Latest news with #AlastairCook
Mint
4 days ago
- Sport
- Mint
'The best team that Ive played for...': Anderson speaks on Englands 2011 Ashes series winning unit
London [UK], July 20 (ANI): Former England pacer James Anderson described the unit which won the 2011 Ashes series in Australia as the "best team he had played in" for Three Lions, saying that several members of the group were at "peak of their powers". Anderson was speaking on Sky Sports about the landmark series win. In 2010-11 season, England crushed Australia by 3-1 in their own territory, their first win in Australia since 1986-87. It was their second-successive Ashes series win on the trot, with left-handed batter Andrew Strauss at the helm of a powerful England side. Experienced star Anderson along with Stuart Broad, Chris Tremlett, Steven Finn Tim Bresnan formed a great pace unit. Graeme Swann was the spin powerhouse of the side. As far as batting was concerned, skipper Strauss, Alastair Cook, Kevin Pietersen, Ian Bell and Jonathan Trott formed a formidable group. Speaking on Sky Sports about the side, Anderson said, "I think that was probably the best team that I have played in for for England. We had a group of players that were all reaching the the peak of their powers. We'd all played sort of 60 tests or more. So we had experience as well. And yeah, it was 24 years since we won in Australia and to win there and also for me personally to contribute especially, I had a bit of a sort of rough time leading up to that where I had not performed well away from England. So to do it in Australia and yeah to have a contribution towards a winning series was was great." Anderson pointed out that all of their three wins were by an innings margin. "We scored loads of runs. Alastair Cook was was amazing on that tour. I think he got 700 runs. So yeah, we we did it in a a great way," he added. The 42-year-old also recalled flying back home to welcome his second daughter during a "greuelling" three month tour. "So, like I I think I slept for like 2 weeks after when I got home. It was just an amazing amazing experience and it is hard to sort of describe when as I said we we have not won there for such a long time. We have not won there since. So, it is obviously a special thing to achieve," he added. Cook (766 runs in five Tests at an average of 127.66, with three centuries and two fifties) and Anderson (24 wickets in five Tests averaging 26.04 with three four-fers) topped the batting and bowling charts. England have a chance to achieve their first Ashes series win after 14 years in Australia once again, with the first Test starting at Perth from November 21 onwards. (ANI)
Time of India
4 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
ENG vs AUS Live Score, World Championship of Legends 2025: It's Eoin Morgan vs Brett Lee as an iconic face-off is on the cards at Edgbaston
England Champions vs Australia Champions Live Score, WCL 2025: Edgbaston is set to come alive as two of cricket's most iconic line-ups — England Champions and Australia Champions — lock horns in a thrilling encounter in the World Championship of Legends 2025. With the tournament celebrating the timeless talents of cricketing legends, this fixture promises not just competition, but a throwback to the golden years of international cricket. England Champions, under the leadership of 2019 World Cup-winning captain Eoin Morgan, boast an elegant and explosive batting order. The presence of former Test stalwarts Sir Alastair Cook, Ian Bell, and James Vince provides class at the top, while Morgan himself and power-hitter Phil Mustard bring the flair. All-round options like Samit Patel, Ravi Bopara, and Dimitri Mascarenhas give England depth and flexibility. In the bowling department, the towering Chris Tremlett, crafty Ryan Sidebottom, and seam expert Liam Plunkett will look to challenge the Australian lineup. On the other side, Australia Champions arrive with serious firepower. Skipper Brett Lee, still steaming in with pace and intent, leads a balanced side brimming with hitters and utility players. Top-order stars Shaun Marsh, Chris Lynn, and D'Arcy Short are capable of tearing apart any attack, while finishers like Moises Henriques, Daniel Christian, and Ben Cutting add muscle in the middle overs. Backed by an experienced bowling unit including Peter Siddle, Nathan Coulter-Nile, and Steve O'Keefe, Australia have the arsenal to match England blow for blow. This showdown isn't just about runs and wickets — it's about pride, past rivalries, and cricketing heritage. Both teams carry decades of experience and memories into this contest. Whether it's the swing of Sidebottom, the pace of Lee, or the elegance of Cook and Marsh, fans can expect a delightful mix of entertainment and sentiment. With Edgbaston's historic crowd atmosphere and the legends eager to prove their mettle once again, this England vs Australia clash is a must-watch spectacle of the World Championship of Legends.
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First Post
6 days ago
- Sport
- First Post
'Always moaning': Ex-England captain takes cheeky dig at bowlers amid ongoing Dukes ball controversy
The Dukes ball has sparked fresh controversy in the India vs England Test series, with players complaining about its poor quality. Meanwhile, former England skipper has made a cheeky remark on bowlers' complaints, saying they are 'always moaning.' read more The Dukes ball has once again come under heavy scrutiny during the ongoing India vs England Test series, with both sides expressing frustration over its quality. Players from both sides have raised concerns regarding the Dukes ball, suggesting that they go soft and lose shape much earlier than expected. Indian bowlers, in particular, have raised complaints during the series, frequently asking for replacements as the ball lost its hardness within just a few overs. There have been a couple of incidents where players have gotten into arguments with umpires after they refused to change the ball. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Alastair Cook takes a jibe at bowlers Now, former England captain Alastair Cook has made a cheeky comment aimed at the bowlers who are 'always moaning' to get the ball changed. Cook, however, admitted that batters also dislike facing an out-of-shape or soft ball. 'I just love how bowlers are always moaning. It's like they bowl a bad ball and it's never their fault. They've scraped the footmark… If they bowl a bad ball, they look at the ball and blame the shape,' Cook told BBC Sport. 'I think a batsman would much rather hit some slightly harder ball. Nothing worse than playing a lovely cover drive like I used to and it going nowhere,' he added. The controversy surrounding the Dukes ball deepened during the Lord's Test when the ball had to be changed twice in the morning session on Day 3. After a 10-over-old ball was replaced, Indian players remained unhappy with the new one too, leading to yet another change within minutes. Former England captain Nasser Hussain has also criticised the Dukes ball, saying there was a 'serious issue.' Ex-English pacer Stuart Broad also voiced concern regarding the Dukes ball during the third Test. 'The cricket ball should be like a fine wicketkeeper. Barely noticed. We are having to talk about the ball too much because it is such an issue & being changed virtually every innings. Unacceptable. Feels like it's been five years now. Dukes have a problem. They need to fix it. A ball should last 80 overs. Not 10,' Broad wrote on X.
Indian Express
6 days ago
- Sport
- Indian Express
Alastair Cook on Dukes balls debate says bowlers are ‘moaning' and batters too prefer better balls: ‘Nothing worse than playing a lovely cover drive…'
One of the talking points of the ongoing India vs England Test series has been about Dukes balls. Compared to different balls that are used across the world for Test cricket, there was a time when it was the Dukes ball that bowlers loved the most. While Kookaburra and SG balls used in Australia and India would lose their seam quicker than the Dukes ball, which hampered the bowlers from extracting swing and seam movement for longer. However, all this was a thing of the past in recent years, but that has not been the case. The Dukes balls have not been swinging as long as they used to, and more importantly, they are getting out of shape, due to which balls have to be changed regularly. While Shubman Gill pointed out the issue after the Edgbaston Test. During the Lord's Test, matters only got worse as the ball was under a microscopic lens and had to be changed multiple times, and was also inspected on numerous occasions by the umpires to see if it was in the right shape. Former England skipper Alastair Cook, though, saw things differently and took a jibe at the bowlers and said they are always moaning. 'I just love how bowlers are always moaning. It's like they bowl a bad ball and it's never their fault. They've scraped the footmark… If they bowl a bad ball, they look at the ball and blame the shape,' Cook said on BBC Sport. 'I think a batsman would much rather hit some slightly harder ball. Nothing worse than playing a lovely cover drive like I used to, and it going nowhere,' he added. Despite the various perceptions on balls, Dukes ball owner Dilip Jagjodia was adamant that they stick to British standards, speaking to The Indian Express earlier. 'If I made a really hard ball, it would have broken bats. That's the problem; we have to be careful. If people are adventurous players, they might be tempted to do it. That would be disastrous. The laws of the game are that the ball has to deteriorate over 80 overs. So the ball has to play 80 overs, and it gradually gets worse. You can't suddenly come after 20 overs and say, This ball is not doing what I want or what it does. If there is something genuinely wrong, then it has the option to change it,' he said.
NDTV
7 days ago
- Sport
- NDTV
England Great's Brutal Jibe At Bowlers Amid Criticism Of Dukes Ball: "Moaning..."
The Dukes ball has copped plenty of criticism from the players in the ongoing India-England Test series. In fact, the Dukes ball has been in the eye of a storm since 2020 as it has been going out of shape and soft earlier than expected. It has also become a major talking point in the five-match Test rubber. The bowlers, especially in the Indian camp, have complained multiple times about the Dukes ball becoming soft, often requesting for a replacement. However, former England captain Alastair Cook took a jibe at the bowlers while addressing the issue. "I just love how bowlers are always moaning. It's like they bowl a bad ball and it's never their fault. They've scraped the footmark... If they bowl a bad ball, they look at the ball and blame the shape," Cook replied, while speaking on BBC Sport. Cook then quickly changed the perspective and explained how even the batters don't like to face the soft and out-of-shape balls. "I think a batsman would much rather hit some slightly harder ball. Nothing worse than playing a lovely cover drive like I used to and it going nowhere," he added. Last week, former England pacer Stuart Broad, who has been a critic of the balls used in England since 2020, said that the replacement ball looked like it was 18-20 overs old. "We are having to talk about the ball too much because it is such an issue & being changed virtually every innings. Unacceptable. Feels like it's been five years now. Dukes have a problem. They need to fix it. A ball should last 80 overs. Not 10." The Dukes was changed twice in the morning session on day three of the Lord's Test here. After getting a 10-over ball changed, the Indian players remained extremely unhappy leading to another change in a matter of minutes.
