Latest news with #JustinLanger
The Guardian
01-07-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Talisman Stokes at Edgbaston evokes Flintoff's 2005 impact – but he is due a score
A day out from the second Test against India at Edgbaston and Andrew Flintoff was dog-sticking to England's batters in the nets, his very presence bringing memories of 20 years ago flooding back. It was here where Flintoff wrote his name into Ashes folklore, igniting the afterburners for England's statement first innings, rescuing the second with a six-laden counterattack, and then sending down a famous over on the third evening that vaporised Justin Langer and Ricky Ponting. As well as driving England to that famous two-run victory, 141 runs and seven wickets across the four days made it Flintoff's statistical peak as a fast-bowling all-rounder – the only time he went north of 100 runs and five wickets in the same Test. People often underestimate the physical and mental demands that the dual role places on those hardy enough to even attempt it; expecting both facets of their game to deliver consistently is unrealistic save for a handful of freakish greats. All of which is a segue into where Ben Stokes finds himself before this second instalment against India, albeit 1-0 up and buoyed by last week's Headingley heist. With everything crossed and wood being touched, the hamstring surgery at the start of the year can be deemed a success. This summer – albeit across a small sample size of two Tests – the 34-year-old has been England's most potent bowler. His pace is up, good movement has been extracted from a couple of flat surfaces, and taking eight wickets at 20 apiece has made for an invaluable return from a fourth seamer. Stokes is now two wickets away from overtaking Flintoff's 219 in Test cricket, after which only Ian Botham's tally of 383 sits higher among English all-rounders. And while Stokes has taken a bit longer to get here – 112 caps won compared with Flintoff's 78 – he has long since scorched past him with the bat, 13 hundreds to the Lancastrian's five, 6,781 Test runs to his 3,845. Add dynamism in the field – Flintoff's bucket hands at slip notwithstanding – plus his aptitude as captain and it is fair to say Stokes has gone past the all-rounder he says he looked up to as a kid. But while the bowler of old has seemingly been restored of late, Stokes the batter has been light on impact for a little while now. The 155 that he ransacked on that febrile final day at Lord's during the 2023 Ashes – an innings powered in part by indignation over the controversial stumping of Jonny Bairstow by Alex Carey – is his most recent Test century. A run of 31 innings in the two years since has just become the longest three-figure drought of his England career. None of which is to question Stokes' centrality to a team that live and breathe his every word – not least given the earlier point about sustaining all-round returns, though it is fair to say he's due a score. It may simply be that Stokes has instinctively moved to bolster the area where the team need him most. The bowling attack has suffered a significant drop-off in experience since the retirements of Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad, hard-working though it is, whereas the top seven are beginning truly to blossom around the enduring, unflappable class of Joe Root. Edgbaston, 2-6 July England (confirmed) Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (c), Jamie Smith (wk), Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue, Shoaib Bashir India (possible) Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (c), Rishabh Pant (wk), Karun Nair, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Akash Deep, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna The mystery of whether they will face Jasprit Bumrah in this second Test felt no closer to being solved a day out from the toss, with the captain, Shubman Gill, the latest from the India camp to grapple with the mental gymnastics of his prized asset's predetermined workload. At 1-0 down and after a week's break, it feels like a no-brainer for India, but the decision will apparently be made as late as possible. Save for a couple of dismissals that left his jaw on the ground, Stokes has an excellent head-to-head record against Bumrah, averaging 58.5 from 11 Test encounters. On a personal level, he should be relaxed either way. Sign up to The Spin Subscribe to our cricket newsletter for our writers' thoughts on the biggest stories and a review of the week's action after newsletter promotion Instead, the chief concern against India for Stokes over the years has been the spinners, with the now retired Ravichandran Ashwin claiming his wicket 13 times from 17 Tests and Ravindra Jadeja making it seven from 14 in Leeds. Against Kuldeep Yadav he averages just six runs for his three dismissals and that battle may be about to resume. On a dry surface that is expected to produce runs, the left-arm wrist-spinner would ask fresh questions of England as a whole, even if Washington Sundar's greater prowess with the bat may yet mean he gets the nod. One thing that can be guaranteed is that Edgbaston and Birmingham's Manhattan-esque skyline will deliver a mighty backdrop for the match, the ground sold out for the first four days and the Hollies Stand no doubt set to be in full voice. A week on from folks leaving Headingley slightly baffled by the ground's exclusion from the 2027 Ashes, it is worth noting that Edgbaston will be frozen out four years later. Think back to Flintoff's herculean all-round feats here 20 years ago, or some of the famous Test battles since, and the situation is no less frustrating.
ABC News
16-06-2025
- Sport
- ABC News
Justin Langer urges Australia to remain patient with 'very important link' Marnus Labuschagne
Justin Langer has urged Australia to stick with Marnus Labuschagne in the top order, warning the next generation could be set up to fail if he is dropped. Labuschagne's spot has come under intense scrutiny following Australia's World Test Championship final loss, after he was moved up to open against South Africa. Scores of 17 and 22 extended his century drought to almost 24 months. Labuschagne averaged just 27.82 in the two-year Test Championship window that concluded with the final. Australia's coach Andrew McDonald continues to insist Labuschagne is a big part of the team's future, but he too has questioned at what point they stop picking the right-hander. Langer was Australia's coach when he handed Labuschagne his Test debut in 2018, with the Queenslander rising to the top of the world batting rankings by the end of 2021. Langer said it is vital Labuschagne remains in the team, given the top order are in the middle of a transition with Usman Khawaja aged 38 and Steve Smith 36. "Marnus is a 50-Test player. He's been the best player in the world. He still averages (46.19)," he said. "All players go through it. If you're not scoring runs, you're going to be under the spotlight. "But all of a sudden David Warner leaves, and then Usman Khawaja leaves, and then Steve Smith. "If Marnus isn't playing well, you've got a huge gap there because Travis Head bats down the order. So he's actually a very, very important link in this chain here. "If I was the Australian team, I'd be focusing — and I'm sure they are — all their attention on getting Marnus to come good in however that is." Labuschagne is expected to move back down to number three for Australia's looming Tests against West Indies, with Sam Konstas an option to open and Steve Smith in doubt. Nathan McSweeney was also blooded last summer, while Australia's coaches have indicated they see Cameron Green as a top-order batter. Australia has one eye on this summer's Ashes, with Josh Inglis also remaining in the squad after a century on debut in Sri Lanka earlier this year. But Langer said it was crucial for the next generation that Labuschagne remained in the team alongside whatever young players come in. "Michael Clarke, Ricky Ponting, Damien Martyn and Matthew Hayden. They come in and they're around gun players. "If you just all of a sudden bring a couple of kids in, Cameron Green's still young to the game, and you have to bring another kid in there (to replace Labuschagne). "Sam Konstas, he played a few Tests, right? I think he's only got two first-class hundreds at the moment, and they were both in the same game. "I say this with absolute respect, but these new guys coming in, they're not averaging 50 (in first-class cricket). "These other guys coming through, you've got to be smacking the door down. You can't just bring them in an Ashes series." AAP
The Advertiser
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Advertiser
Sandpapergate doco cathartic for CA
The door remains ajar for another season of the hit series, The Test, that officials believe was "cathartic" for Cricket Australia following Sandpapergate. Launching amid the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, The Test gave viewers a raw, behind-the-scenes glimpse into the Australian men's cricket team's road to redemption. The previous season was released in 2024, focusing on the eventful 2023 Ashes showdown in England. The Test remains a much-loved program of their stable of original content. The first season was all about Australia attempting to recover from the 2018 ball-tampering scandal that rocked cricket. Justin Langer was installed as the new coach, while star batters Steve Smith and David Warner served one-year bans until returning for the 2019 ODI World Cup. * The journalist's travel costs were covered by Test broadcaster Amazon Prime The door remains ajar for another season of the hit series, The Test, that officials believe was "cathartic" for Cricket Australia following Sandpapergate. Launching amid the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, The Test gave viewers a raw, behind-the-scenes glimpse into the Australian men's cricket team's road to redemption. The previous season was released in 2024, focusing on the eventful 2023 Ashes showdown in England. The Test remains a much-loved program of their stable of original content. The first season was all about Australia attempting to recover from the 2018 ball-tampering scandal that rocked cricket. Justin Langer was installed as the new coach, while star batters Steve Smith and David Warner served one-year bans until returning for the 2019 ODI World Cup. * The journalist's travel costs were covered by Test broadcaster Amazon Prime The door remains ajar for another season of the hit series, The Test, that officials believe was "cathartic" for Cricket Australia following Sandpapergate. Launching amid the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, The Test gave viewers a raw, behind-the-scenes glimpse into the Australian men's cricket team's road to redemption. The previous season was released in 2024, focusing on the eventful 2023 Ashes showdown in England. The Test remains a much-loved program of their stable of original content. The first season was all about Australia attempting to recover from the 2018 ball-tampering scandal that rocked cricket. Justin Langer was installed as the new coach, while star batters Steve Smith and David Warner served one-year bans until returning for the 2019 ODI World Cup. * The journalist's travel costs were covered by Test broadcaster Amazon Prime
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Amazon doco 'cathartic' for CA after Sandpapergate
The door remains ajar for another season of the hit series, The Test, that Prime Video believes was "cathartic" for Cricket Australia following Sandpapergate. Launching amid the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, The Test gave viewers a raw, behind-the-scenes glimpse into the Australian men's cricket team's road to redemption. The previous season was released in 2024, focusing on the eventful 2023 Ashes showdown in England. Prime Video have "nothing to announce" about a potential season four, but The Test remains a much-loved program of their stable of original content. The first season was all about Australia attempting to recover from the 2018 ball-tampering scandal that rocked cricket. Justin Langer was installed as the new coach, while star batters Steve Smith and David Warner served one-year bans until returning for the 2019 ODI World Cup. Everyone remembers Ben Stokes' special Ashes innings a year ago today 💫But don't ever forget Justin Langer's bin kick + bonus clean-up 😂#TheTest — Amazon Prime Video Sport (@primevideosport) August 25, 2020 "It was almost cathartic, I think, for Cricket Australia, and we were privileged to be able to capture that within the documentary, and offer it to the public," Prime Video Sport's managing director Alex Green told AAP. "It was just one of those fortuitous moments when I think the sport (and CA), as well as we wanted to bring something that was a big change in the way cricket, and perhaps sport, generally, had been watched before." Since launching The Test, Prime Video won the rights to broadcast all ICC events into Australia until 2027. The World Test Championship final between Australia and South Africa, starting at Lord's on Wednesday, will be shown exclusively on Prime Video in Australia. When the deal was announced, it was a dramatic change to how viewers had experienced world cups and international tournaments. "We've faced this multiple times," Green said of the public reaction to watching sport on a service that wasn't free-to-air or traditional pay-TV. "For the very first Premier League (EPL) deal, we were then going to be the third broadcaster of Premier League in the UK. "In reality, because the reach of Amazon Prime is so vast, it's on the way to being free-to-air. "We don't see ourselves, and generally, the public don't see us as another sports subscription service, we're something much wider than that." Amazon have also been linked to the NRL, with Australian Rugby League Commission Peter V'landys currently negotiating the next broadcast deal. When the AFL's last TV contract was struck back in 2022, Prime Video were also reported as being interested in the rights. "We don't speculate on specific future rights," Prime Video's Australia and New Zealand head of content Alexandra Gilbert told AAP. "We're building that groundswell around cricket, and then NBA, so that's where we're focused now. "We're always assessing opportunities to add value for Prime members. "Absolutely we'd love to do another version of The Test, whether it's with a different sport, or something that resonates strongly, but what that is is sort of TBD (to-be-determined)." The AFL documentary, Making Their Mark, which followed some players, coaches and administrators during the COVID-affected 2020 season was also a Prime Video original. This AAP article was made possible by support from Amazon Prime Video, which is broadcasting the World Test Championship final.
Perth Now
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Amazon doco 'cathartic' for CA after Sandpapergate
The door remains ajar for another season of the hit series, The Test, that Prime Video believes was "cathartic" for Cricket Australia following Sandpapergate. Launching amid the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, The Test gave viewers a raw, behind-the-scenes glimpse into the Australian men's cricket team's road to redemption. The previous season was released in 2024, focusing on the eventful 2023 Ashes showdown in England. Prime Video have "nothing to announce" about a potential season four, but The Test remains a much-loved program of their stable of original content. The first season was all about Australia attempting to recover from the 2018 ball-tampering scandal that rocked cricket. Justin Langer was installed as the new coach, while star batters Steve Smith and David Warner served one-year bans until returning for the 2019 ODI World Cup. "It was almost cathartic, I think, for Cricket Australia, and we were privileged to be able to capture that within the documentary, and offer it to the public," Prime Video Sport's managing director Alex Green told AAP. "It was just one of those fortuitous moments when I think the sport (and CA), as well as we wanted to bring something that was a big change in the way cricket, and perhaps sport, generally, had been watched before." Since launching The Test, Prime Video won the rights to broadcast all ICC events into Australia until 2027. The World Test Championship final between Australia and South Africa, starting at Lord's on Wednesday, will be shown exclusively on Prime Video in Australia. When the deal was announced, it was a dramatic change to how viewers had experienced world cups and international tournaments. "We've faced this multiple times," Green said of the public reaction to watching sport on a service that wasn't free-to-air or traditional pay-TV. "For the very first Premier League (EPL) deal, we were then going to be the third broadcaster of Premier League in the UK. "In reality, because the reach of Amazon Prime is so vast, it's on the way to being free-to-air. "We don't see ourselves, and generally, the public don't see us as another sports subscription service, we're something much wider than that." Amazon have also been linked to the NRL, with Australian Rugby League Commission Peter V'landys currently negotiating the next broadcast deal. When the AFL's last TV contract was struck back in 2022, Prime Video were also reported as being interested in the rights. "We don't speculate on specific future rights," Prime Video's Australia and New Zealand head of content Alexandra Gilbert told AAP. "We're building that groundswell around cricket, and then NBA, so that's where we're focused now. "We're always assessing opportunities to add value for Prime members. "Absolutely we'd love to do another version of The Test, whether it's with a different sport, or something that resonates strongly, but what that is is sort of TBD (to-be-determined)." The AFL documentary, Making Their Mark, which followed some players, coaches and administrators during the COVID-affected 2020 season was also a Prime Video original. This AAP article was made possible by support from Amazon Prime Video, which is broadcasting the World Test Championship final.
