Page 55 - Test Cricket

IND vs ENG 4th Test: Rehan Ahmed to return home for personal reasons

Young England leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed will not take any further part in the five-Test series against India as he is returning home to address some urgent family matters. The 19-year-old picked up 11 wickets at an average of 44 in the first three Tests of the series, including a six-wicket match haul in the second match in Visakhapatnam. "Rehan Ahmed will return home for personal reasons with immediate effect from England Men's Test tour of India. He will not be returning to India," England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said in a statement on Friday. "England will not be replacing Ahmed for the rest of the tour." England on Friday replaced Ahmed with Shoaib Bashir in their playing XI for the fourth Test. There is just one game remaining in the five-Test series and England have another spinner in their squad in left-arm tweaker Tom Hartley, who is their highest wicket-taker so far in the tour with 16 scalps. Earlier this month, Ahmed, who is of Pakistani descent, had faced visa iss

IND vs ENG 4th Test: Akash Deep makes sensational India debut in Ranchi

Fast bowler Akash Deep bowled a dream opening spell on Test debut as India left England struggling at 112 for 5 at lunch on the opening day of the fourth Test here on Friday. The 27-year-old pacer, who hails from Bihar but came through the ranks playing domestic cricket in Bengal, hit the deck hard and aptly maneuvered the ball in both ways in a sensational bowling display in the first hour's play after Ben Stokes opted to bat. Akash Deep, however, had to wait for a bit for his three-wicket burst of Ben Duckett (11), Ollie Pope (0) and Zak Crawley (42) in a span of 10 balls. Akash Deep had figures of 3/24, while Ravichandran Ashwin (1/17) and Ravindra Jadeja (1/28) grabbed the wickets of Jonny Bairstow and Ben Stokes respectively as England lost half of their side in 24.1 overs. Akash Deep was right on the money from the start and even uprooted Crawley's off-stump in his second over of the day, but was guilty of overstepping. But senior pacer Mohammed Siraj struggled to get his sw

IND vs ENG 4th Test Day 2 Highlights: Brilliant Bashir keeps India at 219/7

4th Test, Day 2, India vs England highlights: Shoaib Bashir took four wickets as India could only get to 219/7 at the end of the day's play in Ranchi. They trail by 134 runs

IND vs ENG 4th Test: Akash Deep could get Test cap in Bumrah's absence

Uncapped pace bowler Akash Deep has emerged as the frontrunner to partner Mohammed Siraj in the fourth Test against England after he was seen sweating it out during optional training here on Thursday. While the 27-year-old right-arm pacer bowled full tilt alongside his Bengal teammate Mukesh Kumar at the nets on Wednesday, he had a long batting session on the eve of the Test, with only five other Indians turning up for practice. India have been forced to hand debut caps to Rajat Patidar, Dhruv Jurel and Sarfaraz Khan so far because to the absence of Virat Kohli, KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer, and with pace spearhead Jaspit Bumrah too being rested for the Ranchi Test, Akash Deep could also be in line for the coveted Test spot. "Anybody who gets into the Indian team has to be a special cricketer," the home team batting coach Vikram Rathour said of Akash Deep, who was drafted into the India squad after taking 12 wickets in three matches against the England Lions. "He (looks) like a really

Did not expect wicket to keep so low from day two onwards: Mhambrey

India bowling coach Paras Mhambrey on Friday said the pitch at the JSCA Sports Complex was not a rank turner but they did not expect to play so slow on the second day itself. The hosts were reeling at 219 for seven at the end of day two with England off-spinner Shoiab Bashir grabbed a brilliant 4/84 in his second Test. "Considering the nature of the games we've had previously here, the wicket tends to get slower as the day progresses," Mhambrey said after the second day's play. "Historically, they slow down and play on the lower side. We expected that, but honestly, we didn't anticipate it playing so low on the second day itself. The variable bounce was unexpected. "As of now, I wouldn't call it as a rank-turner; it's just that the bounce is low, making batting a bit challenging. I don't think there were too many balls that spun sharply or were unplayable." Mhambrey further stressed that the team management has no role to play in pitch preparation and it's the local association's

Bazball is not about being arrogant but bringing the best out of team: Root

Senior England batter Joe Root on Saturday said that his side's 'Bazball' approach in Test cricket is not about being arrogant but about getting the best result for the team. England's record 434-run loss to India in the third Test in Rajkot led to widespread criticism about their ultra-aggressive approach they have adopted under coach Brendon McCullum and captain Ben Stokes. "There have been times recently when the best way to do that is by being a bit more aggressive. It's like if I connect with that shot and execute it better, (Jasprit) Bumrah will be under pressure and our outlook on the game is very different again. "It's not about being arrogant... Bazball is a word that's used a lot but that's your word, that's not how we look at it," Root told reporters after the end of second day's play in the fourth Test here. "It's about how can we get the best out of each other as a team, how we're going to get better as a group. You're not always going to get it right but we'll continu

IND vs ENG 4th Test Day 1 Highlights: Root's century takes England to 302/7

India vs England 4th Test Day 1 Highlights: Joe Root slammed his 31st century and helped England recover from 112 to finish the day at 302/7. Debutant Akash Deep took three wickets for India

IND vs ENG 4th Test: Rathour terms Ranchi pitch as typical Indian wicket

India batting coach Vikram Rathour on Thursday said the Ranchi wicket hosting the fourth Test against England has "enough cracks" and would favour the spinners but insisted they have enough firepower to cope with any condition. India's pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah has been the top-wickettaker of the series but he would be missing the fourth Test after being given a break to manage his workload. The move has led many to believe that India will go for a rank turner for the fourth Test beginning on Friday. "Everytime we play in India, there's question mark on the pitch ... It's a typical Indian wicket, there are cracks, this wicket always had cracks," Rathour told reporters on the eve of the match. "It will turn, but how much it will turn and from when we are not sure. But we have enough balance in our team." He said Bumrah is absolutely fine but it was not "advisable" to play him continuously. The India spearhead has bowled 80.5 overs in three Tests, taking 17 wickets at an average

IND vs ENG 4th Test: Take Bairstow out of firing line urges Alastair Cook

Former captain Alastair Cook has urged England to drop wicketkeeper-batter Jonny Bairstow from the Ranchi Test against India, to "protect the player" who is having an abysmal series. Bairstow, who is playing as a specialist batter, has endured a woeful run in the ongoing five-match series. He is averaging 17.00 having registered scores of 0, 4, 25, 26, 37 and 10 in six innings. "I'm taking him out of the firing line to protect the player, as I think he's had a tough tour so far and India is a tough place to keep going on the treadmill," Cook told 'TNT Sport'. "I'm not saying he'll never play Test cricket again, but it's good to have someone who's fresh of all the debris of this series so far," he added. Cook backed Dan Lawrence to replace Bairstow as the all-rounder will step up out in Ranchi without any baggage. "When you're not scoring runs, there's a build-up of pressure and momentum from certain bowlers on you, so I'd let Dan Lawrence have a go." However, another former capta

IND vs ENG 4th Test: Pope feels spin-friendly wicket will even things out

England would not mind a rank turner in the fourth Test because assistance to spinners from the word go will make it a level-playing field, vice captain Ollie Pope said on Wednesday. The Tests in Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam and Rajkot all had sporting pitches, which were not predominantly spin-friendly and had something for everyone. "If it does spin from ball one, it takes the toss out of the equation, then it's an even playing field," Pope told reporters here. "A lot of the time the wicket starts out flat and then deteriorates. We won the first game batting first, India the last two batting first. It doesn't define the result if you bat first on slightly flatter wicket but it does give you an advantage," he added. Pope, one of the heroes for England in Hyderabad, feels that a wicket offering good turn will provide them with wicket-taking options. "If it does do a fare bit like we expect it to then it gets us into the game. We have got some young spinners, they have bowled well in s

IND vs ENG 4th Test: Gill credits fast bowlers for making a difference

The pitches might not have been entirely in their favour, but the Indian pacers' ability to strike at vital situations has made a sea of difference in the Test series against England, reckons top-order batter Shubman Gill. The four spinners R Ashwin (11), Ravindra Jadeja (12), Kuldeep Yadav (8) and Axar Patel (5) together have taken 36 wickets across three matches as compared to 22 by pacers so far. So, the numbers might be favouring the tweakers, but Gill said the pacemen bowled well according to the conditions to keep their side ahead. "Wherever we play in India, wickets help spinners a bit. Ash bhai and Jaddu bhai will take wickets anyway, but the way our fast bowlers have bowled, it has made the difference in this series," said Gill during a media interaction ahead of fourth Test, starting Friday. However, India will be without Jasprit Bumrah for the Ranchi Test as the premier pacer has been given rest as part of the workload management. He has so far taken 17 wickets from t

Ashwin has not always got enough credit for what he is: AB de Villiers

South African batting great AB de Villiers on Wednesday called Ravichandran Ashwin a legend and said the senior India spinner has not always got enough credit for his service. Ashwin claimed his 500th Test wicket in the third match against England to join a rare list of legends. De Villiers heaped praise on the 37-year-old and said, "What a fantastic achievement! Congratulations Ash, you are one of the toughest bowlers I have ever played against - an incredible asset for the Indian cricket team with both bat and ball. "He's been a stalwart, but not always getting enough credit for what he is and the role he plays in the Indian team. What a legend!" De Villiers advised England's batters to stay positive and use their feet a lot more against Ashwin in the remaining two Tests of the five-match series. India lead the series 2-1 after their massive 434-run win in the third Test in Rajkot. "The one thing that stands out is he's (Ashwin) a tall guy, so he's got natural variation and bou

IND vs ENG 4th Test: In-form Jaiswal breaks into top 20 of ICC rankings

Young India opener Yashasvi Jaiswal on Wednesday broke into the top-20 of the ICC Test Rankings, rising 14 spots to 15th in the batting charts after scoring back-to-back double centuries in the ongoing series against England. The 22-year-old left-hander joined a select band of seven cricketers to score double centuries in two consecutive Tests including two Indians -- Vinod Kambli and Virat Kohli. Jaiswal scored 209 in India's first innings in the second Test at Visakhapatnam and then hit unbeaten 214 runs in the second essay at Rajkot to contribute in the home team's massive 434-run victory over England that took them 2-1 up in the series. Ravindra Jadeja, who was the player-of-the-match in Rajkot, also climbed up in the batting rankings from 41st to 34th position after his knock of 112 in the first innings, the ICC said in a statement. He also returned with a seven-wicket match haul that lifted him three places to sixth in the bowling rankings. Veteran off-spinner Ravichandran ..

IND vs ENG 4th Test: Stokes contemplates bowling against India in Ranchi

Back-to-back heavy defeats against India have compelled England captain Ben Stokes to consider an early return to bowling with head coach Brendon McCullum admitting that although it's a good sign, they don't want the all-rounder to push himself unnecessarily. Stokes, who is still recovering from a knee surgery, hasn't bowled since the second Ashes Test in June last year. "Well, it's good that he's actually getting into a state where he thinks he might bowl," McCullum was quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfo on Monday. "But Ben is clever; he's really clever as well. He won't bowl unless he thinks he's legitimately able to bowl. The problem would be if he starts getting into a spell and then he can't get out of the spell. So we'll see what unfolds. "If he does get that bit between his teeth, then let's see where the danger lies there and try and pull him away from it. But it's a good sign," McCullum added. Ahead of the Rajkot Test, Stokes had said he "pinky promised" his physiotherapist

Ranchi Test: Bumrah rested; Rahul ruled out, Patidar to get another chance

Courtesy of Rahul's unavailability, Rajat Patidar is likely to get another chance, although he has failed in his first two Tests

India vs England 4th Test: Who will replace Bumrah in India's Playing 11?

With Bumrah set to be rested, Mukesh Kumar will likely play the 4th Test as India's second pacer in Ranchi. Sundar is also in the reckoning for the selection if Ranchi wicket assists spinners

IND vs ENG: Rajkot defeat is hurting but McCullum defends Bazball approach

England coach Brendon McCullum said the heavy defeat in the third Test against India is definitely hurting the visitors but they will continue with their attacking 'Bazball' approach in the remainder of the five-match series. England's "Bazball" approach backfired big time in the third Test which they lost by a massive 434 runs, their largest defeat in terms of runs since 1934, to go 1-2 down in the series. But McCullum said he has "no regrets" about their approach. "We'll turn the page and go quids in again trying to put India under pressure," McCullum was quoted as saying by BBC Sport. "Hopefully in seven or eight days we'll be talking about how exciting it is to be heading into a decider." The fourth Test is scheduled to be played in Ranchi from Friday. England have had a successful run under McCullum and captain Ben Stokes, playing an attacking brand of cricket to secure 14 wins from 20 Tests prior to the defeat in Rajkot. "People are entitled to their opinion, good, bad or

England's Bazball draws criticism after massive defeat in Rajkot Test

Former England captains Nasser Hussain and Michael Vaughan have criticised the team's 'Bazball' approach in the ongoing Test series against India, saying the visitors need to apply themselves based on match situation instead of being guided by a one-dimensional philosophy of aggression. India registered their biggest-ever Test win, annihilating England by 434 run in the third Test in Rajkot on Sunday. Chasing 557 to win, the tourists were bundled out for 122. The home side leads 2-1 in the five-match series with games left in Ranchi and Dharamsala. "This was the worst defeat under (Ben) Stokes and Brendon McCullum, and one that exposed their method. They cannot take the aggressive at every opportunity, they have to pick their moments," Vaughan wrote in his column for "Telegraph.co.uk'. Hussain echoed the sentiment. "Bazball is about being attacking but it is also about soaking up pressure," Hussain said on 'Sky Sports'. In contrast, India's Yashsavi Jaiswal, who has two double ...

DRS controversy in Rajkot! Stokes wants umpire's call rule to be scrapped

After the India vs England 3rd Test, Stokes highlighted Zak Crawley's dismissal, which was sent upstairs for DRS, had wrongly mentioned the umpire's call even if the ball was not hitting the stumps.

India can win Tests on any pitch, including rank turners: Rohit Sharma

Skipper Rohit Sharma stressed on the Indian team's ability to win games on any surface including rank turners, following its record 434-run win over England on a flat track here on Sunday. India set a target of 557 runs for England on a placid pitch with more than four sessions left in the game. However, the visitors folded inside 40 overs for 122 to give India a 2-1 lead in the series. We have won a lot of matches on such wickets before. The turning tracks and on pitches where the ball turns remain our strength. It gives us balance, Rohit told the media here. We have given results for many years and we will get results in the future as well. But we don't have control over certain things we don't discuss whether we want rank turners or not. We come here (at the venues) two days before the match and how much can we do anyway in two days? The curators decide and make the pitch. We have the strength to play on any wicket and win on it. When we won the Test in South Africa (at Cape ..