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News18
06-07-2025
- Sport
- News18
Ex-India Star Slams Ben Stokes Captaincy Hype: 'Have I Missed Any Masterstroke?'
Mohammad Kaif criticized Ben Stokes' captaincy in the Edgbaston Test, questioning his decisions and highlighting his batting struggles and tactical errors. Former India star Mohammad Kaif believes Ben Stokes has been overhyped as England's Test captain. He listed what he felt were Stokes' errors in the Edgbaston Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy on social media, asking his followers to 'inform' him of any 'hidden master strokes' that make him this popular. Several pundits have labeled Stokes as one of the best captains in English history. Though he hasn't led them close to a World Test Championship title, while also failing to correct historical deficiencies in India and Australia, his aggressive style of leadership is considered revolutionary. Statistically, he has a win percentage of 60, the best for any captain of the country who led in more than 10 matches. 'I have never understood the hype around Ben Stokes the captain," Kaif wrote on X. 'On a flat track with sun shining he decides to bowl, today with some life in pitch edges flying but no extra slip. Batsmen took England to win in first Test but Stokes didn't score many. Please inform if I have missed any of his hidden leadership master stroke." Stokes' form with the bat has been questionable. He scored 20 and 33 at Headingley in the first Test and got out for a golden duck at Edgbaston in the second. However, he has tried to make up for some of it with the ball, taking five wickets in the first Test and another at Edgbaston. England are in a precarious situation in the second Test ahead of the fifth day at 72/3 in the chase of 608. Stokes will want to come good with the bat with his ability to hold fort because a win looks far from likely. If he can help the team hold on, it'll just be the second draw under his leadership — no other England captain with more than 10 Tests at the helm saw fewer than two draws. The first and only draw under him was also a forced one — the rain-washed game at Old Trafford in Ashes 2023. Rain is said to be looming around Edgbaston, too, but is unlikely to cause significant loss of playing time. About the Author Cricketnext Staff First Published: July 06, 2025, 11:47 IST
News18
05-07-2025
- Sport
- News18
Aussie Legend Wants Wholesale Changes Before Ashes: 'Not Equipped For Any...'
Mitchell Johnson wants wholesale changes in Australia's batting order before the 2025-26 Ashes. Australian legend Mitchell Johnson has called for wholesale changes in the national team's batting order in the lead-up to the 2025-26 Ashes. He feels that the current group of openers, Usman Khawaja and Sam Konstas, plus number three options, Marnus Labuschagne and Cameron Green, are not good enough. Johnson joins several other pundits expressing concerns about these four. Labuschagne has already been dropped from the team after being tried at the top of the order in the World Test Championship final. Konstas scored 3, 5 and 0 in the first three innings against the West Indies, Khawaja has managed 47, 15 and 2, whereas Green (he took number three during the WTC final) has 3, 15, while batting at 6 on Day 2 Stumps. Writing in his column for the West Australian, Johnson started with a note of caution, saying that England's preparations were going well to overturn history and win their first Ashes in Australia since 2009-10. 'It's hard for any team to come here and beat Australia in their own conditions but starting your innings can be hard for all batsmen on some of the paciest and bounciest pitches in the world," Johnson wrote. 'And the Australian top order has not been showing they are equipped for any conditions. Teenage opener Sam Konstas, who has scored 3, 5, 25 and 0 since being recalled for the West Indies series, has been unsure of anything outside the off-stump line. The same with new No.3 Cam Green actually," he added. The former fast bowler feels that the Kangaroos would be better-equipped relying on the Sheffield Shield season and picking batters who are in form in November in home conditions. 'So I'll force myself to answer the original question, would I change the top four before an Ashes series? Yes, I don't see why you couldn't make changes if the players they pick have experience at shield level and a good understanding of their game. In fact, I would have started making more changes over the past few years, bringing in players who were performing to reward form and help smooth out the big looming generational change," he added. 'For now, though, openers Konstas and Usman Khawaja need a significant partnership in the third Test if they are to continue their alliance. Even if Green does make some runs at three, I still feel it isn't the best position for him," Johnson concluded. About the Author Cricketnext Staff First Published: July 05, 2025, 15:51 IST
News18
05-07-2025
- Sport
- News18
Harry Brook Warns India Before Day 4: 'Everybody In The World Knows That We...'
Last Updated: England vice-captain Harry Brook has warned India ahead of day four of the Edgbaston Test, stating they were ready to chase any target. England vice-captain Harry Brook sounded a warning note to India ahead of the fourth day of the Edgbaston Test in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, saying 'everybody in the world' knew that they were prepared to chase 'whatever' target the visitors set them for the final essay. After scoring 587 in the first innings, India bowled out England for 407, courtesy of a six-wicket haul from Mohammed Siraj and a four-fer from Akash Deep. India ended the day at 64/1, with KL Rahul and Karun Nair at the crease and the lead at a healthy 244. 'I think everybody in the world knows that we're going to try and chase whatever they set us," Brook, who scored a fabulous 158 earlier, said in the post-day press conference. 'We've obviously got a big task at hand tomorrow morning and we'll try and get a couple of wickets early on and try and put them under pressure," he added. 'Obviously, they are in front of the minute, but if we get a couple of early wickets in the morning… you never know how this game can go. As we've seen last week, we got 7 for 30 runs and then 6 for 40 runs at Headingley and then they've done the same to us today. Everything happened so quickly and you never know how the game can go," the 26-year-old added. This series has indeed been one of collapses. India, like Brook said, saw their lower order lose their footing twice at Headingley, and England lost their last five wickets for 20 runs at Edgbaston. 'I was definitely hungry': Brook Brook also explained that he took motivation from his 0 and 99 (where he survived several chances, including a first-ball duck against Jasprit Bumrah) at Headingley, to go near-flawless in the second Test. 'I was definitely hungry to get a hundred today. I'd never been out in the 90s before. It was disappointing, but I should have got a pair last week, so I can't complain too much," he said. On the other end, Jamie Smith top-scored with 184 (207), as the duo helped England recover from a precarious position of 84/5. 'He tried to change the momentum back in our favor and it worked for a long period of time. It was awesome. It was so good to watch from the other end. I felt like he could hit four or six every ball. I was just trying to get him on strike," Brook said. About the Author Cricketnext Staff First Published: July 05, 2025, 08:43 IST
News18
01-07-2025
- Sport
- News18
Ex-Coach's Big Reveal: 'Jasprit Bumrah Playing 3 Tests In ENG Was Decided When...'
Last Updated: Former coach Soham Desai revealed that Jasprit Bumrah's limit of three Tests in England was set even before the 2025 Champions Trophy in February. Indian men's team's former strength and conditioning coach Soham Desai has revealed that Jasprit Bumrah's workload limit of only three Tests in England was decided months ago — even before the 2025 Champions Trophy in February-Match in Pakistan and the UAE. After being at his peak in the first four Tests, Bumrah picked up a serious back injury in the fifth match of India's tour of Australia in January. He missed the next three months of international cricket, including the Champions Trophy, though India won the tournament without him. He returned for the IPL and played all games bar the first few. But during the tournament, it was confirmed by chief selector Ajit Agarkar that he would only play three or four Tests. Head coach Gautam Gambhir, captain Shubman Gill and Bumrah himself confirmed that number in the leadup to the first Test in Headingley. 'When Bumrah couldn't make it to the Champions Trophy, India's Future Tours Programme (FTP) was studied and it was decided that he will only play three Tests in England," Desai told The Times of India. Desai also explained how the team judges a player's workload and rest needs. 'There are two ways to analyse the workload. There is an objective way, where we collect data from wearable GPS devices. And then there is a subjective way of observing how the bowler is behaving. There are certain benchmarks set for each player as 'normal' behaviour when they are at peak performance," Desai said. 'If it is observed that a bowler is moving differently or lacks a bit of intensity even in simple tasks like conversations in the team bus, these become markers," he added. There's speculation on whether Bumrah would play the second Test in Edgbaston, given India are trailing the series 1-0. Although Indian assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate has denied having made the decision, Desai said venue-specific plans are made much before the series and any change would also happen at least two days before the start of the match. Desai reveals why Bumrah got injured in Australia Desai also said Bumrah's injury in the fifth Test in Sydney had more to do with his excessive workload in the fourth game at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. 'There is a set number of overs that is decided for Bumrah to bowl per Test. One can go five-seven overs beyond that limit, but what needs to be seen is how those extra overs are bowled. At the MCG in the previous Test series, he bowled those extra overs without much of a breather between spells. That caused a spike in his workload which triggered the back injury in Sydney," he said. About the Author Cricketnext Staff First Published: July 01, 2025, 09:33 IST
News18
22-06-2025
- Sport
- News18
Manjrekar's Big Comparison For Jasprit Bumrah: 'One Bowler That Comes To Mind...'
Last Updated: Sanjay Manjrekar compared Jasprit Bumrah to Richard Hadlee for their common 'mastery' in their art. Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar praised Jasprit Bumrah for his ability to consistently take wickets whenever he comes into the attack, comparing the Indian pace ace to New Zealand legend Richard Hadlee, the first player to reach 400 Test wickets. After India was bowled out for 471 in 113 overs, thanks to Shubman Gill's career-best 147 and Rishabh Pant's remarkable 134 – his seventh century in the format – England had to face a threatening Bumrah, who picked up 3-45. However, Ollie Pope and Ben Duckett added 122 runs for the second wicket, bringing some stability to England's innings as they ended the day at 209/3, trailing India by 262 runs. 'We've seen four centuries in the match so far — three from India and one from England — but which bowler has been truly special? For me, it's just Bumrah. The ability to manufacture a wicket every time he came into the attack is what stands out. The one bowler that comes to mind with that kind of impact is Sir Richard Hadlee. 'Hadlee played for a New Zealand team with a relatively weaker attack, but every time he bowled, you felt a wicket was imminent. The common thread between the two is mastery — when I watched Hadlee closely, he seemed like a true master of his trade. I get that same impression with Bumrah," Manjrekar said on JioHotstar. While Duckett was dismissed for 62, Pope overcame his usual nervous start to score his ninth Test century, featuring 13 fours. Pope had a reprieve on 60 when he tried to steer off Bumrah in the final session, but the Indian ace succeeded when Duckett chopped onto his stumps and fell for 62 off 94 balls. 'With Ollie Pope's hundred, for me, it was also Bumrah in the final over. Just look at this guy — the kind of wicket he took on a pitch like this. We saw during the 2023 Cricket World Cup how he distinguished himself from other fast bowlers, and here he is doing it again. The dismissal came with such ease, and that's something only Bumrah can produce. Ben Stokes does it for England to some degree, but this guy does it consistently," said Manjrekar. Just before stumps, Bumrah had Harry Brook give a top edge on a pull to mid-wicket but didn't get the wicket as replays showed he had overstepped for the third time in the over. He ended the day with an absolute ripper to surprise Brook with his length and angle. 'In that final over, with Harry Brook trying to survive, what happened was pure drama. We witnessed Bumrah's genius when he got Brook to pull a short ball he hadn't used at all throughout the innings. The setup was brilliant — delivery after delivery outside the off stump — and then came that surprise bouncer. Nowhere in Brook's mind would he have expected it. It came, and he instinctively played the shot," he added. (With IANS Inputs) About the Author Cricketnext Staff Location : Leeds, England First Published:
