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New York Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Cricket mailbag: England's bold bowling plans, Bumrah concerns
What a way for The Athletic's cricket coverage to begin. A fantastic victory for England over India in another classic Headingley Test, with this one going the distance and not finishing until 6.29pm on the fifth day. We seem to have stimulated your interest, as our mailbag appeal confirmed when we invited your questions on the series and all things cricket. Here, our cricket writer, Paul Newman, answers a selection of those sent in. Questions have been slightly edited for clarity. It was interesting that in your Jofra Archer article, you mentioned England were disappointed in Sam Cook's pace against Zimbabwe and that Matthew Potts was thought to be short of pace and skill. Surely someone who can open the bowling, bowl decent pace and bowl all day, like them, would be a good foil to quicker guys, such as Brydon Carse, Archer and Mark Wood? — Matt H I agree, Matt, someone like that is vital to the balanced attack England want, but they believe — and his record suggests they're right — Chris Woakes is that man. Yes, he was a little below his best at Headingley, but he gets more into a series the longer it goes on and I fancy him to make an impact in the second Test at Edgbaston. The best Cook and Potts can hope for is to deputise for Woakes, who, at 36, cannot go on forever. The question is whether they are good enough at international level. James Anderson, anyone? Given India's lack of fast bowling depth and Jasprit Bumrah only due to play three out of the five matches, do you think India will win a Test this series? — Dilip G Well, Dilip, I tipped England to win 4-1 before the series and was worried I might be a tad optimistic, but it will take a lot for India to come back, especially given the way they lost in Leeds. I just don't understand why India should publicly say Bumrah will only play three games, something they doubled down on after the first Test. Surely you see how it goes? Advertisement He must be a doubt for Edgbaston as all cricketers want to play in a Lord's Test and the next two are back to back. And if Bumrah doesn't play in the next one, India could be in trouble. Sun Tzu said all battles are won or lost before they're fought. Why do India keep playing Shardul Thakur? Putting him in the XI is telling the entire world you're not committed to winning. I could say Joe Root is a better bowler and Woakes is a better batter than him. Do you have any insight into how selection in India works? — Rahul S Say what you think, Rahul! I can't pretend to know how selection in India works, but I do think Thakur needs to be replaced in Birmingham and the man to do it should be left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav. The only trouble is that it lengthens a tail that was twice blown away by Josh Tongue at Headingley even further. Thakur did dismiss Ben Duckett and Harry Brook with successive balls, but other than that, he just didn't seem to be trusted by Shubman Gill — or KL Rahul, who seemed to be captaining India more than the new skipper on the final day. Ben Stokes' decision to bowl first on a hot, dry day, with conditions perfect for swinging the ball in the coming days, looked like madness. Now he may look like a genius. Do you think the bowl first plan will take on in Tests or will it just be a fad? — Richard P It has been a big part of Stokes' strategy ever since he said 'we'll chase' against New Zealand at Trent Bridge at the start of Bazball in 2022. I could see where he was coming from this time. The last six Tests at Headingley had been won by the side bowling first and the stats told you the pitch in Leeds now gets better and better for batting, as is shown by the last day average of 40 per wicket over the last few years, compared to a first day one of 26. Advertisement There was a bit of uneven bounce this time, but the way England cruised home shows that the impossible of a few years ago is now commonplace. I expect more and more captains to do it the Stokes way. Do you think Gautam Gambhir will lose his job if India lose the series? As an outsider, he has never really seemed up to the job, and more of a political appointment — Callum N Well, he has lost seven of his first 11 Tests as coach and the pressure is on. Gambhir can be a spiky character and turned on an Indian journalist in the post-match press conference at Headingley simply for asking about Rishabh Pant's two hundreds. Goodness knows how he will react if he is asked a difficult question. He will be under scrutiny if this series continues to go badly for India. Hey Paul, do you think India have missed the experience of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in the first Test? We did not see any batting impact to be honest, but in terms of captaincy, is their experience is being missed, especially on the third and fourth days of play? — Rishabh G I did read somewhere, Rishabh, before the first Test that India might be better without the big two because they are now past their best, but they were always going to be severely missed, as much for their aura and presence as their batting. Gill is a novice leader and will learn, but it was clear when the pressure was on during the final day in Leeds that India were being captained by committee, with Rahul and Pant looking more in charge than Gill. It's a real problem for them. India appear to have some strength in the batting, with five centuries across the first Test. But how big a worry will the lack of lower-order runs be? They should have got 550+ in the first innings — Joseph C Yes, that was where the first Test was lost, no question. From 430-3 in the first innings, they had to make at least 550, as you say, but what struck me is that England never seemed to lose faith that it was the right decision to bowl first. I can think of a few past teams whose heads would have dropped and allowed the opposition to bat them out of the game. Same with the second innings. The India lower order is a huge worry and I can't see it improving any time soon, especially when, as looks certain, Kuldeep comes in for Thakur. Advertisement What does the depth in bowling look like for India? Aside from some of Mohammed Siraj's opening spell, the seamers largely looked like they lacked threat when Bumrah wasn't bowling — Joseph C I guess anyone will look poor in comparison to Bumrah, as he is right up there with the best there's been. I called him 'arguably' an all-time great in a piece I did for The Athletic during the first Test, and that was wrong. There's no 'arguably' about it. But the supporting cast have to improve. Siraj is all aggression but not enough bite, while Prasidh Krishna had his moments but went for more than six an over across the two innings. Maybe left-arm seamer Arshdeep Singh gets a go at Edgbaston… Do you think Australia are starting to worry about the Ashes? They look all over the place with an ageing team, whereas for England it looks like it's all coming together at the right time — Tom E Steady, Tom, let's not get too carried away. But I do think England have their best chance of winning in Australia this winter since the golden tour of Andrew Strauss and Andy Flower in 2010-11. You're right, Australia looked an ageing team during the World Test Championship final and it will be fascinating to watch them in their series in the West Indies. The key will be if England can keep their best fast bowlers fit because Australia always seem able to get their heavyweights out on the pitch when it matters most. But they will be taking note of what England do against India, no question. Despite his wickets, Shoaib Bashir is not a top-level spinner at international level. Will England stick with him against Australia? — Mark H He is one of Stokes' pet projects, Mark, and there is no question the captain is brilliant in his handling of spinners. They still believe Shoaib has the attributes to succeed in Australia and I can't see them turning, but leaving out Shoaib and bringing in Jacob Bethell might be the only way to get the gifted Warwickshire batter in the side. He bowls reasonable left-arm spin, too. Other than that, the only real option might be Hampshire's Liam Dawson, who is back in from the cold at international level and is decent with the bat, too. Is T20 killing the art of opening the batting in the Championship? Why are there no contenders to push Zak Crawley, especially right-handers? — Alexander S Perhaps it is more accurate to say, Alexander, that there are few contenders for Crawley's spot who are playing the way England want them to play. Championship statistics have gone out of the window with this regime. They pick people they feel can succeed playing the Bazball way, hence the perhaps harsh jettisoning of Alex Lees at the end of 2022. I remember hearing that Rob Key wanted Duckett to open instead and thinking, 'Blimey, is Duckett a Test opener?', but he got that one spot on. Crawley added a bit of responsibility to his natural attacking game in the second innings at Headingley and was better for it. He will be opening in the first Test in Perth this winter, whatever happens for the rest of this series. Hi Paul, what's the latest rumours on The Hundred team sales process? It's all gone very quiet — Andrew B The process should be complete by early July. I don't think there are any problems with it, just that it was probably always going to take longer than the rather optimistic ECB forecasts. It seems it's just a few I's to be dotted and T's crossed at the Lord's and Oval franchises now, then it will all be done. I can't wait until it becomes a T20 competition and falls in with the rest of the world. It will surely come sooner or later. Advertisement How far are we off some kind of global competition to link the various, often contextless, franchise leagues and give them meaning for fans across the world and avoid a complete oversaturation of T20? — Charlie M It is desperately needed, Charlie, but it is unofficially happening with Indian Premier League owners buying up teams in various competitions, including The Hundred. My worry in future is that the best players will be contracted to one IPL team and play in all their various competitions around the world, with their 'owner' having to make them available for international cricket rather than the other way round. And anyone who watched the first Test will surely agree that the primacy of Test and international cricket should still be paramount. Oversaturation appears inevitable, sadly. Do you think we'll FINALLY take the World Test Championship seriously or just continue using it as a springboard for the Ashes home and away? — Omar M I like the concept and there's no question the finals have been great, particularly South Africa's win over Australia at Lord's this month. It meant so much to them. It's just a question of making the points system fairer. Stokes does not appear a great fan, particularly as points deductions for poor over-rates have cost England dearly, but surely he watched that game and wished England were there. I hope England do take it very seriously now a new cycle has begun, and how about this as an idea — the 2027 final should be staged at Headingley to compensate for them not getting an Ashes Test that year! Are Essex going down this season? — Connor B No need for that, Connor! I hope not, as a lifelong Essex fan. They are having a difficult season, but I took hope from a members' meeting staged at Chelmsford last week. The coach, CEO and chair all seemed to be on the same page and all suggested Essex would come through this storm. If you like a bit of transfer gossip, I'm told they are trying to sign Ben Compton and Josh de Caires, the son of former England captain Michael Atherton, from Kent and Middlesex, respectively, but there is enough talent at Chelmsford to ensure survival this season. Chris Silverwood is a good man and coach. He will see them all right…
India Today
6 days ago
- Sport
- India Today
ENG vs IND, 2nd Test: Jofra Archer back in England Test squad after four years
England announced a 15-man squad for the second Test against India, starting July 02 in Birmingham. Express pacer Jofra Archer returned to the Test squad after four years. England have not made any other change to the squad that won the first Test against India in Leeds. Sam Cook and Jacob Betthel are back after having been released to play County Cricket midway through the first squad for 2nd Test vs IndiaBen Stokes (captain), Jofra Archer, Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Betthel, Harry Brook, Byrdon Carse, Sam Cook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Jamie Overton, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jamie Smith (wicketkeeper), Josh Tongue, Chris returned to play first-class cricket for Sussex against Durham in Chester Le Street earlier this week in a bid to prove his match-fitness for red-ball cricket. He bowled 18 overs in the county game and picked up a expressed confidence in his ability to once again withstand the rigours of red-ball cricket. The 30-year-old acknowledged that the challenge ahead will now be a mental battle—one he is confident of winning. "Now it's a different challenge, because I know my body can hold up to it. The mental part of the game [will be tough]. Over the next couple of days, I'm going to have to battle a bit with it, but it's all good. It's a new challenge, and I'll keep trucking along," Archer said after playing four days for express pacer last played a Test match for England against India in Ahmedabad in February 2021. He has played a total of 13 Tests and picked 42 that appearance, Archer's red-ball career halted abruptly. Shortly thereafter, he underwent surgery to remove glass from a tendon in his hand and had an elbow procedure—his first of several—through May and December in August 2021 revealed a stress fracture in his right elbow, ruling him out of the rest of that year, including the Ashes and T20 World Cup. In May 2022, he suffered a lower-back stress fracture, sidelining him for the entire returning to white-ball cricket in early 2023, including ODIs and T20Is against South Africa and Bangladesh, it came at a cost: elbow discomfort during the IPL led to a mid-season exit, followed by scans confirming another stress fracture in the same elbow in May workload was one of the biggest talking points in England cricket. He missed entire season of the IPL in was, however, available for T20 World Cup in 2024 and the Champions Trophy. He also played for Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2025, making a mark for the Sanju Samson-led RETAIN FAITH IN WINNING SQUADadvertisementEngland have made no changes to their winning combination. In Jofra Archer's continued absence, they fielded Chris Woakes, Josh Tongue, and Brydon Carse in the first Test against India. Captain Ben Stokes fulfilled the role of the fourth seamer superbly, claiming five wickets in the match, including a four-wicket haul in the first and Tongue rose to the occasion, even as Woakes had a relatively quiet outing with the went on to win the first Test, successfully chasing 371 in the final innings-registering their second-highest successful run chase in Test history. Their bowling unit remained disciplined and persistent, even as India's top-order shone in both innings. Four top-order batters notched up centuries, including a remarkable twin hundred from wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant. However, despite holding the upper hand at various stages, India suffered dramatic collapses in both innings-losing seven wickets for 41 runs in the first, and six for 31 in the will carry the momentum and psychological edge into the next match, having never lost to India at Edgbaston. They have won seven and drawn one of the eight Tests played against India at the venue. Notably, it was at Edgbaston in 2022 that England recorded their highest successful chase in Test cricket-378 runs-also against India.- EndsTune InYou May Also Like
India Today
20-06-2025
- Sport
- India Today
Jacob Bethell, Sam Cook to leave England squad after India Test snub: Report
England batter Jacob Bethell and pacer Sam Cook are reportedly set to leave the England squad midway through the ongoing five-match Test series against India. The duo, both overlooked for the third Test at Headingley, will now return to play in the County Championship for Warwickshire and Essex who had been in contention for a place in the playing XI, was left out in favour of Ollie Pope. The 21-year-old, who enjoyed a strong Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 campaign with Royal Challengers Bengaluru, had carried that form into the limited-overs series against West Indies, scoring 82 in the first ODI and contributing impactful cameos of 23*, 26 (10), and 36* (16) in the T20I series, which England won 3-0. However, according to BBC, he will now head back to Warwickshire to maintain his red-ball rhythm, as his wait for a fourth Test cap vs IND, 1st Test Day 1: Updates Meanwhile, Sam Cook has also been released from the England squad after missing out on a place in the Headingley XI. England opted to bring back experienced seamer Chris Woakes, who returned from an ankle injury that had sidelined him since December last year. Woakes' return meant there was no room for Cook, who had been hoping to add to his solitary Test has been in impressive form in County Cricket for Essex and was seen as a promising option with the ball. But with England favouring experience for the crucial Headingley clash, the 27-year-old will now shift focus back to domestic cricket in hopes of earning another national players will look to continue their strong domestic performances as they wait for another opportunity at the international won the toss and elected to bowl first in the Headingley Test. India got off to a strong start, with openers KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal dominating most of the first session. However, Brydon Carse broke the momentum by dismissing Rahul, and Ben Stokes followed up by removing debutant Sai Sudharsan for a duck, shifting the momentum just before lunch on Day 1.
Yahoo
19-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
The new-ball burst that showed why England rate Sam Cook highly
New red ball thrust into his hand by Ben Stokes, Sam Cook took a moment to steady himself. Breeze blustering at his back from the Radcliffe Road End as he settled at the top of his mark, the seamer inhaled and exhaled, releasing the nerves, readying the seam sinews. A bowler's approach can be a lonely trek at times, forced to plough a lone furrow and till and toil, but this could hardly have been a kinder start to a Test career, four slips and two gullies waiting, a mighty total already on the board. Right foot, left foot, right foot, left foot, and onwards into the gather. Up, down, limbs whirling into work. Down came the delivery to settle the nerves; Cook on the money, as he was always likely to be. Advertisement Around Trent Bridge, glances flashed to the speed gun, eager eyes wondering what the radar had registered. Such had been the discourse around what a seamer of supreme skill couldn't do rather than what he could that much of the focus on his first formative strides in Test cricket was always going to be on the velocity rather than the venom – 81mph was solid enough. Sam Cook (left) took the new ball alongside Gus Atkinson (Getty Images) The Nottingham assembly cooed approvingly as he warmed to his work. Three boundaries in his first over suggested a rude awakening but the drawing of two inside edges promised more, and with his 14th ball, it arrived. Ben Curran propped forward to a ball that wobbled down and seamed away, a friendly peck of the outside edge smooched safely by Harry Brook at second slip. Cook was up and away. This was perhaps a perfect Test for the Essex bowler to prove his worth, a placid pitch but callow opposition making early inroads key. Under Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum, England's radar love has rivalled that of Golden Earring, a preoccupation with pace borne from a desire to build a seam unit capable of winning in Australia. Cook is an oddity among recent debutants in his mastery of the softer skills; the twin scalpels of swing and seam prodded more gently at the batter but no less damaging. Where others have been picked on potential, the 27-year-old has forced his way in on a weight of wickets and a reputation in the county game as a top-order torturer. Advertisement The speed gun may show one thing but the simple statistics evidence a consistent new-ball threat. Stokes trusted his ability, Cook the first England seamer to take the opening over of an innings on debut since Martin McCague in 1993. His early scalp of Curran was the standout moment of a six-over initial burst that saw him beat both edges of the bat with relative regularity, a few outswingers mixed in alongside the wobble-seam ball used to extract Zimbabwe's opener. Overall figures on the day of 1-76 from 21 overs across two innings perhaps showed, though, that the margin for error is slim at his sort of speed - and his pace did dwindle slightly later in the evening. Sam Cook showcased his skill but England could not make significant inroads (Getty Images) If Cook's debut feels overdue at the age of 27, it is partly due to the stocks that England have now really developed. When James Anderson was told he was surplus to requirements last summer, so began a sort of hot-housing to germinate the seam saplings that McCullum and Stokes hope will grow into match-winners against India and, particularly, Australia. It is a process that has so far worked well, Gus Atkinson and Brydon Carse sailing relatively smoothly so far, with a fit-again Josh Tongue making his return here, too. An attack of absentees would include Chris Woakes – back playing for Warwickshire – Mark Wood, Jofra Archer and Carse, with the likeable Matthew Potts left out, too. Keeping all fit and firing will be key but England hope they finally have the stable of horses required to compete in Australia. Cook could yet come to offer them something different. Woakes is of a similar speed and skill yet has endured a wretched record overseas, loquacious at home with Dukes in hand but struggling to get the Kookaburra ball to talk. By contrast, the Essex man was the standout tourist Down Under with the England Lions in the winter, eschewing franchise offers to press his case in red-ball cricket. Australian surfaces of late have offered more to bowlers of his style than in the past, with the recent success of Scott Boland – a touch quicker and taller but with a similar modus operandi – perhaps giving him his best hope of a prominent Ashes role. There is plenty more to come in this Test and beyond before then but Cook is off to a rock-solid start.
Daily Mail
05-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
England star recalled following three-year absence for first Test against India... just one week after he broke his finger
Jamie Overton has been recalled to England's Test squad following a three-year absence for the opening match of five against India at Headingley. Overton, 31, won his only previous cap in Leeds three years ago, scoring 97 from No 8 in victory over New Zealand and is named in a 14-strong group despite breaking his right little finger on one-day international duty last week. With Gus Atkinson ruled out through a right hamstring injury, Essex's Sam Cook has been retained following his Test debut against Zimbabwe last month. Josh Tongue and Chris Woakes are also included and will be given the chance to get extra miles in their legs, after their recent injury returns, by featuring for England Lions against India A in a four-day match starting at Northampton on Friday. England's hierarchy are keen to ensure their seamers are match-ready for the Leeds contest - the first of five games in just over six weeks. Tongue won his third cap against Zimbabwe after taking 15 wickets in three appearances for Nottinghamshire on his comeback from a year-long lay-off with injuries while Woakes is also recently returned, playing just one Division One game for Warwickshire since damaging his ankle at the start of 2025. ENGLAND SQUAD FOR FIRST TEST AGAINST INDIA Ben Stokes (Durham) 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) If they come through unscathed, they will join Overton, Cook, Brydon Carse, Shoaib Bashir, and England captain Ben Stokes in the bowling unit. Jofra Archer, meanwhile, will be asked to prove his readiness for a first Test outing in more than four years - potentially for the third match at Lord's - in Sussex's two Championship games at the end of June. Warwickshire's Jacob Bethell returns after missing the innings win over the Zimbabweans due to Indian Premier League duty with champions Royal Challengers Bangalore.
