia Quartet, an all-female string ensemble, performed the national anthems. In somewhat of a surprise change, Athenea Del Castillo has been named in Spain's starting lineup in place of Claudia Pina. Del Castillo's only other start in the tournament was in the final group-stage match, against Italy, when many regular starters were rested with Spain already through. The Real Madrid forward scored one and set up another. She also scored the opener in the quarterfinal win against Switzerland just four minutes after coming onto the field. Pina was decisive the last time Spain played England, scoring twice to help her team to a 2-1 comeback victory in the Nations League last month. The only other change to Spain's lineup from its semifinal victory over Germany is the return of defender Laia Aleixandri from suspension, with María Méndez dropping back down to the bench. Spain's lineup: Coll; Batlle, Paredes, Aleixandri, Olga; Bonmatí, Patri, Putellas; Mariona, González, Del Castillo. Lauren James has recovered from injury and starts for England with coach Sarina Wiegman making just one change. James had to come off at halftime in England's semifinal victory over Italy on Tuesday with an ankle problem and was seen applying ice to her injury during the match. James has started all five of England's games at Euro 2025 and has been named in the lineup for the final. Defender Jess Carter returns after being omitted from the starting lineup for the first time against Italy, for tactical reasons, two days after revealing she was the target of racist abuse online during the tournament. England's lineup: Hampton; Bronze, Williamson, Carter, Greenwood; Toone, Walsh, Stanway; James, Russo, Hemp. Basel's soccer stadium has a capacity of 34,250 during Euro 2025 and no empty seats are expected at the final. With an hour to go until kickoff, thousands of fans have already taken their seats. Even before the final, the tournament has broken the total attendance record for a Women's European Championship. A total of 623,088 spectators have attended the 30 matches so far, surpassing the previous total attendance record of 574,875 from Euro 2022. There have been intermittent torrential showers and thunderstorms but that has not dampened the spirits of thousands of Spanish and England fans that have been gathering in the fan zones in Basel. The rain teemed down about two hours before kickoff but the sun came out shortly afterward and the skies above St. Jakob-Park have cleared up for now. England got off to a rough start with a 2-1 defeat to France, becoming the first reigning champion to lose its opening match at a women's Euros. The team bounced back with a 4-0 victory over the Netherlands and a 6-1 thrashing of Wales. Then came the craziness of its quarterfinal against Sweden when it was trailing 2-0 with 12 minutes to go before equalizing and taking the match to extra time and a penalty shootout. There were nine failed penalty attempts before England finally triumphed 3-2. England left it even later in its semifinal against Italy. Teenager Michelle Agyemang leveled in stoppage time to force extra time and fellow substitute Chloe Kelly scored in the 119th minute to secure a 2-1 win, just as it appeared another penalty shootout was looming. Spain swept through the group stage, winning all three matches against Portugal, Belgium and Italy — scoring 14 goals and conceding three. Spain found it tougher to get past Switzerland in the quarterfinals but finally broke the resistance of the host nation with two quickfire goals midway through the second half. Spain also missed two penalties and hit the woodwork three times. Like England, its semifinal lasted 120 minutes. It took a moment of magic from two-time Ballon d'Or winner Aitana Bonmatí in the 113th minute to secure a 1-0 win over Germany. ___ AP soccer:
The Hindu
an hour ago
- The Hindu
Women's Euro 2025: England beats Spain in a penalty shootout after 1-1 draw to retain title
England thrived in high drama yet again to take down Spain in a penalty shootout and win another Women's European Championship title on Sunday (July 27, 2025). Chloe Kelly lashed in her spot kick to give defending champion England a 3-1 win in the shootout after a 1-1 draw after extra time. 'I was cool, I was composed, and I knew I was going to hit the back of the net,' said Kelly, whose goal decided a second straight Women's Euros final. England goalkeeper Hannah Hampton saved spot kicks from Mariona Caldentey and Spain superstar Aitana Bonmatí, before substitute Salma Paralluelo dragged her shot wide of goal. The defending champion won the only way it knew how at this thrilling Euro 2025. England had fallen behind in the first half, fought back in the second and relied on its superb substitutes — including Kelly – just as it did against Italy and Sweden previously in the knockout rounds. England leveled the score in the 57th on Alessia Russo's header from a cross by Kelly after Mariona Caldentey had given Spain the lead in the 25th finishing Ona Battle's cross. Spain trailed for only four minutes in the entire tournament — and not for one second against England — yet the reigning World Cup winner could not seal its first European title. 'I think this team deserved more. At least not living with this bitter feeling,' Spain coach Montse Tomé said in translated comments. Kelly had scored an extra-time winning goal for England at Wembley three years ago to beat Germany 2-1. In extra time Spain had good possession in the England penalty area so many times yet did not force a decisive goal. 'It was cruel,' Bonmatí told Spanish broadcaster La 1, after being named best player of the tournament. 'We played better, created more scoring chances, but in soccer sometimes that's not enough.' Spain goalkeeper Cata Coll saved spot kicks from England captain Leah Williamson and the first by Beth Mead. It was appropriate in England's memorable tournament that Mead's penalty had to be retaken under a new soccer rule that allows a second chance when a player scores by slipping and touching the ball twice. It did not matter after Hampton's saves. Arsenal attackers like scoring with perfectly placed headers from inviting crosses sent to the ideal spot. Spain took the lead Sunday with a very English goal – a full back's cross from the byline finding the head of an Arsenal player to score, on a rain-slicked field on an overcast, cloudy day. The strong Spanish flavor leading to Caldentey's opener was in the neat passing to find Athenea del Castillo in the penalty area and her vision to see Ona Batlle's direct run into space. Caldentey was in the Arsenal team that won the Women's Champions League final in May beating a Barcelona side with six starters who also lined up for Spain on Sunday. Spain used three more Barcelona players as substitutes. The Arsenal forward line in that final, Russo and Kelly, combined to tie the Euro 2025 final. Kelly's right-foot cross from the left was floated toward the head of Russo who guided the ball back toward the top corner of the Spain net. England coach Sarina Wiegman has still never before been eliminated from a Women's Euros tournament. Despite how close she came three times this month. The top female national-team coach of her generation has a Euros hat trick after leading England to victory in 2022 and her native Netherlands to the 2017 title. Both those titles were won as the host nation team and no England senior team, men or women, had previously won a world or continental title abroad. Wiegman also extended the run of title-winning women coaches to eight Women's Euros editions across 28 years. Women were outnumbered by male coaches each time. There was royalty from both nations in the VIP box at St-Jakob Park including heirs to each throne. Prince William, the first son of Britain's King Charles, was with his daughter Princess Charlotte. He is president of the English Football Association. Also present were Princess Leonor of Spain and her younger sister, Infanta Sofía. At the 2023 World Cup final Sofia was at the game with her mother Queen Letizia in Sydney, Australia.
Indian Express
3 hours ago
- Indian Express
Washington Sundar: The new monk, who stood unconquered at Manchester
The celebrations were understated for someone who completed his first Test hundred; and for someone who rarely gets the chance to reach the landmark. A shimmy for a single, short sprint to mid-on, a calm unfastening of the helmet and a wave of the bat with a face as cold as stone. There was no roar, no smile or even a grin of relief on Washington Sundar's face. It was an extension of his batting as well a reflection of his personality, monkishly imperturbable, not prone to excessive outpouring of emotions, in both good and bad times. The only streak of over-excitement in his career was verbal faux pas on the fourth evening of the Lord's Test when he averred that India would wrap up the chase of 192 before first session on the final. It gloriously backfired, to almost the hue of Tim Paine's 'See you in Gabba taunt'. But he was quickly over it and played a defining role in the game. He was India's sharpest bowler in the game, and he was the face of India's defiance on the fifth day. Then he is not a stranger to acts of tenacity. Take some of India's most memorable Test matches in the last four years, he had been there, in the eye of a storm, in the heat and heart of the battle. In Brisbane first innings, on debut, he gritted 62 off 144 balls, laying the foundations of his country's most memorable hour this decade. There are several other priceless but forgotten knocks — 85 not out on a Chennai turner, 96 not out in Motera, the 42 in Birmingham in the first innings. Even the 22 off 29 cameo in Brisbane had its own value. But unless the scorecards are forked out, footages rewatched the contributions don't strike, or the strokes he essayed flash on the mind's eye. Partly, it is down to his demeanour, self-effacing to a fault. He is that boy next door cricketer you bump so frequently in the maidans and streets. The boy who does everything, bat, bowl and field, without making a fuss about it, neither making it look ridiculously simple nor elaborately laborious. He is the name you pause in a scorecard, or ponder and forget. What-a-TON Sundar! 💯 Grit. Determination. Dominance. Held the fort till the very end, a maiden test century to cherish forever! 🙌🏻#ENGvIND 👉 5th TEST | Starts THU, 31st July, 2:30 PM | Streaming on JioHotstar! — Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) July 27, 2025 Unless he is in the middle of winning or saving a game, which he often finds himself in a Test match. It's something of an occupational hazard when batting down the order. In 22 innings, the highest he had ever batted is at No. 5 — in this very innings, necessitated by Rishabh Pant's injury. The most familiar number has been eight (11), closely followed by seven. He has once batted at six and thrice at nine. But No 9 or 5, he remained just the same, as much as unexcited as unfazed. The enormity of the moment did not crush him. He marked his guard with a faint smile that masked whatever nerves that boiled inside his head. He bunted a pair of runs straight away and then offered a blunt broad bat for the next half an hour. He is one of the few Indian batsmen in recent times who has shown the fading art of batting time. He is rarely edgy or jumpy, always behind the ball, sparsely attempting a flashy stroke, even though he first struck acclaim as a T20 gun for hire. Nothing is careless, impetuous or wasted. He has a full array of strokes, but he knows perfectly when, where and how to use them. He judges, and seizes the moments. On Sunday, it came when Ben Stokes started barraging short balls around the 110th over. By then he had faced close to a hundred balls and just to unsettle Stokes and prompt him to a different plan of attack, he got under one nailed a fierce pull over deep square leg for a six. Memories would have rolled back to 2021, when he clumped Pat Cummins for a similar six in the Gabba chase. Like when tall batsmen pull, there was an awkward elegance about it. The next ball was nailed through the same area to defang Stokes. The over before, the England captain had produced a spiteful bouncer at Ravindra Jadeja, who somehow scrambled to safety. A decisive but mini battle was thus won. Soon after, India wiped England's lead and the confidence swelled that they could escape the game without a humiliation. He was largely in control, and when he was not, he ensured that the good balls didn't haunt him. Archer made a ball leap into the splice of his bat in the 92nd over. Liam Dawson made one spit from the rough. England sniffed a moment when they could burst through the resistance of India's last recognised pair. He then thick-edged Dawson after misreading the drift, he wafted thin air when Archer snapped a ball past his stab. He survived the storm, and lived to tell the tale. The knock could be the one that would finally make the audience begin appreciating the traits that make him a valuable member of the eleven. He is a deluxe cricketer most teams would covet. A proper Test batsman and off-spinner, the fight and grit masked beneath his boy-next-door charms.
