Did England make a mistake with Jacob Bethell's Oval Test selection? Vaughan reacts
"It has been an epic. It really has been a brilliant series, and I think this England side,on this kind of pitch, I like the way that they played today," said Vaughan. "The only thing I say is in terms of their selection, they have picked players who have been playing no cricket. And to throw them into this hotbed of international cricket in front of this amount of people, with so many more watching, not just here but on TV screens around the world, it isn't an easy game." Vaughan said he finds it extraordinary that England have gone with Bethell for the final match of the series and feels they aren't giving him the best chance to succeed at the Test level. "If it was that easy, anyone could play Test match cricket. If you're throwing a 21-year-old into this situation on the back of one first-class match in our summer, I find that absolutely extraordinary. I don't think you're giving a kid the best chance of succeeding at this level," said Vaughan. Bethell was joined in the team by Josh Tongue, Gus Atkinson and Jamie Overton as part of the changes England made before the match. - EndsTune InMust Watch
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NDTV
an hour ago
- NDTV
Tragic Hero To Fountainhead: The Mohammed Siraj Show Lights Up The Oval
Every sporting contest has a hero and a tragic hero. But not many times a tragic hero turns into a fountainhead. Mohammad Siraj was India's fountainhead as the team clinched one of the most memorable Test wins ever against England at The Oval. But the massive performance came after several lows. When Mohammad Siraj crossed the ropes on Sunday evening after taking Harry Brook 's catch, he stood there with his face hidden in his palm and in utter disbelief. Prasidh Krishna had begun celebrating a moment that would not last long. After India won the Oval Test by 6 runs, in the middle of massive moments of joy, Mohammad Siraj opened up to the broadcasters - 'What happened to me last night with Harry Brook's catch was unbelievable. I woke up in the morning and checked Google on my phone and took out a 'Believe' emoji wallpaper and told myself that I will do it for the country'. It was the spirit of Siraj that propelled India as the team refused to surrender even after the pounding they got from Brook and Joe Root on the 4th day of the test. Siraj stood along the boundary asking the crowd to cheer for Team India. With less than 40 runs on the 4th day of Oval test, Team India roared back. Mohammad Siraj bowled a spell of unplayable deliveries the beat the Englishmen consistently. He inspired Prasidh Krishna to send Joe Root back. England needed 37 runs at that stage. In the absence of Jasprit Bumrah, Siraj shouldered the responsibility of spearheading a depleted pace attack. He told Dinesh Karthik, 'I always believe that I can win the game from any point... My only plan was to bowl good areas. Didn't matter if I took wickets or went for runs." Siraj bowled more than any other bowler in the series, played all 5 tests and picked 23 wickets. There were times when he waged lonely battles. On Sunday evening, under grey Oval skies he bowled eight overs on the trot to keep the pressure on England. The boy from Hyderabad felt lonely and defeated at the end of the Lord's test after a passionate dive to drive India to a win where they fell short. He was a tragic hero at the end of the Lord's test. Jadeja asked him to remember his dad and play for him. Three weeks later... with a match haul of 9 wickets and a five-wicket haul, Siraj sang the redemption song. The 31-year-old right-arm fast bowler effectively drove the Indian attack by delivering 185.3 overs. After 25 days of intense test cricket in England, fans would be happy to zoom back on Siraj cam and watch the reels as they go viral.
United News of India
3 hours ago
- United News of India
England wait to learn extent of Woakes' injury
London, Aug 5 (UNI) England will discover the extent of Chris Woakes' shoulder injury later this week after his heroics in the classic fifth Test against India. Woakes sustained a suspected dislocation on the opening day at The Oval, yet emerged to bat with his left arm in a sling on the final day. The 36-year-old supported Gus Atkinson as England looked for the 17 runs they needed to win, not facing a ball but running between the wickets on four occasions. England were ultimately beaten by six runs in one of the most dramatic finishes of all time. All-rounder Woakes will have scans and further assessment on Wednesday. "We hope the injury is not too bad, but we will have to work that out over the next week or so," said England head coach Brendon McCullum. Woakes, the only England bowler to play in all five Tests of the series, was injured while fielding late on Thursday, attempting a stop on the boundary. On Friday morning, England said "the injury has ruled him out of any further participation in the Test". But McCullum revealed Woakes had offered to bat later on Friday, at the end of England's first innings. "Woakesy came to me in the first innings and said 'do you want me to bat?'," said New Zealander McCullum. "It was within 24 hours of it happening and he was in an immense amount of pain." As England closed in on a record target of 374 in their second innings on Sunday, Woakes was pictured in his whites. He had throw-downs to determine how he could bat. On the fifth morning, when Josh Tongue became the ninth England wicket to fall, security staff rushed on to the Oval outfield, believing the game to be over. However, Woakes appeared from the dressing room, his injured arm covered by his England sweater. As Atkinson shielded him from the strike, Woakes spent 16 minutes in the middle before Atkinson was bowled by Mohammed Siraj to end the Test and give India a 2-2 series draw. Although Woakes did not face a delivery, it is understood he was preparing to take a left-handed stance. This would have put his healthy right arm at the top of the handle in control of the bat, and distanced his injured left shoulder as far from the ball as possible, according to a BBC news. "It's what you want from our players," said McCullum. "This game is hard and takes us to some tough places, challenging us mentally and physically. Sometimes we end up with injuries. To still want to go out and do your best for your country is what these guys are desperate to show. "I thought Woakesy was really brave to do that. You could see running between the wickets how much pain he was in. I thought we might have a fairytale, where we needed two to win and he was on strike and found a way. But it wasn't to be." Woakes' injury makes him a huge doubt for the Ashes tour of Australia, which begins in November, and he will not play in The Hundred, which starts on Tuesday. England captain Ben Stokes had already been ruled out of the fifth Test with a shoulder injury of his own and faces a period of rehabilitation. McCullum said the talismanic skipper will be "fine" for the Ashes. Stokes withdrew from playing in The Hundred earlier this year and will instead spend time with his Northern Superchargers team in a coaching and mentoring capacity. Woakes' injury came at the end of a series that included a number of players struck down. England spinner Shoaib Bashir bowled with a broken finger in the third Test at Lord's and India wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant batted with a broken foot in the fourth Test at Old Trafford. It has ignited the debate over whether injury replacements should be introduced, but Stokes was firm in his opposition to the idea. "I don't see it being a thing," said Stokes. "I could have gone into this game knowing I had a sore shoulder and saying I'll give it a go, hopefully I come through but if not I know I have someone who can come in and replace me. "I feel like there is room where you could manipulate it a little bit. I am still heavily against it." UNI BM
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
3 hours ago
- First Post
Jorge Costa, Porto legend and former Mumbai City FC coach, passes away aged 53
Costa had captained Porto to the 2004 UEFA Champions League title, made 50 appearances for Portugal and would later coach Mumbai City FC in the ISL from 2018 to 2020. The 53-year-old died of cardiac arrest on Tuesday. read more Jorge Costa, who had starred in Porto's Champions League triumph in 2004, was the club's director of football at the time of his demise. AP Jorge Costa, who captained Porto to the 2004 Champions League title, died Tuesday of cardiac arrest, the club said. He was 53. Costa, a central defender who made 50 international appearances for Portugal, was Porto's director of football at the time of his death. The club's said in its announcement that Costa embodied Porto's values: 'dedication, leadership, passion, and an unwavering spirit of conquest.' Jorge Costa deixou-nos. Um de nós, um líder, capitão, exemplo. Um símbolo do FC Porto. Obrigado por seres FC Porto até ao fim. Até sempre, Jorge Costa. — FC Porto (@FCPorto) August 5, 2025 STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Portuguese media reported that Costa sustained cardiac arrest at the club's training center and was transported to São João Hospital. More from Football Costa's finest achievement in his playing career was as captain of Jose Mourinho's Porto team that was a surprise winner of the Champions League in 2004. A year earlier, he lifted the second-tier UEFA Cup. We are deeply saddened by the passing of our former Head Coach, Jorge Costa. A leader, a fighter, and a true part of the Mumbai City family, Jorge was at the helm between 2018 and 2020. Our thoughts and prayers are with his loved ones during this difficult time. Rest in… — Mumbai City FC (@MumbaiCityFC) August 5, 2025 Costa also helped Porto win eight Portuguese league titles. He spent a short period on loan at English team Charlton in the 2001-02 season. 'To hear of a life taken at 53 is never nice to hear, but he's a former teammate who had such a great standing in the game and captained a Champions League winning side,' said Steve Brown, chair of Charlton's ex-players' association. 'He was loved at Charlton, a man mountain of a player and a great guy too.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
