Latest news with #MichaelVaughan
Bangkok Post
5 days ago
- Sport
- Bangkok Post
Duckett delivers as Bazball brilliance seals Headingley heist
The thrilling first Test between England and India at Headingley proved a fine advertisement for five-day cricket, providing a feast of runs and plenty of drama right down to the closing overs of a nail-biting run chase. The closely fought encounter in which the hosts eventually prevailed bodes well for the remainder of the five-match series which continues at Edgbaston next week. Former England captain Michael Vaughan could not resist referring to England's win as "Bazball with brains" highlighting their sensible approach in the 371 run chase by being aggressive without resorting to wild shots that has sometimes let them down in the past. It was England's second-highest successful chase, the previous being 378 also against India three years ago. On the final day England could not have asked more from their opening batsmen Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley who put on 188 for the first wicket which set up things nicely. Duckett went on to make a brilliant 149 and was deservedly named Player of the Match. India could be forgiven for wondering how they lost a match in which five of their batsmen scored centuries which would normally guarantee a victory. In all they compiled an aggregate 835 runs and in both innings they looked to be in commanding positions, 430-3 in the first and 333-4 in the second. But both times England were helped by batting collapses from India's fragile tail-enders as they lost 7-41 in the first innings and 6-31 in the second. Contributing to England's success was some shoddy fielding by India with six dropped catches, including three by Yashasvi Jaiswal. The unfortunate opening bat had earlier struck an excellent century with some sizzling strokes. Before the match started there had been much excitement at the prospect of seeing India fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah in action. Regarded by many as currently the best bowler in the world he certainly delivered in the first innings taking 5-83 and had some of England's best batsmen in real trouble. However, in the second innings he did not have the same impact finishing with 0-57. India have already announced that Bumrah is not fit enough to play in all five Tests and it will concern selectors as to who will step up and take the wickets against England's formidable batting line-up which includes the ever reliable Joe Root and exciting stroke-maker Harry Brook. England captain Ben Stokes had come under fire on the first day for opting to field on what looked like a good batting wicket on a hot, sunny day that would make bowling hard work. Those fears appeared to be well-founded when India had reached 430-3 at one stage on the second day. But later events vindicated Stokes' decision although it was a very close run thing and India had begun the final day as favourites. No wonder one of Stokes' first comments after the match was: "It is a good job Test cricket is played over five days." He praised the positive mindset of his team. "This win is not down to just the skill but the attitude of the dressing room." It was also encouraging to see Stokes in good bowling form although his batting looked a bit scratchy. India's new captain Shubman Gill, who hit a fine 147 in the first innings, admitted the loss was a tough one, commenting "We had our moments but England are so good we needed to kill the game.''
News.com.au
6 days ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
‘Ooft': England growing in confidence that they can take home Ashes from Australia's backyard
On the back of Australia's embarrassing five-wicket World Test Championship final defeat, the Aussie Test side now finds themselves on the brink of yet another loss, this time to the West Indies. And with another underwhelming display, England smell blood in the water ahead of the Ashes Down Under later this year. At stumps on Day 2, in Australia's first Test against the West Indies in Barbados, the visitors are 4/92, with Travis Head (13) and Beau Webster (19) unbeaten at the close of play. Australia leads by just 82 runs and will need their middle-order and tailenders to help them get out of jail if they are to avoid back-to-back losses to the Windies. Sam Konstas – who was rushed in to replace the out-of-form Marnus Labushcagne – has managed scores of just 3 and 5. While Cam Green, who is viewed as Australia's long-term No. 3, didn't fare much better. After escaping a potentially fortunate LBW review on Thursday (AEST), the West Australian inexplicably flashed at a wide delivery off Justin Greaves, which he edged and was caught with ease in slips for 15. Safe to say slotting him in at No. 3, has not been the instant success Australian selectors would have hoped for. Since coming back into the team he has scores of 4, 0, 3 and today's 15. While Usman Khawaja, Josh Inglis and Steve Smith – who is out of the opening Test with injury – have all been struggling for runs. And with the top-order crisis, the Poms are growing in confidence, with England great Michael Vaughan suggesting they may now even be favourites to win back the Ashes on enemy territory. 'I've had a few messages overnight from Australia and they know that this England side, and I'm not saying that they're going to arrive as favourites, but the Australian public and supporters over there are watching this England side and going 'this could be the team who can challenge Australia in their own backyard',' Vaughan said on Betfair's Stick to Cricket show. England pull off incredible run chase against India While Australia's batters whimper, the Poms' top-order are all making runs. In the first Test against India, England reeled in a massive target of 371 to beat India by five wickets. The seismic chase was the second-highest in England's history after knocking off 378 against India at Edgbaston three years ago. And with the England top 7 all showing they have big scores in them, Vaughan believes they can put on a cricket clinic when the Ashes start in November. 'That top seven now should be the seven who walk out in November in Perth. That looks to me like a top seven, and I look at the last time England won in Australia in 2010/11, that top seven when England arrived was rock-solid,' Vaughan continued. 'It was full of experience, Strauss, Cook, Pietersen, Collingwood, Bell, Prior and it's got a similar kind of feel, where they're going to arrive in Australia, I hope, with a lot of experience. ' … This was the first week where I've watched England and thought 'ooft'. They've now added some smartness and brains to the batting, the field always spreads for them because the opposition are scared. 'Zak Crawley's innings was the perfect example of this, his alignment was perfect and then he was scoring ones because Ben Duckett was playing great. Getting him back on strike. 'Every time Bumrah came into the attack, you could see that England had a real mindset of 'just play'. 'The six overs that they had to face on the fourth evening, you go back over the last two or three years, they think 'woah, wheyy, we'll get to 50' but they've definitely added a little bit of nous.'
The Herald Scotland
6 days ago
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
England add Jofra Archer to squad ahead of second Test against India
Archer's Test career has been derailed by a string of injuries. He played his first red-ball match since May 2021 this week, marking his return with a wicket in Sussex's County Championship draw against Durham in Chester-le-Street. With the start of the 2025-26 Ashes series less than five months away, former England captain Michael Vaughan feels Archer needs to play at international level this summer but advised waiting until at least the third Test at Lord's. 'I hope England aren't too funky in terms of just swapping and changing for changing's sake; I like seeing teams play over a period,' Vaughan told the PA news agency. 'Yes, you want to see Jofra throughout the summer, that's not a debate. We need to see Jofra play a Test match or two but on the back of just one innings and one four-day game in four years, I just don't see the rush. 'Let him play for Sussex for one more week and then potentially pencil him in for the Test match at Lord's.' Former captain Michael Vaughan, pictured, feels England should be patient with Jofra Archer (Nick Potts/PA) Archer burst on to the international scene in 2019, bowling the decisive super-over in England's World Cup win over New Zealand at Lord's and taking 22 wickets at 20.27 in four Tests that followed against Australia in the drawn Ashes series. But an elbow injury first sustained in 2020 and that required four operations curtailed Archer's progress and he then had to work his way back from a recurring stress fracture in his back, which he first sustained in 2022. He returned to action for England in their ODI series against Bangladesh in March 2023, but was then sidelined by elbow issues and did not play international cricket until May 2024. Archer was ruled out of England's ODI series against the West Indies last month with a thumb injury sustained playing for Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League. 'We don't quite know how his body's going to stand up,' continued Vaughan. 'All the talk is that his body's good. But let's not be too harsh on him in terms of building him up so much, because he hasn't played. 'At times he looked short of a gallop in the Champions Trophy, then he had spells in the IPL that were very good but that's just four overs. 'I mean, England need him. You look at a barrage of a quick bowlers that you want to arrive in Australia with, England will want him in that that squad. 'But I wouldn't want to rush him too soon to then take him back a step or two.' Warwickshire batter Jacob Bethell and bowlers Sam Cook and Jamie Overton, who did not feature at Headingley, have retained their places in the squad. The second Test in a five-match series starts next Wednesday, with the following Tests at Lord's (July 10-14), Old Trafford (July 23-27) and the Oval (July 31-August 4). England men's Test Squad: Ben Stokes (Durham), Jofra Archer (Sussex), Shoaib Bashir (Somerset), Jacob Bethell (Warwickshire), Harry Brook (Yorkshire), Brydon Carse (Durham), Sam Cook (Essex), Zak Crawley (Kent), Ben Duckett (Nottinghamshire), Jamie Overton (Surrey), Ollie Pope (Surrey), Joe Root (Yorkshire), Jamie Smith (Surrey), Josh Tongue (Nottinghamshire), Chris Woakes (Warwickshire).
Glasgow Times
6 days ago
- Sport
- Glasgow Times
England add Jofra Archer to squad ahead of second Test against India
The 30-year-old pace bowler, who has not played Test cricket since February 2021, returns to the England set-up in the only change to Ben Stokes' squad that secured a thrilling five-wicket win in the series opener at Headingley. Archer's Test career has been derailed by a string of injuries. He played his first red-ball match since May 2021 this week, marking his return with a wicket in Sussex's County Championship draw against Durham in Chester-le-Street. With the start of the 2025-26 Ashes series less than five months away, former England captain Michael Vaughan feels Archer needs to play at international level this summer but advised waiting until at least the third Test at Lord's. 'I hope England aren't too funky in terms of just swapping and changing for changing's sake; I like seeing teams play over a period,' Vaughan told the PA news agency. 'Yes, you want to see Jofra throughout the summer, that's not a debate. We need to see Jofra play a Test match or two but on the back of just one innings and one four-day game in four years, I just don't see the rush. 'Let him play for Sussex for one more week and then potentially pencil him in for the Test match at Lord's.' Former captain Michael Vaughan, pictured, feels England should be patient with Jofra Archer (Nick Potts/PA) Archer burst on to the international scene in 2019, bowling the decisive super-over in England's World Cup win over New Zealand at Lord's and taking 22 wickets at 20.27 in four Tests that followed against Australia in the drawn Ashes series. But an elbow injury first sustained in 2020 and that required four operations curtailed Archer's progress and he then had to work his way back from a recurring stress fracture in his back, which he first sustained in 2022. He returned to action for England in their ODI series against Bangladesh in March 2023, but was then sidelined by elbow issues and did not play international cricket until May 2024. Archer was ruled out of England's ODI series against the West Indies last month with a thumb injury sustained playing for Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League. 'We don't quite know how his body's going to stand up,' continued Vaughan. 'All the talk is that his body's good. But let's not be too harsh on him in terms of building him up so much, because he hasn't played. 'At times he looked short of a gallop in the Champions Trophy, then he had spells in the IPL that were very good but that's just four overs. 'I mean, England need him. You look at a barrage of a quick bowlers that you want to arrive in Australia with, England will want him in that that squad. 'But I wouldn't want to rush him too soon to then take him back a step or two.' Warwickshire batter Jacob Bethell and bowlers Sam Cook and Jamie Overton, who did not feature at Headingley, have retained their places in the squad. The second Test in a five-match series starts next Wednesday, with the following Tests at Lord's (July 10-14), Old Trafford (July 23-27) and the Oval (July 31-August 4). England men's Test Squad: Ben Stokes (Durham), Jofra Archer (Sussex), Shoaib Bashir (Somerset), Jacob Bethell (Warwickshire), Harry Brook (Yorkshire), Brydon Carse (Durham), Sam Cook (Essex), Zak Crawley (Kent), Ben Duckett (Nottinghamshire), Jamie Overton (Surrey), Ollie Pope (Surrey), Joe Root (Yorkshire), Jamie Smith (Surrey), Josh Tongue (Nottinghamshire), Chris Woakes (Warwickshire).
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
State schools to play cricket at Lord's ground
Precious and Ellen are two of the pupils the MCC foundation hopes to inspire to play cricket [BBC] A new tournament, specifically for state school pupils, has been launched at Lord's cricket ground by former England captains Heather Knight and Michael Vaughan. The Knight-Stokes Cup will be a T20 competition contested next summer via a series of knockout regional qualifiers with the finals to be staged on the main ground at Lord's. Advertisement The tournament will be for school pupils in the Year 10 age group with separate events for boys and girls. It is part of the game's wider efforts to increase opportunities for state school children to play cricket, following a critical report about elitism in the game. Former England captain Heather Knight learned to play cricket at a state school [BBC] A 2023 report by the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket (ICEC) reported "elitism and class-based discrimination" in the game was partly down to a lack of cricket in state schools and a talent pathway structurally aligned to private schools. The commission said it was "alarmed" by repeated references to "the bank of mum and dad", with respondents to their study stressing the importance of financial support from parents in determining their success. Advertisement The report recommended the historic Eton versus Harrow school matches should not be played at Lord's - but objections by some members of the MCC led to a compromise in which that match - and the annual university match between Oxford and Cambridge - will remain at the ground until at least 2027, when there will be a review. Michael Vaughan helped launch the new competition at an event on Tuesday [BBC] The Knight-Stokes Cup will be held in the summer of 2026 which schools can sign up to now. It's named after Knight and the current England captain Ben Stokes, both of whom learned to play at state schools. Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) Foundation will oversee the organisation of the cup in conjunction with regional cricket boards. Advertisement The competition will also provide opportunities for potentially talented cricketers to be spotted at an early age. A number of independent schools have agreed to provide grounds and facilities for state schools to play matches. Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to Related stories Related internet links
