Connect with us

Cricket

CLOSE-IN: England cricket side looks unprepared (IANS column)

Published

on

The 1st Test match between India and England in Hyderabad was looked at as a challenging start to the 5-match series between the two nations. England were projecting it as the final frontier, all set to break India’s dominance at home. The word “preparation” and “Bazball” were being written and spoken about with gusto. One got the feeling that England were on a serious path of planning and structuring India’s demise. How wrong one was.

The 10 days’ preparation in Abu Dhabi to simulate the Indian conditions seemed to have gone totally awry. The English batters and bowlers were as clueless about the Indian conditions as we are about the English weather.

The England side needed to have got acclimatised through a few practice matches, as going into a major series without match practice is asking for trouble.

The famous English Bazball theory was put to rest as well. The basic skills of defense on a slow-turning track of the English batters were unconvincing and uncertain. For them to attack the Indian spinners to play Bazball cricket was like asking for divine help.

ALSO READ:  India slip down below Bangladesh in latest WTC points table

The 5-match series is going to be a long and tedious affair for the English team. Their topline spinners are very ordinary. They lack the consistency and guile to either spin the ball or control it through good line and length. A bunch of club-grade cricketers who need time to play the big league. One wonders as to how they will be able to sustain four more matches if India keeps preparing turning tracks at all the venues.

The talk of India preparing wickets suitable for spin bowling was a ploy known to all concerned. England in order to counter it effectively filled their playing eleven with more spin options and had just Mark Wood as their only pacer in the first Test.

England erred in their selection. In Test cricket one plays to their strength especially, in the area of bowling, as one cannot win a Test match if one does not take 20 wickets. Good pacers in the past have been successful in Indian conditions. The slow uneven bounce and the dry surface are conditions that fast bowlers have exploited through their cutters and the reverse swing. A good bowler is a good bowler in all conditions and for England to go into the Test match without their most experienced pacer, James Anderson, one felt they missed a beat.

ALSO READ:  1st Test: Ollie Pope's unbeaten 148 pulls England out of trouble; take lead of 126 runs over India

Anderson has loads of experience in the conditions prevalent in India and can reverse swing and bowl accurately all day long. He is a master of his trade and to have him sitting out was a tactical blunder on the part of the English think tank.

The influence of the Limited-overs game is taking shape in Test match cricket as well. Both batters and bowlers seem to lack patience. Many of the Indian batsmen were set for a big score, however, all succumbed to hitting the ball to fielders in the deep, attempting to send the ball out of the ground. Similarly, bowlers seem to lack planning in ways to get a batter out. Their hope of getting a wicket makes them rely on the wicket assisting them or through a rash stroke played by the batter.

In the past, watching Test cricket was all about how captains and bowlers planned the downfall of the batters. In order to do this, bowlers needed to be accurate and needed to have control over their deliveries. The English bowlers seem to lack this basic capability. Unless they improve drastically, this English side under Ben Stokes will be chasing leather over all parts of the ground throughout the matches in this series.

ALSO READ:  INDvENG: Bashir replaces injured Leach as England name playing XI for 2nd Test

India should clinch this Test match series quite convincingly. One was happy to see a good crowd at the stadium in Hyderabad on India’s Republic Day. Watching the Indian cricket heroes demolishing the England side truly reflects on how Indian cricket has progressed over time.

Celebrating the return of Bhagwan Ram to Ayodhya and the 74th Republic Day, a win against England for India will be just the icing on the cake.

(Yajurvindra Singh is a former India cricketer. The views expressed are personal)

Cricket

Head released from Australia ODI and T20I squads, Bartlett to be rested for second ODI

Published

on

By

Sydney, Feb 3 (IANS) Australia opener Travis Head has been released from both the ODI and T20I squads to “refresh” after a strenuous Test summer, and pace bowler Xavier Bartlett has been rested for the second ODI against West Indies but is anticipated to return with vigor for the third game in Canberra.

World Cup-winning quick Josh Hazlewood has been added to Australia’s squad for the second ODI against the West Indies at the SCG.

Bartlett’s impressive performance in Melbourne, where he claimed 4 for 17, marked a memorable start to his international career. However, the management’s decision to rest him for the second ODI is part of a calculated plan to manage his workload cautiously. A Cricket Australia statement said the decision formed part of his “ongoing management” after the 25-year-old Queenslander missed the first half of the domestic season following his return from a back stress injury.

The young pace sensation, who dealt with a back injury last year, is being handled judiciously, especially considering the demanding schedule with three ODIs in five days and no prior one-day or Shield cricket this season.

ALSO READ:  ECB honours Joe Root with a Silver Bat

The void left by Bartlett’s absence in Sydney will be filled by the inclusion of experienced World Cup-winning quick, Josh Hazlewood. Hazlewood initially rested for the ODI series after a busy Test summer, is set to bolster the Australian squad.

Left-arm quick Spencer Johnson will join the squad as cover for the third ODI in Canberra on Tuesday.

Australia has not named a replacement after Head’s departure and that opens the door for potential changes in the lineup, with the promising Jake Fraser-McGurk in contention to make his ODI debut at the SCG.

Continue Reading

Cricket

2nd Test: Crawley, Duckett take England to 32/0 after Jaiswal’s 209 carries India to 396

Published

on

By

Visakhapatnam, Feb 3 (IANS) England’s openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett came out unscathed from the small period of batting for 20 minutes in the first session after Yashasvi Jaiswal’s 209 carried India to a first-innings total of 396 on day two of second Test at the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium on Saturday.

At lunch, England are 32/0 in six overs and trail India by 364 runs. After seeing off Jasprit Bumrah’s opening over, Duckett’s first boundary came off an inside edge against Mukesh Kumar, while Crawley whipped the pacer for four to get off the mark. Duckett was more assured at the crease, seen from him taking three boundaries off Mukesh in the fourth over, to make it England’s session with both bat and ball.

Earlier, Jaiswal converted his overnight score of 179 not out into a maiden double century in Tests, though India missed out on reaching 400 by just four runs. Playing in just his sixth Test match, Jaiswal mixed caution and aggression in equal measure and stood tall even as his team-mates fell from the other end.

ALSO READ:  India slip down below Bangladesh in latest WTC points table

He become the third youngest Indian batter to score a double hundred in Test cricket, via a six and four off debutant England spinner Shoaib Bashir in the 102nd over. His incredible career-best knock of 209 from 290 balls was laced with 19 fours and seven sixes, before being dismissed by veteran fast-bowler James Anderson.

But it was a morning which made England happy as India’s last four wickets fell for only 32 runs. Anderson took three wickets in his miserly spell while Bashir and Rehan Ahmed also took three scalps each.

In the morning, Ravichandran Ashwin was exquisite in his cover drives off Bashir, while Jaiswal, who survived an lbw appeal off Anderson, whacked the off-spinner by dancing down the pitch to smack a six over long-on to enter the 190s. Anderson got the first wicket of the morning when he squared up Ashwin on defence and wicketkeeper Ben Foakes took the catch behind.

ALSO READ:  Virat Kohli: Steve Smith is the best Test batsman of this generation

Jaiswal brought up his double-hundred in style with back-to-back boundaries off Bashir – a slog-sweep over backward square leg for six was followed by sweeping a full toss for four. Jaiswal celebrated by removing his helmet, jumping with joy and blowing kisses to a weekend crowd giving him a standing ovation and chanting his name to applaud a magnificent knock by the youngster.

He then tried taking the attack against Anderson – a thick edge on being squared up went for four. But Jaiswal lost his wicket when he tried to slice off Anderson after coming down the pitch, only for deep cover to take the catch. It brought an end to a momentous knock from Jaiswal, who was rightfully given a standing ovation by everyone in the stadium on his way back to the dugout.

India’s innings ended swiftly after Jaiswal’s fall as Bumrah edged to first slip off Ahmed and Mukesh too fell in the same fashion off Bashir, as the hosts’ fell short of 400 by just four runs. With the pitch still playing relatively well, though there’s been some evidence of variable bounce for spinners when Ashwin and Kuldeep Yadav were introduced into the bowling attack at the stroke of lunch, it sets up the platform nicely for a big second session.

ALSO READ:  2nd Test: Crawley, Duckett take England to 32/0 after Jaiswal’s 209 carries India to 396

Brief scores: India 396 in 112 overs (Yashasvi Jaiswal 209, Shubman Gill 34; James Anderson 3-47, Rehan Ahmed 3-65) lead England 32/0 in six overs (Ben Duckett 17 not out, Zak Crawley 15 not out) by 364 runs

Continue Reading

Cricket

2nd Test: Yashasvi Jaiswal slams career-best 209 as England bowl out India for 396

Published

on

By

Visakhapatnam, Feb 3 (IANS) Opener Yashasvi Jaiswal converted his overnight score of 179 not out into a maiden double century in Tests. But it wasn’t enough to take India past 400 as England bowled them out for 396 in 112 overs of their first innings on day two’s play at the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium on Saturday.

Playing in just his sixth Test match, Jaiswal mixed caution and aggression in equal measure and stood tall even as his team-mates fell from the other end to become the third youngest Indian batter to score a double hundred in Test cricket, via a six and four off debutant England spinner Shoaib Bashir in the 102nd over.

His incredible career-best knock of 209 from 290 balls was laced with 19 fours and seven sixes, before being dismissed by veteran fast-bowler James Anderson. But it was a morning that would leave England happy as India’s last four wickets fell for 32 runs. Anderson took three wickets in his miserly spell while Bashir and Rehan Ahmed also took three scalps.

ALSO READ:  Waugh Shows Jaishankar Around the SCG

In the morning, Ravichandran Ashwin was exquisite in his cover drives off Bashir, while Jaiswal, who survived an lbw appeal off Anderson, whacked the off-spinner by dancing down the pitch to smack a six over long-on to enter the 190s. Anderson got the first wicket of the morning when he squared up Ashwin on defence and wicketkeeper Ben Foakes took the catch behind.

Jaiswal brought up his double-hundred in style with back-to-back boundaries off Bashir – a slog-sweep over backward square leg for six was followed by sweeping a full toss for four. He then tried taking the attack against Anderson – a thick edge on being squared up went for four.

But Jaiswal lost his wicket when he tried to slice off Anderson after coming down the pitch, only for deep cover to take the catch. It brought an end to a momentous knock from Jaiswal, who was rightfully given a standing ovation by everyone in the stadium. The end of India’s innings came swiftly as Jasprit Bumrah edged to first slip off Ahmed and Mukesh Kumar too fell in the same fashion off Bashir, as the hosts’ fell short of 400 by just four runs.

ALSO READ:  2nd Test: Yashasvi Jaiswal becomes third-youngest Indian to score double-hundred in Tests

Brief scores: India 396 in 112 overs (Yashasvi Jaiswal 209, Shubman Gill 34; James Anderson 3-47, Rehan Ahmed 3-65) against England

Continue Reading

Cricket

2nd Test: Yashasvi Jaiswal becomes third-youngest Indian to score double-hundred in Tests

Published

on

By

yashasvi jaiswal first 200

Visakhapatnam, Feb 3 (IANS) Yashasvi Jaiswal etched his name in the annals of Indian cricket history as he became the third-youngest Indian after Sunil Gavaskar and Vinod Kambli to score a double-hundred in Tests, on Day 2 of the second Test against England at the ACA-VDCA Stadium in Visakhapatnam.

Jaiswal, aged 22 years and 77 days completed his feat in 277 balls, in the process guiding India to a 350-plus total in the first innings of the match. The opener became the first Indian since Mayank Agarwal (November 2019) to breach the double-ton mark in the longest format of the game.

The young Indian opener, known for his aggressive style of play, showcased a remarkable blend of attacking prowess and composure as he navigated the challenges posed by the English bowlers. Jaiswal’s innings became a beacon of hope for the Indian team, especially as wickets tumbled at regular intervals at the opposite end.

Not only did Jaiswal reach the coveted double-ton milestone, but he also became the first Indian left-handed batsman since Gautam Gambhir in 2008 to achieve this feat in Test cricket. The former India opener had scored 206 against Australia, and now Jaiswal follows in his footsteps with an equally remarkable innings.

ALSO READ:  2nd Test: Yashasvi Jaiswal becomes third-youngest Indian to score double-hundred in Tests

Clocking in at 277 balls to reach the 200-run mark, Jaiswal’s innings demonstrated not only his attacking flair but also his ability to temper his aggression with patience when the situation demanded.

Former batter, Vinod Kambli remains the youngest Indian to hit a double century, when he achieved his feat at the age of 21 years and 32 days against England in Wankhede, back in 1993. The youngest double centurion in the history of Test cricket is Javed Miandad, who achieved his feat at the age of 19 years and 140 days.

Continue Reading

Cricket

2nd Test: Fifty for Jaiswal as India reach 103/2 at lunch after England’s early strikes

Published

on

By

Visakhapatnam, Feb 2 (IANS) Yashasvi Jaiswal reached 51 off 89 (not out) as India posted 103 for 2 at lunch after an early strike from debutant Shoaib Bashir and veteran pacer James Anderson on Day 1 of the second Test here at Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium on Friday.

Yashasvi started off well attacking Joe Root on the very first ball as the off-spinner opened the bowling from the other end with Anderson. Jaiswal got to his half-century in 89 balls and is unbeaten at 51 in 92 deliveries hitting 6 fours and a maximum.

Shoaib trapped the big fish Rohit Sharma for 14 as the Indian skipper closed the face on an off-break from the debutant and tucked his leg glance straight to Ollie Pope at leg slip.

It was the moment that young Bashir had been dreaming of, his maiden Test wicket. With a skillful delivery, he outfoxed the experienced Rohit, sending him back to the pavilion and giving England the breakthrough they craved.

ALSO READ:  Suryakumar shines as Mumbai beats RCB

Yashasvi began to mount a comeback, putting the English spinners under pressure. Sensing the need for experience, Stokes summoned the ever-reliable James Anderson back into the attack. The veteran seamer responded emphatically, dismissing Shubman Gill scoring 34 off 46 balls just before the lunch interval, turning the tide in their favour with the dismissal.

The breakthrough injected a renewed sense of optimism into the English camp, setting the stage for an intriguing battle in the subsequent sessions.

England, equipped with the luxury of three spinners, saw Ben Stokes orchestrating a shrewd rotation of his slow bowlers. The trio of Root, Tom Hartley, and the debutant Shoaib Bashir combined forces, applying pressure on the Indian batting lineup and stifling their scoring opportunities.

Jaiswal with 51 runs led India’s attack with Shreyas Iyer, who came out after Gill’s dismissal.

Brief scores: India 103/2 at lunch (Yashasvi Jaiswal 51 not out, Shreyas Iyer 4; James Anderson 1-19, Shoaib Bashir 1-39) against England.

ALSO READ:  1st Test: Ollie Pope's unbeaten 148 pulls England out of trouble; take lead of 126 runs over India
Continue Reading

Trending