logo
England won't play nice against India warns Brook

England won't play nice against India warns Brook

France 242 days ago
After England battled to a fiery 22-run victory in the third Test at Lord's, the teams will lock horns again with the series on the line in Manchester.
An England win would put them 3-1 up with one game to play, while India must take the last two matches to secure their first Test series triumph on English soil since 2007.
It promises to be another fiercely-fought encounter after India's fielders clashed with England batsmen Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett in a time-wasting row at Lord's.
That lit a fire under England when it was their turn to field, with Jofra Archer giving a pumped-up send-off to India's Rishabh Pant.
As the tension mounted in England's 22-run win, Brydon Carse and India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja were involved in a mid-pitch collision.
But Brook is adamant Ben Stokes' side did not go to far with their spikey approach in pursuit of victory.
"I've had a lot of compliments. Everybody said it was awesome to watch. It was good fun, I have to admit, it was tiring but it made fielding a lot more enjoyable," he said on Monday.
"I think it put them under a little bit more pressure. The opportunity that arose for us to not be the nice guys was because of what they did. We just thought 'we're not standing for that'.
"We had a conversation and said 'it's time to not be those nice guys that we have been before'. You don't always have to be nice. Who knows, that might have played into our favour. It was good fun.
"We were doing it within the spirit of the game. We weren't going out there effing and jeffing at them and being nasty people. We were just going about it in the right manner."
India pace bowler Mohammed Siraj was fined 15 per cent of his match fee and given one demerit point for his angry send-off of Duckett during England's second innings, which ended with the pair brushing shoulders.
Brook revealed it was at his urging after some choice words from head coach Brendon McCullum that they decided to fight back.
Asked whether that aggressive approach will continue as England look to win the series, Brook said: "God knows. We'll see whether it happens again and whether it works.
"We were just putting them under more pressure. Baz (McCullum) actually said a few days before that we are too nice sometimes.
© 2025 AFP
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Arsenal off to winning pre-season start in Singapore
Arsenal off to winning pre-season start in Singapore

France 24

time40 minutes ago

  • France 24

Arsenal off to winning pre-season start in Singapore

Manager Mikel Arteta started the match with several regulars, including Declan Rice, Kai Havertz and Ben White. Christian Norgaard, a new signing from Brentford, made his first appearance for the Gunners, while fellow arrivals Kepa Arrizabalaga and Martin Zubimendi started on the bench. In front of more than 22,800 fans, Arsenal, who finished runner-up in the last three consecutive seasons in the English Premier League, looked the more lively of the two sides in the first half, dominating possession but failing to convert their chances. Arteta then made six changes at the break, with Arrizabalaga and Zubimendi introduced to the Arsenal faithful. Their breakthrough came just seven minutes into the restart, as England international Bukayo Saka latched onto a cross from defender Jakub Kiwior and slotted the ball home into the far corner. Saka, later named Man of the Match, made way for 15-year-old Max Dowman -- a product of the club academy -- who impressed with his confidence and flair. Arsenal continued to press for a second goal, but Milan's substitute goalkeeper Lorenzo Torriani denied Mikel Merino's header with a full-stretch save in the 75th minute. He was called into action again seven minutes later, tipping Leandro Trossard's close-range effort over the bar to keep the scoreline in Arsenal's favour. "I'm very happy with the attitude and the domination we had shown throughout the game. But there are always things to improve," Arteta said at the post-match press conference. "I have to find that cohesion within the players, and they have to continue to step up to the next level. But we are heading in a good direction." © 2025 AFP

India openers make solid start against England in must-win Test
India openers make solid start against England in must-win Test

France 24

time4 hours ago

  • France 24

India openers make solid start against England in must-win Test

India, sent in to bat by England captain Ben Stokes, were 78-0 at lunch on the first day, with left-hander Jaiswal 36 not out and Rahul unbeaten on 40. The tourists have to win at Old Trafford, something they have never managed in nine previous Tests at the Manchester ground, if they are to level the five-match series. An overcast morning and green-tinged pitch encouraged Stokes to break with history by bowling first after the coin fell in his favour. No team winning the toss and bowling first has ever won a Test at Old Trafford. Chris Woakes and Jofra Archer subjected Jaiswal and Rahul to several testing overs early on. Jaiswal was fortunate when he edged the sixth ball of the day, from Woakes, through the slips for four. Woakes' seven previous Tests at Old Trafford had yielded 35 wickets at just 17.37 apiece. But when the Warwickshire all-rounder dropped short, Rahul, fresh from a century in India's 22-run defeat in the third Test at Lord's, pulled him in front of square for a resounding boundary. And when Woakes over-pitched, Jaiswal off-drove him for four. Archer, after a miserly opening spell in which he conceded just seven runs in five overs, was replaced by Brydon Carse. The need for England to maintain an accurate line and length, despite the helpful conditions, was emphasised when Rahul square-cut a short and wide Carse delivery outside off stump for a stylish four. Stokes, player of the match at Lord's and a renowned partnership breaker, brought himself on in a bid to end India's first-wicket stand. When Archer returned for a second spell, Jaiswal was hurried by a short ball which he inadvertently ramped for four as he sank to his knees when seemingly trying to evade the delivery. But there was no doubting Jaiswal's intentions when he deliberately uppercut a short and wide Stokes delivery high over the cordon for six. Stokes persisted with an all-pace attack with spinner Liam Dawson, playing his first Test in eight years following an injury to Shoaib Bashir, not deployed before lunch. © 2025 AFP

Teenage super-sub Agyemang emerges as England's star at Euro 2025
Teenage super-sub Agyemang emerges as England's star at Euro 2025

France 24

time5 hours ago

  • France 24

Teenage super-sub Agyemang emerges as England's star at Euro 2025

Twice the Lionesses have been on the brink of elimination from the tournament in Switzerland only to be rescued by the 19-year-old Arsenal striker. A ragged England trailed 2-0 in the quarter-final against Sweden in Zurich when coach Sarina Wiegman sent on Agyemang with 20 minutes left. As the momentum started to swing their way, Lucy Bronze pulled a goal back before Agyemang equalised to force extra time, and England then triumphed in a remarkable penalty shoot-out. The scenario in Geneva on Tuesday was even more dramatic, with Agyemang introduced in the 85th minute as her team trailed 1-0 against Italy in the semi-final –- she fired in the equaliser in the sixth minute of injury time and England went on to win 2-1 in extra time. "It's crazy, you know, to do that two games in a row now in that kind of fashion," an elated Agyemang said. "It shows the character of this team and I'm so grateful that we're still here to see another week." The semi-final was heading to penalties until a late burst triggered by Agyemang hitting the bar with a brilliant lob –- moments later England won a spot-kick, and Chloe Kelly then scored after her initial effort was saved, sending her team through. "Mich came onto the pitch and made something happen for the team, got us back into the game, and built up so much momentum for us," said Kelly. "That moment when she hit the crossbar, I think that gave us a new lease of energy. She was unbelievable and she gave us a lot of confidence." England await Germany or Spain in Sunday's final in Basel as they look to retain the title they won three years ago at Wembley, when Agyemang had not yet made her senior Arsenal debut. Wembley ball girl A few months before the last Euros, Agyemang was a ball girl at Wembley as England beat Northern Ireland in one of Sarina Wiegman's first games as coach. Agyemang's bow for the Gunners came aged 16 in November 2022, and she made her senior England debut in April this year. She did so in style, scoring 41 seconds after coming on against Belgium with a brilliant volley, proving to Wiegman her ability to make an impact from the bench. "I said with the squad announcement already that she brings something special," Wiegman said. "She is only 19, but she is very mature, she knows exactly what she has to do. If she continues like this she has a very bright future." Agyemang has been loaned out by Arsenal, following a spell at second-tier Watford in 2023/24 by impressing at Brighton in the Women's Super League last season. She is the youngest player in Wiegman's squad in Switzerland, but came on in the defeat by France in their opening group game and has now earned a reputation as a super-sub. "It's been a crazy season for me being on loan and then getting the call-up at such a late time in the season. But, you know, everything happens for a reason," said Agyemang, who was in Lisbon to watch her parent club win the Women's Champions League in May. "It's easy to come here and not really be connected to a team because of the short amount of time, but they have really taken me in and I'm so grateful." There may now be some clamour for Agyemang –- who as a child idolised Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud –- to play a more prominent role in the final. However, Wiegman appears likely to keep her young star on the bench, ready to emerge if England find themselves chasing the game again. "She is very grateful to get minutes. Her growth and development went so quickly, from not starting at Brighton to getting lots more minutes and showing how good she is and coming into our team," the coach said. "I think she feels very good about that." © 2025 AFP

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store