Latest news with #AlecStewart
The Sun
2 hours ago
- Sport
- The Sun
Fans can't believe who former England manager Roy Hodgson sat next to at Lord's for England vs India Test match
FANS were left stunned after seeing former England manager Roy Hodgson sat next to cricket legend Alec Stewart. The icons formed an unlikely pair at Lord's as England played India in their latest Test match. 6 6 Ben Stokes' barnstorming performance saw his side remain in the hunt for Third Test glory. But fans were more concerned with who was watching from the crowd. As the camera panned round Lord's, it picked up former England boss Hodgson in the stands. The 77-year-old, most recently in charge of Crystal Palace until February 2024, looked to be in good spirits as he watched the action unfold. Hodgson managed England between 2012 and 2016, winning 33 of his 56 matches. He also spent time at Liverpool, Fulham and Watford in a managerial career starting in 1976. But things got even better for cricket buffs when they realised that Hodgson was sat next to ex-England captain Stewart, 62. The former batsman is his country's fifth-most-capped player in Test matches with 133 outings. He played for England between 1989 and 2003, and was part of the side which reached the 1992 World Cup final. After retiring, he has enjoyed several backroom roles with old side Surrey County. 6 6 And Stewart also looked on proudly as he watched successor Stokes hold India level to 387 runs apiece. Fans were certainly delighted to see the unlikely pair sat together. One said: 'Legends only! What a duo.' Another declared: 'It gives me, I think they call it, 'endorphins'.' One noted: 'Lord's turning into a Hall of Fame hangout.' Another added: 'Two English greats link up.' The match at Lord's on Saturday also saw Zak Crawley at the centre of a furious time-wasting row with India captain Shubman Gill. Crawley exchanged angry words with Gill as tempers flared and fingers were wagged. 6 6 Gill cupped his hand and appeared to tell Crawley: 'Grow some f***** balls!' Openers Crawley and Ben Duckett were determined they would face only one over when they went out to bat in England's second innings with six minutes remaining. They kept re-marking their guards, talking between deliveries and wandering slowly back to their positions. And then Crawley called for the physio when he was struck on the glove by Jasprit Bumrah's fifth ball of the over. That made certain there would not be a second over but the Indians accused Crawley of exaggerating his injury. As soon as Bumrah finished his over, Crawley turned and marched off to the pavilion with a torrent of abuse from Indian fielders ringing in his ears. England scored 2-0 in that single over after India had been dismissed for 387 - exactly the same as England's first innings total. England fast bowling consultant Tim Southee, the former New Zealand bowler, said: 'It was an exciting way to finish, showing a bit of energy at the end of a long day. 'But I'm not sure what they were moaning about given that Shubman Gill was lying down having a massage on the field yesterday.' On Crawley's finger, Southee added with a smile: 'He'll be assessed overnight and will hopefully be good to go in the morning.'
India Today
5 days ago
- Sport
- India Today
Sai Kishore set to play two games for Surrey in County Championship 2025
India and Tamil Nadu spinner R Sai Kishore has been signed by Surrey to play in the County Championship 2025. The left-arm spinner will be available for two First Class matches for the club towards the end of July. Kishore is set to play his first game against Yorkshire from July 22 in Scarborough. He will be up against Ruturaj Gaikwad, who's signed up to play for second fixture will be against Durham, set to be played from July 29 in Chester-le-Street. The left-arm spinner is excited to play for Surrey and is honoured to represent one of the most prestigious clubs in the world.'I'm really excited to be joining Surrey for the next two County Championship matches. Surrey are one of the most prestigious clubs in the world and I have heard great things about the set-up from lots of different people in the game,' said Kishore in a statement. Surrey's high-performance advisor Alec Stewart also welcomed the Indian spinner and stated that his leadership experience will come in handy for the County club.'I'm delighted to bring the highly rated Sai Kishore into our squad for the next two Kookaburra games. All the reports I have received from people I respect in the Indian game have spoken highly of him. His four-day record for Tamil Nadu is very good, and he brings leadership experience to the group,' said Alec Stewart in a has played 46 first-class matches in his career and has scalped 192 wickets at an average of 23.51 with 12 five-wicket hauls and one ten-wicket haul to his name. He's represented India in three T20Is and picked four 28-year-old was seen in top form in the Indian Premier League 2025 (IPL 2025) as he picked up 19 wickets from 15 matches at an average of 20.68 with best figures of 3/30.- Ends
BBC News
04-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Why Smith could become England's greatest keeper-batter
Jamie Smith was the 17-year-old tipped for international honours by England legend Alec has packed more into the past 12 months than most have managed in the seven years week's third Test at Lord's will mark the first anniversary of Smith's Test debut on the same then he has been out in the nineties in his third Test, made his maiden hundred in his fourth, missed a tour of New Zealand to become a father for the first time, struggled at his first international tournament and been made an opener – a position he had never held in professional cricket – in England's white-ball day three of the second Test at Edgbaston came the moment to top all of those others, on the field at 24-year-old crashed 184 not out against India, registering the highest score made by an England wicketkeeper in a men's Test to take the record from the man who tipped him for the top, Stewart. Much was made of how harsh it was for England to drop Ben Foakes, the world's best gloveman and an able batter, in favour of Smith at the start of last thought was given to how challenging it must have been for Smith to not only replace the man he sat next to in the Surrey dressing room but also impose himself and be the aggressive number seven England innings at Edgbaston was England's wish in perfect emerged after Joe Root and Ben Stokes had been dismissed by consecutive deliveries. He drove his first delivery for four before he set about flaying India's bowling to all corners of this ground in an epic partnership of 303 with Harry flogged anything short and creamed drives whenever the ball was Prasidh Krishna's bouncer ploy was pumped for 23 runs in one over, Stokes was applauding high above his head in the dressing was out hooking in Leeds last week but, as the Brendon McCullum mantra goes, here he 'walked towards the danger'. While Smith hit four sixes against India and has previously cleared the Hollies and Lord's Father Time with towering blows in his short career, he was not always blessed with such to his Test debut, having been unable to secure a top-order place in Surrey's T20 side, he turned down a trip with England Lions to instead play in the ILT20 in the United Arab he worked on his power hitting, while also bulking up in the the 80 balls Smith took to reach three figures meant Gilbert Jessop, England's fastest centurion, can rest easy as he holds onto his record further into a 123rd year, it did mean Smith tied for second place in terms of fastest Test tons by a of Smith is only Australia's Adam Gilchrist – the greatest keeper-batter of them was not out of his first summer in Test cricket before comparisons were being made between him and the Australian great last year, given his hitting power and ability to bat with the tail. The way the Whitgift School-product pulls pace bowlers from back-of-a-length over mid-wicket is a reminder of some of the greatest Australians – and whets the appetite for England's winter is yet to see the best of Smith – he averages 23.16 against them from six one-day internationals - and any suggestions he is Gilchrist's heir will be met by sniggers down scored 17 Test hundreds as he switched between a destroyer of tiring attacks to a man overqualified for a rebuild from number seven when the great Australian top order did thing Smith has on his side is time, however, given he made his first Test century aged 24. Gilchrist did not make his debut until two weeks before his 28th ending his career with a record to match Gilchrist's remains optimistic, the road to becoming England's best looks within reach given Smith's talent and the ease in which he has taken to international has been in the Test arena less than a year but already only five wicketkeepers – Alan Knott and Jonny Bairstow with five, Stewart six, Matt Prior on seven and pre-War great Les Ames on eight - sit ahead in terms of most centuries for he continue as he has started, injuries or England deciding to relieve him of the gloves look to be the only hazards in Smith's solid enough – he has a catch percentage of 96% from his 11 completed Tests – as a gloveman he does not move quickly enough to reach opportunities others could lay a hand on, while his missed stumping of Rishabh Pant in the first innings in Leeds last week was a regulation chance that Pant did not fully punish.A change looks a long way off, however, with Smith a favourite of the Stokes-McCullum could one day come from recent England call-up James Rew, who has 10 first-class hundreds for Somerset and is still aged 21, or his younger, possibly even more talented, brother, Thomas. The younger Rew is 17 and made the fastest century for England Under-19s earlier this now Smith has the role to himself and he will soon be a favourite of England's vocal loudest noise during the third day was the Hollies chanting of Harry Brook's name to the tune of a Boney M track as he raised his is Smith, though, that 17-year-old spotted by Stewart and now a fully-fledged international wicketkeeper and father, who is England's Daddy Cool.
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Jamie Smith has ‘long England career ahead of him'
Harry Brook hailed Jamie Smith's 'phenomenal' talent after sharing a mammoth stand of 303 with England's latest record-breaker. The pair moved mountains together as they attempted to drag their side back into contention on day three of the second Rothesay Test, coming together at 84 for five and conjuring a spectacular fightback. Advertisement Brook made 158 as he brought up the ninth century of his Test career, with Smith smiting a sensational 184 not out. That was the highest ever score by an England number seven and an England wicketkeeper, pinching the latter record from his Surrey mentor Alec Stewart. Remarkably their efforts were not enough to keep the hosts on an even keel, India ending the day with a lead of 244 and nine wickets in hand. England's card contained six ducks and Joe Root's 22 was the next best score in their 407 all out. Another bout of fourth-innings heroics will surely be needed to stop the tourists squaring the series 1-1 over the next two days, but Brook was buoyed by Smith's eye-catching contribution. Advertisement 'It was good fun being out there with Smudge. He's a phenomenal player and it felt good to be out there, putting on 300 with him,' he said. 'The way that he came out of the blocks and put the pressure back on their bowlers was awesome. He tried to change the momentum back in our favour and it worked for a long period of time. It's one he should be proud of. Jamie Smith turbo-charged England's fightback (Martin Rickett/PA) 'It was so good to watch from the other end, I felt like he could hit four or six every ball and I was just trying to get him on strike. He just leans on it and it goes to the boundary. He has a long England career ahead of him.' To no great surprise, there is no suggestion whatsoever from the England camp that a draw, and preserving their series lead, would be an acceptable outcome with the odds stacked against them. Advertisement For a side who chased 378 on the same ground against the same opponents three years ago, as well as 371 in the first Test at Headingley, that can hardly go down as a surprise. 'I think everybody in the world knows that we're going to try and chase whatever they set us,' said a defiant Brook. 'We've obviously got a big task at hand but we'll try and get a couple of wickets early on and try and put them under pressure. You never know how this game can go.' Ben Stokes applauds Jamie Smith as England leave the field (Martin Rickett/PA) Brook may have taken second billing to his partner on the day but he batted with a tangible sense of purpose after being dismissed for 99 in the series opener. Advertisement 'I was definitely hungry to get 100 today. I'd never been out in the 90s before in my life, so it was disappointing,' he said. Should India finish the job and leave Birmingham with a win, they will have much to thank Mohammed Siraj for. He took six for 70, including Root and Ben Stokes off consecutive balls at the start of the day and three tailenders in quick succession at the end. With Jasprit Bumrah rested this week, he took the chance to fill the void left by the star seamer. 'I have been bowling well but not getting wickets, so getting six here is very special,' he said. 'When you are asked to lead the attack I love responsibility, I love the challenge.'
The Independent
04-07-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Jamie Smith and Harry Brook hundreds in vain as India turn the screw on day of batting feast and famine
Jamie Smith produced the innings of his life alongside fellow centurion Harry Brook, but their blistering counter-attack was not enough to stop India taking command of the second Rothesay Test. England were in dire straits at 84 for five, Joe Root and Ben Stokes dismissed by successive deliveries in the second over of the third day at Edgbaston, before Smith and Brook put on a magnificent stand of 303 to breathe life into a fading cause. Smith's unbeaten 184 was a jaw-dropper, loaded with 21 fours and four sixes, and included an 80-ball century before lunch. In passing 173 he broke his Surrey mentor Alec Stewart's record score by an England wicketkeeper and also set a new high score for a number seven, the previous mark of 175 dating back to 1897. For 60 overs, he and Brook transformed a perilous position into a walk in the park. But when the Yorkshireman was brilliantly bowled for 158 by Akash Deep with the second new ball, the precariousness of England's situation was exposed. They lost their last five wickets for just 20 runs, India's hasty wrap-up leaving the hosts 407 all-out and 180 adrift. England's scorecard made for bizarre reading, the outlandish efforts of Smith and Brook undercut by six ducks as the cavalry failed to arrive. Mohammed Siraj dismantled the tail to finish with figures of six for 70, with Deep picking up the other four. India boosted their lead to 244 by reaching 64 for one at stumps and are now heavy favourites to square the series 1-1. England's next best effort after their twin centurions was 22 from Root, who would have been kicking himself for missing out on a big score of his own. Following a loosener from Siraj, he nicked down leg and into the gloves of Rishabh Pant. Stokes could have no such regrets about the first golden duck of his career, beaten all ends up by a brutal lifter from Siraj and only able to glove behind. India had landed a hammer blow but neither Brook nor Smith allowed themselves to feel the heat. Starting his innings against Siraj's hat-trick ball, Smith presented the full face of the bat and stroked it down the ground for four. That was the start of a fearless assault as he cut and pulled his way into the driving seat. Prasidh Krishna thought he could unsettle Smith with the short ball but lost the duel to a knockout blow, Smith hammering a single over for 23 including four fours and a six. Gilbert Jessop's fabled 123-year-old record for England's fastest Test hundred was in Smith's sights as he hit Washington Sundar's first two balls wide of mid-off for four and lifted Ravindra Jadeja for six on the charge. He missed that slice of history by five balls but made sure to pass three figures in the final seconds before the lunch break, thrashing Jadeja for consecutive boundaries. Brook had a 31-run head start on Smith but accepted a rare back-seat role, bringing up his ninth Test hundred in a less hasty 137 balls and banishing memories of last week's dismissal for 99 at Headingley. Having leaked 172 runs in the first session, India made a tactical retreat, bowling well wide of off stump for long passages and spreading the field. They reduced the damage to 106 in the afternoon, a late flurry of those coming from Brook's barrage of reverse sweeps against the spinners. There was only one real chance, Smith edging Nitish Kumar Reddy low past Pant's outstretched glove on 121. India's lead, which had stood at 503 when Stokes fell, was down to 200 when the new ball worked its magic. Brook was bested by a beauty from Deep, a dash of extra pace and some sharp movement off the pitch knocking back his off stump. The stadium serenaded him off the field but there was little to celebrate as the next four tumbled with alarming ease. Chris Woakes nicked a drive to slip, Brydon Carse and Tongue were both pinned lbw and Shoaib Bashir shouldered arms to a straight one. The capitulation meant it was back to business for a fatigued bowling attack who got through 151 overs in the first two days. India's openers put on 51 in less than eight overs, Carse clearly struggling with foot pain, before Tongue had Yashasvi Jaiswal leg before in fading light.
