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IOL News
an hour ago
- Sport
- IOL News
You don't go there to get personal accolades, you go there to win
ALL FOR THE TEAM Aiden Markram's refused to take credit despite his match-winning century as he and Temba Bavuma's gritty 66 powered South Africa to a historic World Test Championship victory over Australia at Lord's. Picture: Michael Sherman/IOL Image: Michael Sherman/IOL Though he scored a match-winning hundred, Aiden Markram was reluctant to take credit for his side's victory in the World Test Championship (WTC) final over the weekend. South Africa clinched the WTC final at Lord's on Saturday, beating Australia by five wickets at the home of cricket. Captain Temba Bavuma formed part of the match-winning partnership with Markram in the fourth innings, as the Proteas emerged emphatic winners. Markram scored a sensational 136 and Bavuma made an invaluable 66 batting with an injured hamstring at the other end, as the pair shared a pivotal 147-run stand for the third wicket in pursuit of 282 for victory. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Markram Reflects on WTC Triumph: A Proud Moment for South African Cricket 'It's huge [winning the WTC]. It is one of the coolest things I've certainly ever done in my life. We as a team are incredibly proud of it,' said Markram. 'To contribute obviously adds to that feeling of course, but ultimately it was about coming back as a winner, as a champion. 'That was always the focus, that was never going to change. The personal performance, like I said, helps, but that's not why we went there. You didn't go there to get man of the match, you go there to win the game of cricket for South Africa.' When Bavuma went down injured early in his knock, Markram revealed what transpired between the pair of them when it was unclear if the skipper should continue.
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Australia drop Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith out injured for Test series opener vs West Indies
Marnus Labuschagne has been dropped and injured Steve Smith has been ruled out of the Australia lineup for next week's series-opening cricket Test against the West Indies. Cricket Australia on Friday said Smith would miss the opening match of the three-Test series because of a finger injury sustained in the World Test Championship final loss to South Africa last weekend at Lord's. He is expected to be fit for the second Test against the West Indies. Chief selector George Bailey said teenage opener Sam Konstas and wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis would replace Smith and Marnus Labuschagne. He said Smith needed more time for a wound to heal and he'd be reassessed after an another week. "We have made the decision to give Josh and Sam the opportunity to replace Steve and Marnus," Bailey said. "We are excited to see them get the chance to further their fledgling test careers." The 19-year-old Konstas has only played two tests, bursting onto the scene with an almost run-a-ball 60 against India in the Boxing Day test in Melbourne last December. The 30-year-old Inglis has played mostly short-form cricket for Australia, playing his only two Test matches to date in the series win in Sri Lanka in February, where he scored a century on debut. "In his only opportunity in test cricket to date, Josh was outstanding in Sri Lanka, showing great intent and ability to put pressure on the opposition," Bailey said. Labuschange averages 46.19 in 104 test innings, including 11 centuries and 23 half-centuries, but has struggled for form in recent series. He hasn't scored a Test hundred since the 2023 Ashes series in Manchester and hasn't scored above 26 in his most recent four Test matches. Moved up to open in the WTC final against South Africa, he got starts but was out for 17 and 22. "Marnus at his best can be a really important member of this team. He understands his output hasn't been at the level we, or he, expects," Bailey said. "We will continue working with him on the areas of his game we feel he needs to rediscover." The batting order and starting XI will be determined closer to the start of the test next Wednedsay. The second test is scheduled to start July 3.
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
India, England players to wear black armbands during 1st Test, will observe a minute's silence before start of play
Cricket will take a backseat for a moment on Friday as India and England prepare to pay their respects to the victims of the tragic Ahmedabad air disaster before the opening Test at Headingley. Both teams will observe a minute's silence and wear black armbands to honour those who lost their lives. The catastrophe, which occurred on June 12, claimed the lives of 274 people after a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner bound for London crashed shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad. Among the deceased were 181 Indian nationals and 53 British citizens, making the upcoming tribute at Leeds especially poignant for both sides. Ahead of the five-Test series opener, India vice-captain Rishabh Pant expressed the deep grief shared by the team and vowed to bring some joy back to the country through their performance on the field. 'What happened with the aircraft, the whole of India was saddened by it,' Pant said. 'The only thing from our side, we're going to be sticking to how we can make India happy again,' he added. 'The emotion is going to be high always because of what happened in the crash, but at the same time, we are going to put our best foot forward for the country. How we can make them happy is an added responsibility.' The disaster sent shockwaves across both nations, and the global cricketing community also offered its condolences. Moments after takeoff, the aircraft lost stability and crashed into a hostel block of the B.J. Medical College in Ahmedabad's Meghaninagar area. Only one person is believed to have survived the crash. The Test series will be significant for both teams, as it kicks off their respective World Test Championship cycles. For Team India, the series is particularly significant as the side enters a transitional era in Test cricket, with Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravichandran Ashwin all retiring from the format. Shubman Gill will lead the Indian team for the first time in the red-ball format, with wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant being named as his deputy.
NDTV
an hour ago
- Sport
- NDTV
Shubman Gill Sent Big Message By Sachin Tendulkar Ahead Of Captaincy Debut: "Nothing..."
Shubman Gill should be given adequate "time and support" to succeed as he leads India through a tough transition phase, feels the legendary Sachin Tendulkar, whose advice to the new skipper is to focus on his own planning without thinking about opinions outside the dressing room. The 25-year-old Gill will be leading India in the five-Test series against England in the new World Test Championship (WTC) cycle, starting Friday. India will be without their batting talisman Virat Kohli, former skipper Rohit Sharma and senior off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, all of whom have retired from Test cricket. "I think he (Gill) has to be given time. He has to be supported," Tendulkar told PTI in an exclusive interview on the eve of the opening Test in Headingley. Being Indian skipper is a high-pressure job and Tendulkar knows that varied opinions will fly thick and fast. But he expects Gill to have a tunnel vision. "I feel there are going to be a lot of opinions that 'he should do this and he should do that'. And all those kind of things will come into play. But what he should be focused on is, what is the team's plan. What was the discussion in the dressing room. And is it going according to that? "And all the decisions that are being made, are being made in the interest of the team or not, is what he should be thinking the outside world where someone feels that he is being too attacking or he is being too defensive and all that. Those are opinions and people will give opinions. "Eventually, what happens in the dressing room and what he is doing in the interest of the team is going to matter. And that is what should count, nothing else," said the man, who has an unprecedented 51 Test hundreds in 200 games. Batters can't have one-dimensional game in England Tendulkar, who has played five Test series in England between 1990 and 2011, feels that batters need to be adequately flexible in tweaking their game as per conditions. "You need to respect the conditions and bat accordingly. Because when you respect conditions, you have that flexibility in your thought process, in your head. It cannot be one-way traffic that 'my game is like this and I am going to play like this only'. "One has to be slightly flexible in adapting to the approach and if we respect that, then a lot of things can fall into place," the legend, who scored Test hundreds on tours of 1990, 1996 and 2002, said. "But if one is adamant and doesn't believe in changing too many things irrespective of conditions, then sometimes you end up paying a heavy price for that. So my message would be to respect conditions. You will know when to attack and when to defend," the Master advised. Despite the challenges, Tendulkar India has several positives to count on. Even back-in-the-mix Karun Nair or an inexperienced B Sai Sudharsan, who are yet to play Tests in England, have already played county cricket for Northamptonshire and Surrey respectively. "I think all these guys have played in England. Not international cricket, but they have played cricket in England. So, I don't think it will be something that they have never been exposed to. They have been exposed to these conditions. "They have played in South Africa. They have played in New Zealand. They have played in Australia. And all these experiences teaches you a lot. You put those experiences together and put them to practice. I think they will be okay," Tendulkar added. "Two spinners only when there isn't enough grass" Leeds has been unusually warm this June and India can only think of playing two specialist spinner if conditions remain like this and surfaces are on the drier side. "It again depends on the kind of surface that they are playing on," Tendulkar replied when asked about the addition of a second spinners. "Whether the surface will have a lot of grass or it may not have enough grass. So, the temptation to play two spinners would only be if there is not enough grass on the surface and overhead conditions like they are now. And if the conditions are like this, then one can think of playing two spinners. Tendulkar believes spin all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja will make it to the playing eleven. "And if someone else has to come in the team, be it Washington Sundar or Kuldeep Yadav or whatever combination they decide to go ahead with, that can only be determined after looking at the surface. "If the surface is really dry and there is not much of grass cover, then they might consider picking two spinners otherwise, I don't see that happening." Manchester 1990 and Headingley 2002 are special Among all the venues that India played at, Leeds is the trickiest venue in Tendulkar's opinion. Asked about the hundreds and 90s that he had scored in England, he picked his maiden ton in Manchester and his highest score in the country (193) in Leeds as two special knocks. "First in 1990, when I scored my first international hundred and we were able to save the Test match, which kept the series alive and then the other one would be 193 at Headingley (2002), where we won the Test match. "So these two hundreds would be important hundreds, I would say. I think the conditions when we played, I thought in Headingley, were completely different because it was not so sunny. It was cold and the pitch was damp."
India.com
2 hours ago
- Sport
- India.com
IND vs ENG 1st Test Dream11 Team Prediction: Fantasy Tips, Pitch Report, Playing 11s & Match Preview for Headingley Clash
Cricket fans are in for a thrilling red-ball contest as India and England face off in the 1st Test at Headingley, Leeds, kicking off the 2025-27 World Test Championship (WTC) cycle. With Team India entering a new chapter post the retirements of legends Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, and England seeking to assert dominance at home, expectations are high for this blockbuster five-day battle. For fantasy cricket lovers, this match is a goldmine of potential Dream11 points. Here's your complete guide to the IND vs ENG 1st Test Dream11 team prediction, including pitch report, fantasy cricket tips, probable playing XIs, injury updates, and best captain and vice-captain options. Also Read: Meet Karun Nair's Wife Sanaya Tankariwala: Media Professional Who Converted To Hinduism For Love Pitch: Historically, Headingley offers plenty for seamers early in the match. The average first-innings score here across the last six Tests is just 213, making early wickets a likely outcome. Spinners could come into play as the pitch wears. Weather: As per forecast, Day 1 should be partly sunny with minimal interruptions. However, rain is expected on Day 2 and Day 3, which may affect playing time and fantasy outcomes. IND vs ENG Playing XIs: Predicted Lineups & Full Squads India Squad & Predicted Playing XI Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (c), Rishabh Pant (wk), Karun Nair, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna England Squad & Predicted Playing XI Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (c), Jamie Smith (wk), Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue, Shoaib Bashir IND vs ENG Dream11 Prediction: Top Fantasy Picks Best Batters Joe Root (ENG): 979 runs in last 10 Tests, averaging over 60. A Dream11 essential. Yashasvi Jaiswal (IND): 770 runs in his last 10 matches. In red-hot form. Top Wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant (IND): 677 runs in last 10 Tests at an aggressive strike rate. Ideal Dream11 pick. Top Bowlers Jasprit Bumrah (IND): 46 wickets in 9 Tests. Proven match-winner in overseas conditions. Chris Woakes (ENG): Experienced swing bowler who thrives in English conditions. All-Rounders to Watch Ben Stokes (ENG): Vital to England's balance with bat and ball. Ravindra Jadeja (IND): Reliable contributor in all departments. Consistent fantasy scorer. Dream11 Team Combinations – Small League and Grand League Small League (Team 1) Wicketkeeper: Rishabh Pant Batters: Joe Root (C), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Ben Duckett All-rounders: Ben Stokes (VC), Ravindra Jadeja Bowlers: Jasprit Bumrah, Chris Woakes, Shoaib Bashir, Brydon Carse Grand League (Team 2) Wicketkeepers: Rishabh Pant, Jamie Smith Batters: Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ollie Pope, Yashasvi Jaiswal All-rounders: Ben Stokes, Shardul Thakur Bowlers: Jasprit Bumrah (VC), Chris Woakes, Kuldeep Yadav Captain: Yashasvi Jaiswal Captain and Vice-Captain Choices Joe Root: The most consistent English batter, key to anchoring the innings. Yashasvi Jaiswal: In sublime touch and capable of scoring big. Jasprit Bumrah: Likely to exploit Headingley's early assistance for seamers. Ben Stokes: Offers maximum fantasy value as a reliable all-rounder. Expert Match Prediction and Fantasy Strategy England, with home advantage and red-ball depth, start as favorites. However, India's young squad, led by Shubman Gill, has the hunger and talent to challenge them, especially if the top order survives the new ball. Fantasy Tip: Prioritize top-order batters and seamers for the first two days. All-rounders like Stokes and Jadeja offer safe multipliers in any Dream11 format.
