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First Post
a day ago
- Climate
- First Post
Explained: How weather can spoil England's party against India in first Test at Leeds
Ahead of the opening day of the first Test between India and England in Headingley, we take a look at the weather in Leeds and how that will affect the plans of the two teams, especially the Ben Stokes-led hosts. read more The Headingley Cricket Ground will host the first Test between England and India from 20 to 24 June. Reuters The five-match Test series between India and England gets underway less than 24 hours from now with the opening day of the first Test set to take place in Headingley, Leeds on Friday. The upcoming series is set to be historic for multiple reasons, which includes the fact that the two teams are now playing for a brand new trophy. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), after all, had controversially decided to rename the Pataudi Trophy to the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy – named after English pace legend James Anderson and Indian batting icon Sachin Tendulkar – which will be presented to the winner of an India-England Test series regardless of which team plays as the host nation. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The series will also be the first since batting stalwarts and iconic leaders Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli had announced their retirement from the format in the span of a week last month. With Shubman Gill having since been named Rohit's successor as Test captain on 24 May with Rishabh Pant as his deputy, India is set to witness the birth of a new era on Wednesday. Last, but certainly not the least, Friday's play will mark the beginning of a new cycle in the ICC World Test Championship for both teams. But what will the weather in Leeds be like for the series opener? And how will it affect England's plans of starting yet another home Test series on a strong note? Here's what you need to know: How Leeds' weather is likely to influence the opening day of the first Test BBC Weather has predicted a 'sunny' day in Leeds on Friday, the day the series gets underway, with a gentle breeze. The temperature is expected to rise as high as 30 degrees Celsius – warm for the Indian team and scorching for the Englishmen and those who will be in attendance at the venue. If the last two days of the recently-concluded ICC WTC Final between South Africa and Australia are anything to go by, then Gill wouldn't mind having to bat first even though captains have traditionally leaned towards bowling first at this venue. The Proteas had pulled off a historic five-wicket victory at the 'Home of Cricket' to win their maiden world title, and their triumph came not only on the back of a clinical bowling effort led by Kagiso Rabada, but also by their dominant response with the bat on Days 3 and 4 during their chase of a challenging 282-run target, led by Aiden Markram's majestic 136. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Both South African and Australian speedsters had run amok early in the game as 28 wickets fell in the first two days. However, Markram and captain Temba Bavuma, who chipped in with a defiant 66, made the most of ideal batting conditions under bright sunshine in the British capital and ended up laying the foundation for a comfortable run chase with a 147-run partnership for the third wicket. Now the wicket that has been prepared for the series opener at Headingley has a greenish tinge, and will aid seamers early in the game before gradually easing out. However, the overhead sun might make the wicket ease out much faster than expected, meaning whichever side bats first will have to survive the new ball spell before making the most of ideal batting conditions. India certainly have the firepower in their pace department to seize advantage by inflicting early damage if it's Ben Stokes who ends up opting to bat on Day 1. However, if it's the other way round, the English pacers might have a hard time on the opening day. Especially in the absence of James Anderson and Stuart Broad. And even without Virat Kohli in the Indian batting lineup. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The remaining days of the Test will likely be played under traditional overcast conditions with 'thundery showers' predicted on the second day, meaning there will be a lot more support on offer for swing bowling. Capitalising on the opening day thus will be paramount for both teams.
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Sport
- Indian Express
‘England should beat India if they temper Bazball and use some common sense': Geoffrey Boycott
Former England player Geoffrey Boycott urged the Ben Stokes-led England team to temper their Bazball style of batting and apply some common sense in the upcoming 5-match Test series against India, adding that winning is more important than entertaining. 'England should beat India if they temper Bazball and use some common sense. At times their cricket has been thrilling and super enjoyable but also reckless batting has lost them Test matches. Their only thought should be winning because it is no use telling us how good you are when the last three World Test Championship finals have been played in our country but England have not qualified for any of them. They should be embarrassed. Their aim should be to make the next WTC final,' Boycott wrote in his column for the Daily Telegraph. 'The new cycle starts now and somebody needs to get through to the England players that being a winner is better than being known as an entertainer. If you can win and entertain, that is a bonus. At the moment England are like a one-trick-pony. It's Bazball or Bazball and that is the way we play; take it or leave it. They don't want to change or learn from their losses. It doesn't seem to make any difference that so many top class ex-England Test players keep telling them to moderate their batting. So please, get your act together, bring your best game and apply some cricket nous,' he added. Bazball is the term associated with England's aggressive style of play under head coach Brendon McCullum. Essentially, it gives players license to be more attacking and emboldened with their shot-making and field placings, and be free from recrimination. Last month, Bazball was in full flow against Zimbabwe in England's one-off Test match win where Zimbabwe folded inside three days as expected and the Three Lions won by an innings and 45 runs with four sessions to spare in a worthy warmup for India's five-test tour starting on June 20 in Leeds.
India Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- India Today
England plotting ‘all-out attack' on India with tailor-made Leeds pitch
England have asked for a good surface to aid their aggressive strokeplay in the first Test against India at Headingley, Leeds. India and England are set to take on each other in a five-match Test series beginning from June 20. The Ben Stokes-led side has been enjoying a good run in recent times, having won four out of their last five are eager to continue their brilliant run against an inexperienced side and hence have prepared a good surface to aid their aggressive strokeplay. Richard Robsinon, head of grounds at Leeds, has revealed that the hosts just want to hit through the line of the ball and continue with their 'Bazball' approach."They (England) just want to have a good surface, so it's true, really, so we can hit through the line of the ball. That's really what they're looking for," Robsinon was quoted as saying by 'ESPNCricinfo'. Ever since Ben Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum have taken charge of the England team, they've guided the side to 23 wins out of 36 matches with one game ending in a draw. During their tenure, they've lost just two series against India and Pakistan and managed to register a historic 3-0 whitewash in Pakistan in also drew the Ashes 2023 2-2 after the fourth Test in Manchester was unfortunately washed out. Courtesy of their recent performances, England have risen to third spot in the ICC Test rankings, having 113 rating points to their name. Hence, they will be eager to climb further up in the rankings with a dominant win against India don't have a great record in Leeds, having won just two out of seven Test matches. They lost their last Test at the venue during the 2021-22 series by an innings and 76 runs. Both their victories have been memorable, coming in the years 1986 and 2002 respectively. The Shubman Gill-led side will look to take some inspiration from their past success as they begin a new era of Indian Test history.
Times of Oman
06-05-2025
- Sport
- Times of Oman
India, Australia hold top spots as Sri Lanka makes big gains in latest ICC rankings
New Delhi: Australia continue to lead the ICC Test rankings, while India hold the top position in both ODI and T20I formats. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka have made significant progress across formats, emerging as one of the biggest winners in the latest annual update of the ICC rankings, as per the official website of ICC. The latest rankings rate all matches played since May 2024 at 100 percent and those of the previous two years at 50 percent. Reigning World Test Championship holders Australia have retained their top spot in the ICC Men's Test Team Rankings, though their lead was trimmed from 15 to 13 points after the annual update. Pat Cummins' side boasts a rating of 126, staying well in front of the chasing pack. Ben Stokes-led England made a big jump, moving up into the second place, overtaking both South Africa and India. Their improved position comes on the back of winning three out of their four Test series in the past year. England's rating points climbed to 113, while South Africa (111) and India (105) each slipped one place to third and fourth, respectively. The rest of the top 10 remains unchanged, with New Zealand holding fifth place, followed by Sri Lanka, Pakistan, West Indies, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe. Only 10 teams are currently ranked in the Test table. Ireland need to play one more Test in the next 12 months to qualify for a ranking, while Afghanistan must play three more matches to join the list. In the ODI rankings, India have strengthened their grip at the top on the back of a victorious ICC Champions Trophy 2025 campaign, improving their rating points from 122 to 124. Coming in second place are the runners-up at the Champions Trophy, New Zealand, overtaking their Trans-Tasman rivals Australia, who now occupy third spot. Sri Lanka, who had a rampant run at home in recent months, including ODI series wins against India and Australia, are in fourth place after gaining five rating points, leapfrogging Pakistan (fifth with a gain of one point) and South Africa (sixth with loss of four points) in the process. Afghanistan also climbed the ladder - moving to seventh following a four-point improvement - at the expense of former world champions England, who fell to eighth after dropping four points. West Indies, meanwhile, rose to the ninth spot after gaining five points to surpass Bangladesh, who dropped to tenth with a four-point decline. Elsewhere in the rankings, the USA Men's side were the biggest movers by rating points, gaining six points while remaining in 15th place. Below them, Oman climbed above Canada into 16th spot. The remaining teams held their positions in the table. In T20Is, the current ICC Men's T20 World Cup champions India are placed at the top, although their lead over the second-placed Australia has reduced from 10 to nine points. For the first time ever, the annual update features 100 teams in the global T20I rankings, with the updated list including all sides that have played a minimum of eight T20Is over the past three years. The original global T20I rankings were launched in 2019 and included 80 sides. The 2022 edition champions England, sit at number three, with New Zealand, West Indies and South Africa at four, five, and six respectively. Sri Lanka's surge continues in the shortest format of the game as well, now 7th in the rankings after overtaking Asian rivals Pakistan (8). Bangladesh and Afghanistan follow their fellow Asian teams at ninth and tenth places, respectively. Ireland also showed improvement, swapping spots with Zimbabwe to sit in the 11th rank. The biggest rating gain is made by Canada, who gain nine rating points to enter the top 20. Bahamas and Estonia are the two best improvers in terms of position improvement, with Bahamas climbing eight places (to reach the 51st rank), whereas the European side improves seven positions to 61.
News18
05-05-2025
- Sport
- News18
ICC Annual Rankings: India World No. 1 in ODIs And T20Is, Slip To 4th In Tests
Last Updated: India won the recent ICC Champions Trophy and the T20 World Cup title last year to take the top spots in limited-overs formats. India retained their top position in the ODIs and T20Is to extend their dominance in the white-ball formats but slipped a place to fourth spot in the Test format, in which Australia reigned supreme, in the latest ICC annual men's ranking update issued on Monday. The latest rankings rate all matches played since May 2024 at 100 per cent and those of the previous two years at 50 per cent. In the ODI rankings, 2023 World Cup finalists India have strengthened their grip at the top on the back of a victorious ICC Champions Trophy campaign, improving their rating points from 122 to 124. Coming in second place are the runners-up at the Champions Trophy, New Zealand, overtaking their Trans-Tasman rivals Australia, who now occupy the third spot. Sri Lanka, who enjoyed an excellent run at home in recent months, including ODI series wins against India and Australia, are in fourth place after gaining five rating points, leapfrogging Pakistan (fifth with a gain of one point) and South Africa (sixth with loss of four points) in the process. Afghanistan also climbed up the ladder – moving to seventh following a four-point improvement – at the expense of former world champions England, who fell to eighth after dropping four points. West Indies, meanwhile, rose to the ninth spot after gaining five points to surpass Bangladesh, who dropped to 10th with a four-point decline. For the first time ever, the annual update features 100 teams in the global T20I rankings, with the updated list including all sides that have played a minimum of eight T20Is over the past three years. The original global T20I rankings were launched in 2019 and included 80 sides. The 2022 edition champions England, sit at number three, with New Zealand, West Indies and South Africa at four, five, and six respectively. Sri Lanka's surge continues in the shortest format of the game as well, now seventh in the rankings after overtaking Asian rivals Pakistan (8). Bangladesh and Afghanistan follow their fellow Asian teams at ninth and 10th places, respectively. Ireland also showed improvement, swapping spots with Zimbabwe to sit in the 11th rank. Australia rule Tests Reigning World Test Championship holders Australia have retained their top spot in the Test team rankings, though their lead was trimmed from 15 to 13 points after the annual update. Pat Cummins' side boasts a rating of 126, staying well in front of the chasing pack. Ben Stokes-led England made a big jump, moving up into the second place while overtaking both South Africa and India. England's improved position comes on the back of winning three out of their four Test series in the past year. Their rating points climbed to 113, while South Africa (111) and India (105) each slipped one place to third and fourth, respectively. The rest of the top 10 remains unchanged, with New Zealand holding fifth place, followed by Sri Lanka, Pakistan, West Indies, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe. Only 10 teams are currently ranked in the Test table. Ireland need to play one more Test in the next 12 months to qualify for a ranking, while Afghanistan must play three more matches to join the list. PTI) First Published: May 05, 2025, 15:05 IST
