Page 30 - Test Cricket

ENG vs IND: Pacer Jofra Archer set to return for 2nd Test in Edgbaston

Archer, who hasn't featured in the longer format since 2021, is gradually working his way back from multiple injury setbacks, most recently a broken thumb sustained during the Indian Premier League.

England announce squad for first Test vs India; Overton, Woakes included

Woakes, who has over 180 Test wickets and nearly 2,000 runs, has not played a Test since the 2023 Ashes

KL Rahul under spotlight as India A take on England Lions in practice game

Rahul, who boasts two centuries in English conditions, remains one of India's most experienced batters in the absence of Rohit and Kohli

Youngsters can be the key for Proteas in WTC final vs AUS: Keshav Maharaj

Maharaj, one of the few seasoned campaigners in the South African squad, believes that the role of the experienced players has been to guide and support the younger ones

ENG vs IND tour is exam for Gill, good batting key to good captaincy: Karim

The upcoming England tour will be an exam for new Test leader Shubman Gill and his success as captain may depend on his own batting performance, reckons former India selector Saba Karim. India kick-started a new era in Test cricket with the appointment of Gill as captain following retirements of stalwarts such as Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Ravichandran Ashwin in quick succession. Gill is a gifted player but he is yet to flourish as a Test batter, managing just 1,893 runs in 32 Tests at an average just under 32, with four centuries. While his technique is compact and batting has flair, he's yet to deliver the kind of consistent, match-winning performances that mark elite Test batters. Yet, Saba Karim remains confident. "This is an examination for him. I am sure he's ready and up for it," Karim told PTI Videos on the sidelines of FIT India: Sunday on Cycle event on Sunday. "This is a big opportunity for him as a player. He needs to perform with the bat there, if he is able to do

India can shine in Test series England if they believe, says AB de Villiers

India's young guns have the talent to achieve something special in the upcoming England Test series, provided they back themselves, said AB de Villiers here on Saturday, adding that it's time for the new generation to step up. With the 25-year-old Shubman Gill at the helm, India will start a new cycle of the World Test Championship with a five-Test tour of England next month without their seasoned campaigners in Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who both announced their retirement recently. India will also miss the services of off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin who retired during last year's tour of Australia, and senior pacer Mohammed Shami, who was not selected for this tour owing to his lack of fitness for the conventional format. "Yes, it's time for the younger guys to step up... Shubman Gill taking on the responsibility," de Villiers told the media on the sidelines of a NGO Project Mumbai event here. "There's lots of talent in India and largely credit to the IPL for that, (it is) rea

Karun Nair hits century! Is he apt replacement for Virat Kohli at no. 4?

With Shubman Gill now preferred at No. 3 and KL Rahul settled as an opener, Nair's experience and recent form make him a strong candidate for the pivotal middle-order role.

IND A vs ENG A: Abhimanyu Easwaran disappoints; Karun Nair hits fifty

Abhimanyu Easwaran underperformed as an opener. Batting first, he managed just 8 runs before falling to left-arm pacer Josh Hull.

Test hopefuls aim to master English conditions in India A's unofficial Test

A clutch of frontline Test players, including opener Yashasvi Jaiswal and all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy, will be eager to acclimatise to English conditions during India A's first four-day unofficial Test against the England Lions, beginning here on Friday. Apart from Jaiswal and Nitish, the India A side has Abhimanyu Easwaran, Dhruv Jurel, Karun Nair, pacers Akash Deep and Shardul Thakur who will want to have a feel of the pronounced swing on offer here, ahead of the Test series against England, starting from June 20. It's imperative too because these players, except Karun, are on their maiden tour to England. It starts with Easwaran. India will require an opener to partner Jaiswal at the pole position after the retirement of Rohit Sharma and a batter at No. 4 slot which was left vacant by Virat Kohli. In the context of an opener, the performance of Easwaran, who has extensive experience in the position through his 101-match-old First-Class career, will come under scrutiny. The

IND vs ENG: Ponting picks Arshdeep in India's Playing 11 for first Test

Ponting also noted Arshdeep's success with the new ball in the IPL, where he has consistently troubled batsmen during powerplays

Test series vs India will be a litmus test for English top order: Boycott

Looking ahead to the India Tests, Boycott said the top order must prove their mettle against quality opposition

Rishabh Pant plans short break before England series for mental rest

His IPL campaign over, India's swashbuckling wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant on Tuesday said he would want to "switch off" for a few days before leaving for the Test tour of England in a "good frame of mind." Pant slammed a magnificent century -- 118 off 61 balls -- to power Lucknow Super Giants to 227 for three against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the final league fixture of IPL 2025 here. But RCB, riding on Jitesh Sharma's 33-ball 85 and Mayank Agarwal's 23-ball 41, and the duo's unbroken 107-run partnership for the fifth wicket, pulled off a memorable win to seal their place in Qualifier 1. "Just want to switch off for a few days, not think about cricket and then the England series is coming up and just preparing for that in a good frame of mind," Pant said at the presentation ceremony. The LSG skipper rued the absence of key bowlers for a good part of the season owing to injury. "Eventually you got to play 40 overs of good cricket. 20 overs will definitely not save you in a

Rohit, Virat and Ashwin gave us blueprint to win Tests away from home: Gill

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli had "very contrasting styles" of leadership but the two iconic players along with spinner Ravichandran Ashwin have given the Indian team the "blueprint to win" Test series away from home, says new skipper Shubman Gill. Gill was on Saturday appointed India's captain in Tests. The first assignment for the 25-year-old is a five-Test series England where he won't have stalwarts like Kohli and Rohit in the line-up. "(The) guys like Rohit bhai, Virat bhai and Ashwin bhai they have given us a blueprint on how to tour away from home and win matches and series," Gill said in a video released by the BCCI on Sunday. "Yes, it's one thing to be able to deliver and execute, but because we have that blueprint, we know how to tour away from home and win matches and series," he added. Gill said while Kohli and Rohit had contrasting styles of leadership, they were also quite similar in style. "When I was a kid, I was always inspired by the great and the legends of India

WATCH: Shubman Gill breaks silence after becoming new Indian Test captain

Shubman Gill expressed his emotions about being named India's new Test captain, calling the moment both humbling and significant.

Shubman Gill should keep batting and captaincy separate: Cheteshwar Pujara

Pujara also backed Rishabh Pant as vice-captain despite his lean T20 form, citing his strong Test performances in England

Spinner Shoaib Bashir shines as England thrash Zimbabwe in one-off Test

Zimbabwe's campaign suffered an early setback when fast bowler Richard Ngarava left the field on Day 1 with a back spasm after bowling just nine overs

Is Md Shami's snub from the England series the end of his red-ball career?

In Shami's absence, India's pace attack will be led by Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, supported by Prasidh Krishna, Mukesh Kumar, and debutant Arshdeep Singh

I played with him at KKR: Morgan after Gill named new India Test captain

Former England captain Eoin Morgan, who shared the dressing room with Gill at Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) during the IPL, expressed confidence in Gill's leadership

Sai to Krishna: Morgan's Indian picks to watch out for IND vs ENG Tests

Reacting to the squad announcement, former England captain Eoin Morgan shared his thoughts and highlighted a few Indian players to watch out for during the series.

Rahul to Iyer: Here's what Ajit Agarkar said on India Test team selection

Agarkar, during the press conference, said that they cannot pick 500 players in the squad, so some names are bound to miss out.