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Hans India
3 hours ago
- Sport
- Hans India
1st Test: Phenomenal Bumrah is best in the world, can change the game: Mark Wood
Leeds: England fast bowler Mark Wood believes Jasprit Bumrah is the best bowler in the world right now and will certainly prove to be a challenge for the English batters in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. After getting off to a brilliant start on Day One, Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant continued to take the fight to English bowlers before overcast conditions came into play. England bowlers led by Ben Stokes and Josh Tongue dismantled the Indian batting order and restricted them from 430/3 to 471 all out. Due to knee surgery in March, Wood was expected to miss the entire five-match marquee series against India. But on the sidelines of commentating on the ongoing first Test at Headingley for the BBC Test Match Special, Wood revealed he was back at the nets and hopes to return for the final game against India. The 35-year-old acknowledged how dangerous Bumrah is and knows the Indian quick has the potential to turn the game on its head. "He is a phenomenal bowler across all formats who is really dangerous. I can honestly say he is really hard to pick up and face. He is quicker than you think. He is the best bowler in the world right now, and he is dangerous in any part of the match. Bumrah can change the game,' Wood was quoted as saying by Sky Sports. Wood is currently on a long list of England's fast bowlers – Olly Stone, Jofra Archer, and Gus Atkinson – sidelined due to injuries. Bumrah will lead the pace-heavy attack - consisting of Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, and Shardul Thakur- and hope to pick up from where he limped off in the final Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, where he broke records with his exceptional bowling. The fielding unit came to the ground and observed the pitch before having to go back into the dugout due to increased rain which has stopped play at the Headingley Cricket Ground. Pacer Josh Tongue led a strong fightback from England's bowlers to end up with a four-wicket haul as the hosts bowled out India for 471 on Day Two. At one point, India looked to reach at least a score between 500 and 600 when they were placed at 430/3, with Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant batting on centuries each. But India lost their last seven wickets for 41 runs, as England triggered a stunning slide to dismiss them for a score below 500, with Tongue picking 4-86.
The Hindu
11 hours ago
- Sport
- The Hindu
ENG vs IND: Mark Wood hopes to be fit for fifth Test against India after knee surgery
Injured England fast bowler Mark Wood hopes to be fit and available for selection ahead of the fifth and final Test against India to be played at The Oval from July 31. Wood is currently rehabilitating following a knee surgery. The 35-year-old suffered a medial ligament damage in his left knee during the Champions Trophy earlier this year, and went under the knife in March. Even though the doctors said he would be out for four months, Wood feels he will be in a position to play the fifth Test. 'Rehab is going well. I've just started bowling very lightly, so I'm on the comeback trail now officially,' Wood told BBC Test Match Special. 'I'm hoping still to play a part in this series, so I get to have a look at some of the players here who I might come up against. I'm still targeting probably the last Test. Anything before that is maybe a bit too soon. The last Test, I might not get there, but at the minute, that's still my focus that I might play a part. 'It's been a bit slow (comeback) to start with. I haven't been able to do a lot, but starting to speed up now, getting some bowling in, hopefully not too much longer. I am still hoping that I can play a part right at the end of the series, but I'll just wait and see,' he added.
NDTV
12 hours ago
- Sport
- NDTV
Michael Vaughan Astonished By Ben Stokes' Decision To Bowl First On Dry Headingley Pitch
Former captain Michael Vaughan is astonished by England's decision to bowl first on a dry Headingley wicket, a decision that backfired as India finished at 359 for 3 on day one of the first Test at Headingley, Leeds. Vaughan said the current England team's strength is definitely its batting department and not its bowling. "I am an old school traditionalist. Here at Leeds, when the sun is shining, with dry weather, you bat," Vaughan told BBC Test Match Special. "You look at the England side and their strength is in the batting. And there is inexperience in the bowling at the moment. Ben (Stokes) clearly had a gut feeling, and sometimes it has worked." Vaughan's surprise stems from the fact that the conditions were hot and humid with the wicket offering hardly any assistance to the bowlers. The decision backfired as skipper Shubman Gill (127 not out) and Yashasvi Jaiswal (101) made merry on a dry surface to power India to a commanding position. Since Stokes became captain in 2022 with Brendon McCullum as coach, England have preferred to field first. Stokes' decision might also have been influenced by the recent record at this ground, with the side fielding first in the last six Tests going on to win the match. But Vaughan differs. "You always have to pick your decisions on that moment, and not things that you did here years ago or at other times. It can't affect what the decision is today," he said. "It was a good pitch, so it's not easy to restrict runs. Ben Stokes is still positive and he will come back tomorrow saying 'let's get seven wickets'. "We won't know that for sure until we see Jasprit Bumrah bowl on it. He can bowl you out with anything. Until I see that, I will hold my judgement on how flat this pitch is," he added.
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Business Standard
12 hours ago
- Sport
- Business Standard
Mark Wood in a race against time to get fit for ENG vs IND final Test
England pace bowler Mark Wood is optimistic about making a comeback in time for the fifth and final Test against India, scheduled to take place at The Oval starting July 31. The 35-year-old is currently undergoing rehabilitation after undergoing surgery on his left knee earlier this year. Wood suffered a medial ligament injury during the ICC Champions Trophy and had to go under the knife in March. At the time, doctors estimated a recovery period of around four months. Despite the initial timeline, Wood is hopeful he will be fit to take part in the closing match of the ongoing series. Mark Wood provides fitness update Providing an update on his progress, Wood told BBC Test Match Special, "Rehab is going pretty well. I've just started bowling again, although very lightly, so I'm officially on the road to recovery now." He added that his focus remains on featuring in the last Test, acknowledging that any appearance before that would likely be premature. Wood admitted that the rehabilitation process had a slow start, which limited his early activity. However, things are now beginning to pick up, and he's gradually building up his bowling workload. 'The initial weeks were tough, as I couldn't do much. But things are starting to speed up. I've started some bowling and hopefully it won't be too long before I'm fully fit.' Known for his express pace and ability to generate bounce, Wood's potential return would be a significant boost for England, especially if the series reaches a decisive point heading into the final Test. While he remains cautious about rushing the process, the fast bowler is clearly determined to contribute before the series concludes.
India Today
13 hours ago
- Sport
- India Today
ENG vs IND: England pacer Mark Wood hopeful of comeback in fifth Test against India
England's pace spearhead Mark Wood is eyeing a return to Test cricket and hopes to feature in the fifth and final match of the ongoing series against India. The 35-year-old fast bowler is currently recovering from a knee injury and believes he could be fit in time for the Oval Test, scheduled to begin on July sustained medial ligament damage to his left knee during the 2025 Champions Trophy and had to limp off the field mid-match. He underwent knee surgery in March and was subsequently advised a four-month rehabilitation period-effectively ruling him out of the five-match series. However, Wood has made steady progress and is now hopeful of making a late to BBC Test Match Special, Wood said he had resumed light bowling and was cautiously optimistic about being available for the fifth Test. "Rehab is going well. I've just started bowling very lightly, so I'm officially on the comeback trail now," Wood said."I'm hoping to still play a part in this series so I get to have a look at some of the players here who I might come up against. I'm still targeting probably the last Test. Anything before that is maybe a bit too soon. The last Test-I might not get there-but at the minute, that's still my focus."The fifth Test of the England-India series will be held at The Kia Oval from July 31. To prove his fitness, Wood is expected to play in the County Championship match for Durham against Somerset, starting July his return would be a major boost for England, the team management is unlikely to rush him back, especially with the Ashes looming on the horizon. England's pace attack has already been depleted by injuries in the ongoing Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, with several frontline bowlers Stone and Jofra Archer are both in rehabilitation, with Archer expected to be available for the second Test. Reports suggest he will feature for Sussex against Durham in the County Championship on Sunday. Archer, who last played a Test in May 2021, has since only featured in white-ball admitted that the comeback has been slow, but he remains hopeful."It's been a bit slow to start with. I haven't been able to do a lot, but it's starting to speed up now. I'm getting some bowling in-hopefully not too much longer," he said."I am still hoping that I can play a part right at the end of the series, but I'll just wait and see." You May Also Like
