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Time of India
16 hours ago
- Sport
- Time of India
India vs England: Ahead of first Test at Headingley, R Ashwin's wife Prithi feels 'mixed emotions'
R Ashwin (L) with his family. (Instagram) India's Test cricket team is undergoing a transition as they prepare to face England in a five-match series at Headingley, Leeds, marking the first time since 2011 that the team will play without celebrated stalwarts Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, and Ravichandran Ashwin . Under the new leadership of Shubman Gill, this series represents the beginning of India's fresh cycle in the ICC World Test Championship. The last time India played without these veterans was during the 2011 Oval Test against England, when MS Dhoni led the team. This significant change comes after the retirements of key players, with Rohit and Kohli announcing their departures last month and Ashwin concluding his Test career during the tour of Australia in 2024. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! The emotional impact of this transition was captured in a heartfelt social media post by Prithi Narayanan, Ravichandran Ashwin's wife, on the morning of the first Test. Shubman's Big Test Begins! India's Probable XI & Stokes' Mind Games | ENG vs IND 1st Test Preview "Test match day for India and I woke up with many many mixed feelings :) have to find a different way to love it and unlearn the only way I knew to," Prithi wrote in an Instagram Story. While Pujara and Rahane have not officially retired, they are no longer being considered for national team selection. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like ¡Todo a tu favor con Orange! Orange Undo These players were instrumental in India's rise to the No.1 Test rankings and their notable victories in overseas conditions. R Ashwin's wife Prithi posted on Instagram. The new Indian Test team features a mix of young talent and experienced players. Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sai Sudharsan, and Dhruv Jurel represent the new generation, while the pace attack is led by the established duo of Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj. The leadership structure has also been revamped, with Rishabh Pant serving as vice-captain under Gill's captaincy. This new formation emphasises aggressive cricket and adaptation to modern Test match requirements. Game On Season 1 kicks off with Sakshi Malik's inspiring story. Watch Episode 1 here
India Gazette
5 days ago
- Sport
- India Gazette
Wadekar's resiilience, Chandrasekhar's storm: How India conquered England shores for first time in 1971
New Delhi [India], June 16 (ANI): A new-look Indian side will kickstart their five-match series against England from June 20 onwards at Leeds, aiming to seal the side's first series win on English shores in 18 years under captaincy of newly-appointed captain Shubman Gill, following retirements of superstars Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli from the format. As Team India practices and sweats it hard, they will have three captains and their teams to take inspiration from: Ajit Wadekar, who won India their first series in England back in 1971, Kapil Dev, who repeated the feat in 1986 and Rahul Dravid, who brought the Pataudi Trophy back home in 2007. Ahead of the series, let us look back at India's hard-fought 1-0 win in England 44 years back. 1st Test: After a series of solid performances against several counties in tour matches, the first Test took place at Lord's. England opted to bat first, putting on 304 on the board, with half-centuries from Alan Knott (67) and John Snow (73) after India reduced them to 183/7. Bishan Bedi (4/70), Bhagwath Chandrasekhar (3/110) and S Venkataraghavan (2/44) shone for India with their bamboozling spin. India secured a slender nine-run lead despite the early loss of openers Ashok Mankad and Sunil Gavaskar, with fifties coming from Ajit Wadekar (85), Gundappa Viswanath (68) and Eknath Solkar (67), who powered India to 313. In the second England innings, spin was once again dominant as other than a fifty from John Edrich (62), none of the batters could make an impact. Venkataraghavan took 4/52, reducing England to 191, and India had 183 runs to chase. India started off shaky with scoreline at 21/2, with a 66-run stand between Gavaskar (53) and Farokh Engineer (35) putting India at the front before England struck a comeback courtesy a Norman Gifford (4/48) spell. The match ended in a draw, with India at 145/8. 2nd Test: In the second Test at Lord's, England once again opted to bat first. Skipper Ray Illingworth (107) along with Peter Lever (88*) and Brian Luckhurst (78) proved England right as they put up 386 on the board. Syed Abid Ali (4/64) and Venkataraghavan (3/89) were the top bowlers for India. In their first innings, India were made to suffer by Lever (5/70) as no one clicked with the bat except for fifties from Gavaskar (57) and Solkar (50). India was skittled out for 212, trailing by 174 runs. Luckhurst (101) and Edrich (59) scored big for England, who declared on 245/3 in the second innings, setting a massive 420 to chase for India. The match ended in a stalemate, with India at 65/3. 3rd Test: The Oval Test was Indian cricket at its finest in England. A hat-trick of toss wins put England to bat first, and fifties from John Jameson (82), Knott (90) and Richard Hutton (81) took England to 355. Solkar shined with spell of 3/28, while spin trio of Bedi, Chandrasekhar and Venkatraghavan managed two each. Resilient fifties from Dilip Sardesai (54) and Engineer (54) ,and skipper Wadekar's (48) took India to 284, though they trailed by 71 runs. Skipper Illingworth (5/70) shone with a five-wicket haul. In England's second innings, Chandrasekhar (6/38) hit the hosts like a storm, bundling them out for 101 runs, setting an easy 172 to chase for India. India chased down this total with four wickets left, with Wadekar (45) and Sardesai (40) playing solid knocks in the face of hiccups endured during the chase. India registered their first-ever Test win in England and first-ever series win there as well. Skipper Wadekar was India's top run-getter (204 runs in three matches with a fifty in six innings), followed by Engineer (172 runs in three Tests with a fifty in five innings) and Solkar (168 runs in three Tests with two fifties in five innings). The spin trio of Venkatraghavan (13 scalps in three matches at an average of 26.92, best figures of 4/52), Chandrasekhar (13 scalps in three matches at an average of 29.15, best figures of 6/38), and Bedi (11 wickets at an average of 29.54, with best figures of 4/29) dominated the top-three spots in the bowling charts. Solkar also took six wickets, making this series a solid all-round show for himself. (ANI)
Hindustan Times
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Ajinkya Rahane shocked after being told about Rohit Sharma's retirement in press conference: 'Is it? I thought he...'
Ajinkya Rahane was taken by surprise when told about Rohit Sharma's retirement from Test cricket during the post-match press conference after the game between Kolkata Knight Riders and Chennai Super Kings on Wednesday night. Speaking after KKR's narrow two-wicket loss to Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2025, the former India Test vice-captain – currently leading the Knight Riders – admitted he had no idea of the news. Ajinkya Rahane reacts to Rohit Sharma's Test retirement(IPL) 'I'm actually shocked. I didn't know that he retired in the Test format. But I just want to wish him the best,' Rahane said at the Eden Gardens, visibly caught off-guard. Rohit, 38, took to Instagram on Wednesday evening to confirm that he was stepping away from the longest format of the game with immediate effect. His decision came just a day after India's national selectors met to discuss the leadership group for the upcoming tour of England, a series that will mark Team India's return to international cricket after the IPL. Rahane, a long-time teammate of Rohit for both India and Mumbai, was informed of the news by reporters. 'Oh, is it? I just want to wish him the best. I thought he has done fantastically well in the Test format. I didn't know (about the retirement),' he repeated, still processing the announcement. Watch Rahane's reaction: The veteran batter praised Rohit's journey in red-ball cricket, highlighting his successful transition from middle-order batsman to attacking opener. 'Whatever his plans are, he has done really well, improved his game, as a Test batter. He started his career 5-6 number and then opened the innings,' Rahane said. 'I thought the way he adapted to that opening slot was amazing to see. He always wanted to take on the bowlers, play with freedom. And that's what he wanted other players to do as well, play with freedom.' Rohit retires with 4,301 Test runs in 67 matches, averaging 40.57 with 12 centuries and 18 fifties. His bold approach at the top, especially in home conditions, helped redefine India's strategy post-2019, with his standout knock of 127 in the 2021 Oval Test marking a high point in his overseas red-ball career. While Rohit has already bid adieu to T20Is after leading India to a World Cup title last year, he will continue to be available for ODIs and the IPL.
Daily Mail
29-04-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Why an 80mph seamer can lead England to Ashes glory Down Under - and what it means for Bazball's relationship with county cricket
During the Oval Test against Sri Lanka last September, an influential member of the England dressing-room suggested over dinner that it would be hard to squeeze Essex seamer Sam Cook into the Test team – essentially because he wasn't quick enough. Yet when England name their squad for next month's four-day Test against Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge, Cook – whose offerings settle in at around 80mph – is set for inclusion, earning the chance at the age of 27 to show that a remarkable first-class record of 318 wickets at 19 each can translate into success at the highest level.
The Guardian
20-02-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Steve Smith's enduring brilliance gives England sinking feeling once again
Coldplay's Chris Martin tells a story about the litmus test of playing stadium gigs. Well, the lavatory test. 'When you are singing somewhere like Wembley Arena, you can only really see the outline of the exits.' During some songs, Martin explains that all you can see is a clear gangway under the exit light. 'You think, 'wonderful, this song is great'… But when those lights get blocked and everyone is going to the bathroom, you're like 'Gah, that song is out, we should never have put that song on the setlist!'' The Oval. 2019. Fifth Ashes Test. Martin's quote pops into my head as Steve Smith comes out to bat in Australia's first innings. Smith's arrival is met with the usual, if less vociferous booing, but after scoring 671 runs in five innings, there's also a sort of grudging respect in the south London air. Smith has been booed all series but there's a hollowness to the pantomime by now and noticeably fewer members of the crowd are getting stuck in. At Edgbaston, five weeks previously, Smith emerged to play his first Test innings back after serving a 12-month ban post the 'sandpapergate' ball tampering scandal. The boos were hostile and vociferous. Swirling from the Hollies stand and booming out to the middle. Smith made 144 in the first innings with Australia reeling and followed up with 142 in the second to set up a resounding victory. He scored 92 in the next match at Lord's, a searing Jofra Archer bouncer and creeping concussion about the only thing could stop him. As a result he missed Australia's loss at Headingley in the third Test but came back to snuff out England's Ashes hopes at Old Trafford in the fourth. A bone crunching double century in the first innings and a soul sapping 82 in the second set up victory and saw Australia retain the Ashes. His arrival at the Oval crease is met with the distinctive pud-thudding sound of seats being emptied and a mass shuffle towards the bars and the bathrooms. Smith's runs have become so inevitable, his gimlet eye so inscrutable across the series that England's fans (and more to the point, England's players) just know that they aren't going to get him out cheaply. Smith has driven English cricket fans to drink, inflicted upon them a sudden urge to commune with their bladder. It's not like he won't still be batting when they come back. England managed to erase him from the series set-list momentarily but he returned with run-scoring vengeance, a cricketing T-1000 with a thin headband, fast-bowler aneurysm-inducing fidgety set-up and remarkable ability to whip balls on the stumps through midwicket for four. February 2025. A friend who I was sat with during the 2019 Oval Test sends a message. He's the sort of English cricket fan who really cares if England win or lose, especially to Australia. It's fair to say Smith is giving him that sinking feeling again. 'The bloke has scored four centuries in his last five innings but people are still talking about him like he's way off his best. Does not bode well for the Ashes.' I can sense my pal's pain and frustration rising out of the screen as I read. His wretched summer of six years ago is beginning to smart once more. Smith's cruellest trick when he was batting at his absolute peak was to still make the opposition think they had a chance of getting him out. By the time of the 2019 Oval Test this had well and truly worn off, hence the resigned bar queues, but for most of that series it seemed like he was toying with England's bowlers and supporters, perhaps even with ingrained batting logic too. Unlike, say, Roger Federer or Tiger Woods who ruled their sports with a sort of regal perfection at their peak, Smith is more of a glitchy rope-a-doper, he lulls you in and then whips away at the last. Serenity isn't a word you would use to describe him at the crease, even at his most dominant. Whether it be his unique set up, one that still resembles a forgetful bloke attempting to leave the house, 'spectacles, testicles, wallet and watch', or the way he chooses to not play a shot, prancing as he does when he leaves the ball like an over eager Samurai inciting a duel and immediately regretting it. Smith gives you a sniff and then socks you on the nose. 'The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist' the quote goes about Keyser Soze in The Usual Suspects. The greatest trick Steve Smith ever pulled was convincing the world's bowlers he was ever going to miss a straight one. 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 But then he did. Whisper it but Smith isn't the same batter he was six years ago. The invincibility cloak has a few holes in it. He does miss the odd straight one now, just as he does occasionally throw his hands out and play at balls he needn't or flick a bit too carelessly down the leg side. These days, his bat size appears less barn door, more stable. Still wider than most. Is my doleful SMS-sending friend right to be worried? Of course he is. The Test average is still above 50 five and the hundreds and milestones are still being chalked. The recent re-promotion to the captaincy in Pat Cummins' absence has given Smith an extra bit of jaunt in his toddler-ish gait and a re-smelting of steel in the eye. The current Champions Trophy gives him the opportunity to lift a global trophy as a leader and the redemption arc that would entail won't be lost on him, just as the chance to be crowned the World's best Test side in the lead-up to the mother of all Ashes ding dongs won't either. After a dizzying and at times tumultuous 15-year career, Steven Peter Devereux Smith might be yet to play the greatest hits.
