England assistant coach Paul Collingwood on Thursday heaped praise on debutant Sarfaraz Khan, whose aggressive 62 allowed India to score 326 for five on day one of the third Test. Collingwood said Sarfaraz showed a "lot of courage to play like that" after the right-handed batter smashed his fifty off 48 balls, the joint fastest by an Indian on debut. He came out and batted really well. We kept attacking fields to him. He likes to be a strokemaker and play his shots, Collingwood told the media after stumps here. I thought Ben (Stokes) wanted to keep attacking fields so we could create a chance. And fairplay to him (Sarfaraz), he had the courage to go over the top on a few occasions, Collingwood added. He sweeps really well and put the bowlers under pressure. On debut, it take as a lot of courage to come out and play like that. I guess from his point of view, it was a shame to get run out the way he did. You can see why he has got a pretty good first-class average he looks a decent
India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja on Thursday apologised to Sarfaraz Khan for a "wrong call" that led to the debutant batter getting run out on day one of third Test against England. Sarfaraz (62 off 66) was going all guns blazing before Jadeja misjudged a call for a quick single, leading to a run out at the non-striker's end. Jadeja went on to score an unbeaten 110 off 212 balls as India reached 326 for five at stumps. "Feeling bad for @sarfarazkhan97. It was my wrong call, well played," Jadeja posted on his Instagram handle. A consistent performer on the domestic circuit, Sarfaraz had to wait years for his maiden India call-up, which came ahead of the Vizag Test. India's most successful Test bowler, Anil Kumble, presented the Test cap to Sarfaraz in an emotional ceremony witnessed by the latter's family.
The year was 2014. A small boy in his teens stood in front of Noida's most famous cricket coach Phool Chand's office room, and there was no parent accompanying him. "Before I could ask anything, the boy said, 'Sir my name is Dhruv Jurel and please take me in your academy', he requested," the coach, who saw a quiet confidence in the teenager, recalled. On Thursday, as Jurel became an Indian Test cricketer, Phool Chand vividly remembered every moment of that day. Memories came flooding back and he became emotional. "For a teacher, can there be a bigger day than seeing his student excel. He is the first among my students who will play Test cricket and second after pacer Shivam Mavi to play international cricket," Phool Chand, who runs his academy in Sector 71, Noida, told PTI. Back to that day, and he recollected some more things that struck him then. "I didn't see any parent accompanying him. I thought may be he is a local boy from Noida but then he said, 'Sir, I have come all alone
Sarfaraz Khan being ignored season after season despite making a mountain of runs in domestic cricket did shatter hopes of his devoted father but all of that disappointment made way for tears of joy on Thursday when his son made his Test debut. Naushad Khan, Sarfaraz's "proud" father and mentor, could not control his tears after the middle-order batter received his India cap from the great Anil Kumble. Speaking to BCCI.TV shortly after the special moment, Naushad said Sarfaraz's case proves that there is always light at the end of the tunnel. "Earlier when I used to put in a lot of hardwork (on Sarfaraz), I used to think that why my dream doesn't become a reality. But after getting the Test cap my thoughts have changed for all kids who are working. "Raat ko bakht do guzarne ke liye, suraj apni hi samay pe niklega (Give time for the night to end, sun will rise at its own time)," Naushad said. Naushad said advised his son is to work hard, have self-belief and be patient even when he
India vs England Highlights, Rajkot Test Day 2: Ben Duckett scored a bucket full of runs as he remained unbeaten on 133 and England reached 207/2 to trail by 238 at the end of Day 2 of the third Test
The Indian skipper was standing in the dressing room as Jadeja was only one run short of the century, but the runout drew Rohit's ire, and he threw his cap away in disgust.
While getting to his hundred, Rohit also became second India with the most sixes in Test cricket. He overcame former India captain MS Dhoni's 78 sixes in Tests.
Sarfaraz is one of the few Indian players to have a First-Class average of more than 50 at the time of his Test debut
India released pacer Mukesh Kumar from the squad before the third Test against England here, allowing him to join Bengal for their Ranji Trophy game against Bihar on Friday. The right-armer, who played the second Test in Visakhapatnam, will join back the Indian squad for the fourth game, scheduled to be played in Ranchi from February 23. "Mr Mukesh Kumar has been released from the India squad for the third Test against England in Rajkot, the BCCI said in statement "He will join his Ranji Trophy team, Bengal, for the team's next fixture before linking up with Team India in Ranchi," it added. Mukesh, who was replaced by Mohammed Siraj in the playing XI for the thirst Test on Thursday, struggled in Visakhpatnam, with the England batters taking him to the cleaners. The 30-year-old bowled the least number of overs, registering figures of 0/44 in 7 overs in the first innings and 1/26 in 5 overs in the second essay. His sole wicket was that of England number 10 Shoaib Bashir. The ...
England's Anderson & Joe Root, Australia's Lyon and Smith, India's Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar and Sri Lanka's Angelo Mathews are the only active cricketers who have played more than 100 Tests
India vs England 3rd Test Day 1 Highlights: Rohit Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja hit centuries while Sarfaraz Khan won hearts with his quickfire 62 as India dominated the English bowlers at Rajkot
India will need to be ruthless and tactful in equal measure while dealing with an unpredictable England when the third chapter of a riveting Test series begins here on Thursday. After England shocked India in the series opener at Hyderabad, the hosts came back strong in Vizag to get on level footing, leaving the five-match series perfectly poised. The brilliance of Yashasvi Jaiswal (321 runs) and Jasprit Bumrah (15) allowed India to make a comeback in the series but concerns remain over a misfiring middle-order, which will now be relying on the young talent to deliver the goods. Skipper Rohit Sharma's form with the bat before the eight-day break only added to the growing concern surrounding the Indian batting, which will be without K L Rahul in this game and Virat Kohli for the entirety of the series. Over the last one year or so, Rohit's aggressive approach with the bat has not yielded him big scores and the current situation demands the Indian skipper to perhaps contemplate ...
England captain Ben Stokes tried hard to be self-effacing on the eve of his 100th Test appearance, saying "milestones are what they are" but he is looking forward to the "theatre" that would come with playing the marquee game against a star-studded India. Stokes will become the 16th England player to appear in 100 Tests when he will lead the side out in the third Test against India here on Thursday. In the pre-match press conference, the dashing big-hitter tried his best to downplay the hype around his achievement. "Milestones are what they are. I've always enjoyed playing against India because of the contest, the theatre it brings," he said in a brief reply when asked about his thoughts on the match. The series is currently locked 1-1 after England won the opener in Hyderabad before India bounced back to claim the second in Visakhapatnam. Stokes said his mind is focused on decoding the conditions and having a solid strategy in place for the crucial game. "You look down and there'
England skipper Ben Stokes on Wednesday expressed relief after young leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed's visa issue was sorted in quick time due to the intervention of the Indian government and the BCCI. Ahmed, the spinner of Pakistani descent, had a single-entry visa upon arrival in Rajkot but he was able to complete his paperwork a day before the start of the third Test against India. "For any individual having to wait for that is always an anxious period, but thankfully, we got it through this morning, and great job from the guys at the airport for giving him his visa to get through initially, and everyone at the BCCI and the government to get the visa quickly," Stokes said ahead of the third Test. "We do not have to worry anymore about those issues, we were very confident that we would get the visa for Rehan before the game started," he added. Earlier, before the start of the series, off-spinner Shoaib Bashir also faced visa issue and arrived in Hyderabad on the third day of the first ..
Only two Tests have been played in Rajkot so far and India has won one and drawn another. They had to settle for a draw against England in 2016
India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja on Wednesday said England are not a difficult side to beat and the hosts only need to get used to their ultra attacking style of play to secure the five-match Test series. England shocked India in the series opener in Hyderabad before the hosts came back strong in Visakhapatnam to get on level footing. The third Test begins here on Thursday. "I won't term England as (one of the most difficult) teams. It hasn't been easy for other teams to come to India and win. They have an aggressive style of play. We need to get used to that and plan accordingly for them," said Jadeja on the eve of the game. "If it wasn't for small mistakes in the second innings of first Test, we wouldn't have lost," said the player who missed the second Test due to a hamstring injury. On the injuries he has had to deal with of late, Jadeja said he can't hide himself on the field. It is frustrating but the cricket has increased these days and that is at the back of the mind alwa
Former India pacer Zaheer Khan feels the Rajkot pitch will be similar to the ones in Hyderabad and Vizag, bringing reverse swing into play once again. Jasprit Bumrah put up a reverse swing masterclass in Vizag for a match haul of nine wickets as India levelled the series. "I hope the pitch is on similar lines to the one in Hyderabad and Vizag," Zaheer told JioCinema. "On that kind of a surface, we should be able to see a good contest between bat and ball for the first two days and spin comes into play on the third day. "You'll see some reverse swing as well. And on the fourth and fifth days, you'll have the spinners dominating. "If that is the pattern, it will make for a nice viewing experience for all the spectators and the fans will enjoy." Former England batter Owais Shah could not agree more. "The big match-up will be between Jasprit Bumrah and England's middle-order. That's because Bumrah will be able to generate reverse swing in Rajkot," Owais said. "When he bowls with th
The India vs England 3rd Test live telecast will be available on Sports 18 HD/SD. Jio Cinemas will provide the live streaming of the India vs England Test match in India for free.
India spinner Kuldeep Yadav on Tuesday said that rank turners might come into play in the ongoing Test battle against England but admitted that sporting tracks, like the ones seen in the first two games, are "good for cricket". The two sides have assembled here for the third Test starting at the Saurashtra Cricket Association (SCA) Stadium from Thursday, with the series poised at 1-1. "Overall, everything is important. The fast bowlers also come into play, like you saw in the last match. So (good wickets) are good for cricket. It is not (the case) that you will not get to see rank turners going forward. Hopefully, in the future you will see (turning tracks)," Kuldeep said while addressing a media conference ahead of India's training session on Tuesday. A depleted India were pushed by an aggressive England, who beat them comfortably in the first Test, but the hosts bounced back in the second. Both the matches were played on pitches that were not predominantly spin-friendly and had ..
The lack of multiple entry India visa had delayed Rehan Ahmed's exit from the airport after England arrived here for the third Test, but the spinner's teammate Ollie Pope hoped that the issue will be resolved ahead of the match, beginning on Thursday. England had flown to Abu Dhabi on an extended 10-day break after the second Test at Visakhapatnam but on the team's return on Monday, Ahmed was stopped from leaving the Hirasar airport here because he had only a single-entry visa. The local immigration authorities managed to give the 19-year-old an interim two-day visa to facilitate his entry, and Pope was optimistic that the entire episode would come to an end sooner than later. "Hopefully it (Ahmed's visa issue) will be sorted in a day or so," said Pope while addressing a press conference here on Tuesday. Ahmed took two wickets in the first Test which England won by 28 runs, while in the second Test at Visakhapatnam he grabbed six wickets but India won by 106 runs to level the ...