England captain Stokes relishing Pant battle in India series
Stokes, well capable of aggressive batting himself, expects more fireworks from Pant, even if he hopes to limit the Indian's runs after scores of 134 and 118. 'Even though he's my opposition, I absolutely love watching Rishabh play cricket,' said Stokes during a press conference on the eve of the second Test at Edgbaston starting Wednesday. 'Credit to him, two hundreds in the game, (but) we know we're going to get our chances with the way Rishabh plays. On a different day, it could have looked a little bit different if one of those had gone straight to hand. 'He's a very dangerous player. We know what he brings to the Indian team, but I really enjoy watching Rishabh play cricket.'
'Shadow of myself'
A relatively youthful India team, with new captain Shubman Gill leading from the front with a century, were competitive for much of the time at Headingley in a match England won after pulling off the tenth-highest chase in Test history by scoring 371. But batting collapses of 7-41, after they had been 430-3, and 6-31, from 333-4, proved costly for India in Leeds. No cricket team faces such intense scrutiny as India, who have now lost seven of their 11 Tests under coach Gautam Gambhir, given the mass enthusiasm for the sport in the world's most populous nation.
'I think it's pretty clear that there's always pressure on the shoulders of international sportsmen,' said Stokes. 'But playing for India, especially in cricket, there's probably a bit more of it than any other nation. But we don't take anything for granted from last week.'
Stokes was able to play a full part with the ball in the first Test following a lengthy recovery from a hamstring injury and was the pick of England's attack while taking 4-66 in India's first innings and sending down 35 overs in the match. The 34-year-old said while he felt the effects after England were in the field for more than 200 overs, he was now refreshed and ready to go again at Edgbaston. 'I feel better now than I did Thursday and Friday,' he said. 'I used the three days after that game to offer absolutely nothing to the world. I was a shadow of my normal self. It just goes to show how much five-day Test matches take out of you.'
Jofra Archer was back with the squad at Edgbaston on Tuesday but England's decision to field an unchanged team means the fast bowler's long-awaited return to Test cricket after four years of injury trauma remains on hold. 'Facing him in the nets there, he's got the ball swinging quite nicely and there's that effortless pace,' said Stokes. 'It's been a while since I faced him so it was a little bit of a wake-up call for me. 'But I think it's great to have him back in the dressing room. It's been a long time since Jof's been in the Test environment.' — AFP
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Kuwait Times
5 days ago
- Kuwait Times
England captain Stokes relishing Pant battle in India series
BIRMINGHAM: England captain Ben Stokes said Tuesday he 'absolutely loves' watching Rishabh Pant play cricket even when he's on the receiving end of the India star's outrageous stroke-play. Pant became only the second wicketkeeper in Test history to score hundreds in both innings of a match against England at Headingley, although his heroics were unable to prevent a five-wicket defeat last week that left the hosts 1-0 up in a five-match contest. Pant went on to produce an array of extraordinary strokes, including over the shoulder ramp shots off fast bowlers. Stokes, well capable of aggressive batting himself, expects more fireworks from Pant, even if he hopes to limit the Indian's runs after scores of 134 and 118. 'Even though he's my opposition, I absolutely love watching Rishabh play cricket,' said Stokes during a press conference on the eve of the second Test at Edgbaston starting Wednesday. 'Credit to him, two hundreds in the game, (but) we know we're going to get our chances with the way Rishabh plays. On a different day, it could have looked a little bit different if one of those had gone straight to hand. 'He's a very dangerous player. We know what he brings to the Indian team, but I really enjoy watching Rishabh play cricket.' 'Shadow of myself' A relatively youthful India team, with new captain Shubman Gill leading from the front with a century, were competitive for much of the time at Headingley in a match England won after pulling off the tenth-highest chase in Test history by scoring 371. But batting collapses of 7-41, after they had been 430-3, and 6-31, from 333-4, proved costly for India in Leeds. No cricket team faces such intense scrutiny as India, who have now lost seven of their 11 Tests under coach Gautam Gambhir, given the mass enthusiasm for the sport in the world's most populous nation. 'I think it's pretty clear that there's always pressure on the shoulders of international sportsmen,' said Stokes. 'But playing for India, especially in cricket, there's probably a bit more of it than any other nation. But we don't take anything for granted from last week.' Stokes was able to play a full part with the ball in the first Test following a lengthy recovery from a hamstring injury and was the pick of England's attack while taking 4-66 in India's first innings and sending down 35 overs in the match. The 34-year-old said while he felt the effects after England were in the field for more than 200 overs, he was now refreshed and ready to go again at Edgbaston. 'I feel better now than I did Thursday and Friday,' he said. 'I used the three days after that game to offer absolutely nothing to the world. I was a shadow of my normal self. It just goes to show how much five-day Test matches take out of you.' Jofra Archer was back with the squad at Edgbaston on Tuesday but England's decision to field an unchanged team means the fast bowler's long-awaited return to Test cricket after four years of injury trauma remains on hold. 'Facing him in the nets there, he's got the ball swinging quite nicely and there's that effortless pace,' said Stokes. 'It's been a while since I faced him so it was a little bit of a wake-up call for me. 'But I think it's great to have him back in the dressing room. It's been a long time since Jof's been in the Test environment.' — AFP
Kuwait Times
25-06-2025
- Kuwait Times
Duckett, Root star as England beat India in thrilling 1st Test
England, set 371 for victory, finished on 373-5 in the last session of the fifth day LEEDS: Ben Duckett's superb 149 laid the foundation for a record-breaking England win as they beat India by five wickets in a dramatic first Test at Headingley on Tuesday. Victory meant England became the first team to concede five individual hundreds in a first-class game—a span of more than 60,000 matches—and still win. England, set 371 for victory, finished on 373-5 in the last session of the fifth day as they went 1-0 up in a five-match series. When England resumed Monday on 21-0, needing 350 more runs, the overcast conditions were against the batsmen. But Duckett and Zak Crawley (65) swung the game England's way with an outstanding opening partnership of 188. Jamie Smith (44 not out) stayed true to England's aggressive 'Bazball' style by hitting the winning runs courtesy a six off spinner Ravindra Jadeja, while Joe Root ensured the hosts overcame a brief stumble with a typically composed 53 not out on his Yorkshire home ground. India's attack was led by Jasprit Bumrah, the world's number one-ranked Test bowler but, remarkably, the paceman failed to take a wicket in the second innings following his 5-83 earlier in the game. England's win meant all of their three-highest successful fourth-innings run chases in Test cricket had come in the past six years. 'Awesome Test' Tuesday's effort was just behind the 378-3 they made at Edgbaston three years ago against another India attack featuring Bumrah and just ahead of the 362-9 they posted at Headingley in 2019 when current captain Ben Stokes' remarkable 135 not out sealed a stunning one-wicket win over Australia. 'We have got some good memories at Headingley over the last few years and this is another to add to it,' said Stokes at the presentation ceremony. 'It was an awesome Test to be part of... That partnership between Duckett and Crawley set us up brilliantly. Ducky got the big score but Zak stayed composed and in the moment and his 65 was important.' But this result condemned Shubman Gill, who scored a first-innings century, to defeat in his first match as India captain, with Rishabh Pant (134 and 118) only the second wicket-keeper to score hundreds in both innings of a Test. But collapses of 7-41 and 6-31 at end of each innings proved costly for India in Leeds. 'We had our moments on top, but England are so good and we needed to kill the game when we had the chance,' Gill told the BBC. 'We still have a young team and a few catches didn't go our way so that's where the game slipped away,' added 25-year-old Gill. The match was still in the balance in the final session. With England 253-4, needing a further 118 to win, Stokes joined Root after Shardul Thakur took two wickets in two balls including the prize scalp of Duckett. The experienced duo shared a fifty partnership before Stokes top-edged a reverse-sweep off Jadeja to Gill at short third man. Root's poise and a late flurry of power from Smith carried the hosts home with five wickets to spare. Prasidh Krishna, in only his fourth Test, had previously struck twice in quick succession to leave England 206-2. After a 20-minute rain delay in the afternoon, India broke through when Crawley edged paceman Prasidh Krishna to KL Rahul at first slip. Crawley's exit brought in Ollie Pope, who made 106 in the first innings, but he was bowled for eight by Krishna. Duckett continued his assault with a remarkable reverse sweep for six off Jadeja. But he was fortunate to complete his sixth hundred in 34 Tests. Duckett was on 97 when he top-edged a pull off Siraj only for Yashasvi Jaiswal, running in from the boundary, to drop the catch to the bowler's visible fury. Duckett's impressive innings ended when he drove Thakur to short extra cover. By coincidence his score was the same total as Ian Botham, with 149 not out, managed in a celebrated 18-run win over Australia at Headingley during the 1981 Ashes series. Next ball Harry Brook, out for 99 in the first innings, fell for a duck but the bulk of England's work was already done. — AFP
Kuwait Times
24-06-2025
- Kuwait Times
England rally after Pant heroics to set up thrilling finish to India opener
India lost their last six wickets for 31 runs as they slumped to 364 LEEDS: Rishabh Pant became the first India batsman to score hundreds in both innings of a Test against England on Monday's fourth day at Headingley before the hosts hit back to set up a dramatic finale to the series opener. England, with all their wickets standing, will head into Tuesday's final day needing a further 350 runs to reach a target of 371 as they bid to go 1-0 up in a five-match series. India were threatening to bat England out of the game while Pant, who made 134 in the first innings, completed a 130-ball century, including 13 fours and two sixes, before falling for 118. The swashbuckling wicketkeeper received excellent support from opener Rahul, who made 137 in a fourth-wicket partnership of 195 that started when India were faltering at 92-3 in their second innings. But from the relative safety of 333-4, India lost their last six wickets for 31 runs as they slumped to 364 all out. Fast bowler Josh Tongue did the bulk of the damage in a burst of three wickets in four balls. Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett survived a potentially tricky six-over spell to take England to 21-0 at stumps. 'Blockbuster finish' 'It's a blockbuster finish waiting tomorrow (Tuesday),' Rahul told Sky Sports after stumps. He added: 'Someone's got to win tomorrow, it'll be an interesting day. The wicket is not as easy as the first innings, they (England) won't find it as easy to hit the ball on the rise. 'Even if they get a big partnership, if we get a couple of wickets we'll be right in the game.' Tongue, meanwhile was proud of England's resilience, saying: 'It's very exciting. To get them all out at the end of the day and to not lose a wicket was crucial.' Tongue, who finished with innings figures of 3-72 in 18 overs, added: 'I do enjoy bowling at the tail, it's a good opportunity to get wickets.' India also collapsed in the first innings. Despite hundreds from captain Shubman Gill, Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, they were dismissed for 471 after losing their last seven wickets for 41 runs. The outstanding Jasprit Bumrah, the world's top-ranked Test bowler, took five wickets in England's first-innings 465 and will be the danger man for India on Tuesday. England, however, have succeeded in pulling off some dramatic run-chases in their 'Bazball' era under coach Brendon McCullum and captain Ben Stokes They reached a target of 378 - their record successful fourth-innings chase in Test cricket - against a Bumrah-led India attack at Edgbaston three years ago. Pant is just the second wicketkeeper in Test history to score hundreds in both innings of the same match following Andy Flower's scores of 142 and 199 not out for Zimbabwe against South Africa in 2001. After a morning session in which India skipper Gill was the only batsman dismissed, Rahul and Pant upped the tempo in their contrasting styles. Pant completed an 83-ball fifty before driving Shoaib Bashir for two soaring sixes in three balls. Rahul took 202 balls to reach his century, featuring 13 fours, with a trademark cover-drive - his ninth hundred in 59 Tests. Pant, severely injured in a life-threatening car crash in December 2022, was stuck in the 90s before a quick single took him to his century. Rahul eventually played on to Brydon Carse before Tongue dismissed Shardul Thakur and Mohammed Siraj with successive deliveries. Bumrah survived the hat-trick but was bowled next ball by Tongue with Prasidh Krishna out for a duck as well when he holed out off Bashir to end the innings. — AFP
