England were not as dominant as they were expected to be, but were still far too strong for a West Indies team struggling for batting consistency

Madhusudhan Ramakrishnan12-Jun-2012Ever since England came back to win the Lord’s Test in the 2000 series against West Indies, they have completely dominated the head-to-head contests. Between the Lord’s win and the final Test of this series, England had won 13 out of 15 home Tests against West Indies. Only persistent rain in Edgbaston and dogged resistance from West Indies’ lower order prevented a whitewash.West Indies briefly raised hopes of a surprise win at Lord’s and managed to stay competitive but were simply overwhelmed by England’s all-round strength. With Chris Gayle missing at the top of the order, the inexperienced opening batsmen were unable to fight it out in bowler-friendly conditions. England, not quite at their dominant best as they had been in recent home series, were still a far more potent bowling unit than West Indies, who struggled with injuries. On the batting front, England were far from impressive but were boosted by the timely return to form of Andrew Strauss, who scored consecutive centuries at Lord’s and Trent Bridge.West Indies were bowled out in each of the innings they batted (five innings) and averaged 30.98. In contrast, England averaged a much higher 43.58 while losing just 31 wickets. However, England’s batting performance was well below their exploits in recent home series. Only twice since 2009 have England averaged lower (against Australia and Pakistan) in a home series. In contrast, England had averaged 61.12 in their previous home series against West Indies. Both West Indies and England had nine fifty-plus scores with West Indian batsmen scoring more centuries (three). England, however, were by far the better bowling team with Stuart Broad picking up the only five-wicket haul of the series.

Overall stats of England and West Indies in the series

TeamRunsWickets lostRuns per wicket100/505WI/10WMEngland13513143.582/71/1West Indies15495030.983/60/0The England-West Indies contests over the last decade in England have been a mismatch. With a below-par bowling attack and a vulnerable batting line-up, West Indies have hardly threatened. In the first Test at Lord’s, disciplined batting in their second innings and an inspired burst by Kemar Roach created an opening but the lack of firepower in the attack meant that West Indies were unable to capitalise. An all too familiar collapse in the second innings at Trent Bridge ended West Indies’ chances of levelling the series. On more than one occasion in their last two series (against India and Australia), West Indies had lost the grip after collapsing for sub-200 scores. Although the series result (2-0) was never in doubt given the gulf in quality, West Indies competed far better than they did on previous visits.In 2000, when they lost 3-1 (first series loss in England for 31 years), West Indies had an excellent bowling average of 22.55 but a poor batting average of 21.67. Their average difference (difference between batting and bowling averages) in that series was -0.88. Following the retirements of Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh, the bowling quality took a major hit in the subsequent series. In the next three series, the average difference values were -18.99, -20.47 and -38.77. In comparison, their corresponding figure in this series is a much improved -12.60. The wickets difference (difference between the wickets picked up per match and wickets lost per match) is the best for West Indies in the 2000 series (-1.60). In the 2012 series, the corresponding figure is much poorer (-6.33). In both 2004 and 2007, the wickets difference values were better than the number in the 2012 series. West Indies’ worst performance on this front came in the 2009 series when they lost 40 wickets but managed to pick up just 24 (wickets difference of -12).

West Indies in the last five series in England

YearMatchesWins/LossesBat avgBowl avgAvg diffWickets/match (bat)Wickets/match (bowl)Wickets diff200051/321.6722.55-0.8817.4015.80-1.60200440/429.1148.10-18.9919.5014.25-5.25200740/328.6049.07-20.4717.0013.25-3.75200920/222.3561.12-38.7720.008.00-12.00201230/230.9843.58-12.6016.6610.33-6.33With the openers badly out of form, the top-order (1-4) of West Indies wore a very unsettled look and managed an average of just 15.65. On the other hand, England’s top order did much better averaging close to 50. Not only were Kevin Pietersen and Ian Bell in form, Strauss also got back among the runs and ended the series as England’s top run-getter. West Indies were able to stay afloat in the first two Tests purely because of their battling middle order. After being recalled to the team, Marlon Samuels batted brilliantly and topped the run-scoring charts. He scored a century and three fifties in five innings and averaged 96.50. His series aggregate of 386 runs is the fourth-highest by a West Indian batsman in a series in England since 2000.Shivnarine Chanderpaul came away without a century but still managed over 200 runs at an average of 78.33. West Indies’ middle order (5-7) averaged 65 with two centuries and five fifties while England’s middle order managed an average of 38.50 with three half-centuries. Denesh Ramdin and Tino Best were involved in a 143-run stand for the last wicket in the third Test with Best scoring a record 95. Darren Sammy’s century at Trent Bridge and Best’s heroics pushed up the lower order (8-11) average for West Indies to 21.50, which was higher than that of England (17.50).

Batting stats for both teams in the series by batting position

Batting positionTeamRunsAverageSR100/501-4England83849.2955.242/45-7England30838.5056.930/38-11England10517.5048.830/01-4West Indies31315.6538.590/05-7West Indies78065.0047.072/58-11West Indies38721.5059.081/1Since 2008, only New Zealand have a lower average than West Indies for the opening wicket. In the recent home series against Australia, the West Indies openers struggled and had five single-figure partnerships in six innings. They did better in England but an average of 22.40 meant that the middle order was almost always under pressure. England’s openers managed only one fifty stand but were more consistent than their West Indian counterparts (average 38.60).For both the second and third wickets, West Indies failed to aggregate 100 partnership runs. England, on the other hand, scored over 200 runs for both the partnership wickets and averaged 71.25 and 55.50 respectively. The in-form Samuels and Chanderpaul ensured that West Indies’ middle order did not cave in meekly. West Indies averaged much higher than England for the fifth wicket and shared a century and two fifty stands. The visitors’ seventh-wicket partnership was also more prolific with the highest stand coming in the second Test at Trent Bridge, where Sammy and Samuels added 204 in the first innings.

Partnership stats for both teams in the series

Partnership wicketEngland (Runs, Average)England (100/50 stands)West Indies (Runs, Avg)West Indies (100/50 stands)1193, 38.600/1112, 22.400/02285, 71.251/186, 17.200/03222, 55.501/196, 19.200/14220, 55.001/0107, 21.400/05195, 48.751/0340, 68.001/2666, 33.000/0112, 22.400/1730, 15.000/0364, 72.801/0Broad continued his superb run of form picking up 14 wickets in the series including 11 in the first Test at Lord’s. In the first two Tests, Broad and James Anderson reaffirmed their status as one of the best opening-ball pairs. Broad troubled Adrian Barath dismissing him twice while conceding just 32 runs. Anderson, meanwhile, made life extremely difficult for Kieran Powell and Kirk Edwards dismissing them both twice while conceding only seven and ten runs respectively. Graeme Swann got Chanderpaul twice in four innings and improved his record against the left-hander to five dismissals in ten innings.However, Swann had no such luck against Samuels. Samuels scored 131 runs 131 runs off 191 balls from Swann (run-rate of 4.11) without being dismissed even once. Roach bowled some quick spells and tasted success against Strauss (two dismissals at average of 27.00) and Jonny Bairstow (two dismissals at average of 12.00). Tim Bresnan’s place in the squad was questioned before the start of the series but he ended the series as England’s second-highest wicket-taker (12 wickets) with a best match haul of 8 for 141 at Trent Bridge.

Bowler v batsman in the series

BowlerBatsmanRunsDismissalsAverageBalls per dismissalStuart BroadAdrian Barath32216.0025.50James AndersonKirk Edwards723.509.00James AndersonKieran Powell1025.0016.00Graeme SwannShivnarine Chanderpaul36218.0048.50Kemar RoachJonny Bairstow1326.5012.00Kemar RoachAndrew Strauss54227.0065.00Graeme SwannMarlon Samuels1310–

Plays of the Day from the third day of the third Test between India and New Zealand in Nagpur

ESPNcricinfo staff22-Nov-2010The giggle of the day
Suresh Raina was the runner for a limping MS Dhoni but nearly joined the wounded list himself. He had just completed a single when he realised, almost too late, that the throw was heading straight at his head. He swerved, looked at the approaching missile, swayed away and collapsed down to the ground. When he got up on his feet he was smiling.The power-packed shot of the day
Andy McKay hurled one full and Dhoni thrust his front foot out and bludgeoned it to the straight boundary in his inimitable style. He then strolled across the pitch and sported a gentle smile at his partner Rahul Dravid.The misery of the day
Every bowler is going after Raina’s head these days. Either bounce him out, or push him back and get him with a fuller delivery. Today, too, Raina got hit on the body by short deliveries and was tested with full ones. He must have sighed in relief when Daniel Vettori brought himself on. Mistake. The first ball turned in and bounced, and Raina edged his defensive prod to short leg.The anticlimax of the day
The very first delivery from McKay was an off cutter from short of a length that Sachin Tendulkar partly steered, partly edged past gully. The third delivery kicked up and left Tendulkar, who, after being opened up, stabbed it to the keeper. The 50th hundred that the fans have been waiting for since the start of the series couldn’t come today.

Celebrating Kohli’s finest moments as a T20I batter, from the mayhem in Mohali to the party at the Wankhede

Sruthi Ravindranath28-Aug-2022Mayhem in Mohali
82* vs Australia, 2016 T20 World CupLet’s get this out of the way: 2016 was Kohli’s year, period. Within that, some innings stood out. In the group match against Australia at the T20 World Cup that year, for example, he handled a tricky chase expertly, with a place in the semi-final at stake. He started off in characteristic manner, seemingly in cruise control, and then shifted gears. A chase of 161 was looking tough on the slow pitch in Mohali and India’s top two had fallen within the powerplay. Adding to the worry was Yuvraj Singh’s twisted ankle, which made taking twos hard. While it seemed like the match was slipping out of India’s hands, MS Dhoni joined Kohli at the crease, and the two started picking up runs with some helter skelter. It was in the 18th over – when the required rate had touched 13 – that Kohli finally unleashed mayhem, starting with a superbly-timed pull off James Faulkner’s slow short ball. The yorker next ball missed its mark, and Kohli guided it for four through point, followed by a six over long-off. Nathan Coulter-Nile was then taken for four boundaries in the 19th over. Game over. And Kohli stood in the middle, soaking in the adulation.What they said: “He likes a fight, he likes a scrap as well, and he loves playing against Australia” – Nasser Hussain on commentaryWhat Kohli said: “It [the innings] certainly has to be in the top three. Probably the top right now, because I’m a bit emotional, so I would like to put this on top.”That familiar, old cry of delight!•ICCThe ‘gift’ of Dhoni
72* vs South Africa, 2014 T20 World Cup semi-final, DhakaThe match is perhaps best remembered for Dhoni’s gesture of defending the final ball of the penultimate over so that Kohli could hit the winning runs. But what came before was a masterclass. From Kohli. As he constructed a match-winning innings under pressure to take India to the final of the World Cup. And he was not feeling “too good” before the game.Kohli came out when India were in need of a lift – India were 77 for 2 in nine-and-a-half overs chasing 173 for victory – and calculated the chase perfectly. He followed his usual template of scoring most of his runs upfront in ones and twos, stroking the ball into the gaps and putting the bad balls away. His first shot in anger came only off the 18th ball he faced, coming down the pitch to swing a JP Duminy delivery to the long-on boundary. He started taking his chances after that, with the pressure easing, celebrating almost every shot – his or his partner’s – with trademark animation. Kohli finished off the match with a flick to the midwicket boundary after Dhoni gave him the strike in the 20th over and celebrated with a vein-popping roar.What they said: “The least I could offer Virat was the winning shot so I played out the last ball of the 19th over without a run.” – Dhoni at the post-match presentation ceremonyWhat Kohli said: “I have struck the ball better in T20s in other games. I have also timed the ball better than I did today and have managed to score five or six boundaries very fast. Today it was difficult as I had to work hard for the knock. But as per the importance of the game, this knock tops it.”‘That’s how I do it in my notebook’ – Virat Kohli to Kesrick Williams•BCCIIt’s payback time, Kesrick!
94* vs West Indies, 1st T20I, 2019 in HyderabadKesrick Williams had dismissed Kohli in 2017 and sent him off with his notebook celebration. A couple of years later, Kohli decided it would be payback time. But the knock didn’t come easy. It was not a typical Kohli innings – at least at the beginning – as he could hardly time the ball. Kohli lost his cool – at himself, at the umpires, at Williams – as he struggled his way to 20 off 20 balls in a chase of 208. The asking rate was climbing and Kohli was struggling, and showing it, but the Hyderabad crowd never dialled it down. And Kohli seemed to feed off the crowd as he turned it around in the 15th over. He brought up his half-century with a lofted shot into the stands and followed it up with a slash to the deep-third boundary. The 14-run over brought the equation down to 54 off 30 and Kohli cranked it up further in the next over, hitting a four and a six off Williams. He didn’t hold back on the theatrics, mocking Williams’ signature celebration as he sent the crowd into frenzy. Off the last 25 balls he faced, Kohli scored 68 runs. He finished the match with eight balls remaining with a magnificent drive for six over long-off off Williams, cracking his career-best T20I score in the process.What Kohli said: “To young batsmen watching, don’t follow the first half of my innings. I was batting poorly that time. Luckily got that one over from [Jason] Holder [the 15th, which went for 15], and then I began to analyse why I’m going wrong. Realised I’m not a slogger but a timer instead, and then changed my playing style.”All that bottom-hand power, and the damage is done•Associated PressHaving fun at the Wankhede
70* vs West Indies, 3rd T20I in 2019, MumbaiOn a belter at Wankhede in the series decider, India turned up looking very West Indian, with openers Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul putting up a blistering 145-run stand. Kohli joined the fun after back-to-back wickets and seemed keen to bring back the momentum that had been slipping away. He came in at No. 4 in the 13th over after Rishabh Pant’s dismissal and sent the fifth ball he faced for a wristy slog over long-on. He took no time to settle in, as he usually does, bringing up his fastest T20I fifty, off 21 balls. He seemed to be continuing from where he left off in the first T20I: cutting loose against Holder and pointing to Williams at short fine-leg on reaching his fifty. He smashed 24 runs off Kieron Pollard in the 19th over, and pulled out one big hit after the other as he went along. He finished with a strike rate of 241.37, which is his highest in T20s (min 25 balls faced), taking India to a match-winning total of 240.What Kohli said: “It was about going out on the field and executing. I had the opportunity to do something different, which I don’t usually do.”Pakistan, Eden Gardens, Kohli.•Associated PressClassy Kohli does it again
55* vs Pakistan, T20 World Cup 2016, KolkataOn a testing pitch at Eden Gardens, a cool-headed Kohli showed impeccable judgment and masterminded yet another chase. India had allowed Pakistan to score more than they would have liked in the 18-overs-a-side rain-affected game – 118 for 5 – and were reduced to 12 for 3 in the chase. While every other batter struggled to time the ball, or even connect with it, Kohli was in full control on a pitch that offered sharp turn. He resisted any temptation to cut loose – until the ninth over, he had only struck one boundary – as he focused on rotating the strike. But when he got his chance, he showed his class: be it the slog-sweep for six off Shoaib Malik in the 11th over, or his back-to-back boundaries through extra cover off Shahid Afridi, or the punch to the sweeper-cover boundary off Mohammad Amir. He eventually brought down the asking rate. The fifty came up, off 34 balls, and he bowed to Sachin Tendulkar, who was in the stands, in celebration. The win was sealed with 13 balls to spare.What they said: “He [Kohli] takes everything as a challenge. He wants to improve, he wants to contribute in each and every game. And that’s what it’s all about, because he wants to contribute, he wants to score runs, he prepares well, he takes care of his fitness.” – Dhoni at the post-match presentation ceremonyWhat Kohli said: “I was confident that I needed to play with a straight bat so that the strike keeps rotating. Luckily my heart rate was low when we lost three wickets, it could have shot up as it was a big game and a full stadium at Eden Gardens. I am just grateful I was able to do it.”The Adelaide love story
90* vs Australia, 1st T20I in 2016, Adelaide A blistering Kohli knock in a high-octane clash [with a dash of drama, of course]. Familiar, right? It happened yet again, this time at one of his favourite venues, in the first T20I against Australia in 2016. Kohli was coming off an incredible run in the format and was all charged up on the day. In Suresh Raina’s company, he took over the mantle of chief aggressor and picked runs off offspinner Cameron Boyce as easily as he did off the quicks. He was electric, running aggressively between the wickets and sticking to playing good cricket shots. He hardly slogged, used his feet well, and identified areas he wanted to target. The timing was spot on as usual. He spared no-one as he got into his zone and amped up the scoring rate to take India’s total to 190: the top strokes included a back-foot drive over cover for four off Kane Richardson and the wristy flick off Shane Watson placed between long-on and cow corner, as he scored a 55-ball 90.What they said: “By the time he ends his career, quite a few Australian grounds will have his stand.” – DhoniWhat Kohli said: “I could take this stadium with me wherever I bat. This stadium is right up there with anywhere in the world.”

The New Zealand legspinner talks about working his way back from a career-threatening back injury, training at the CSK academy, and his hopes for the coming year

Deivarayan Muthu05-Jul-2025″.” [My way is a unique way].New Zealand legspinner Adithya Ashok has Rajinikanth’s famous punchline from inked on his bowling arm. It’s a tribute to the actor, and to Adithya’s late grandfather, with whom he watched the movie.Last month, Adithya, now 22, reconnected with his friends and family in Vellore in north-east Tamil Nadu, where he was born and raised before his family moved to New Zealand when he was around four. He was in India to hone his skills at a two-week spin camp at the CSK academy in Chennai.”Last time I was here in India, my grandfather was a bit ill, and I was fortunate to spend the last while with him and we were having a meaningful conversation and the Rajini film was on at the time,” Adithya says. “Days after he passed away, I got this tattoo because it reminded me of a special moment we shared. It’s also a connection to my Tamil roots, to Vellore, and a popular Tamil icon and a global icon as well.”The phrase also fits as a description of Adithya’s unique path to winning a New Zealand central contract. He moved to Auckland as a child when his parents got the opportunity to emigrate to New Zealand. His mother worked as a nurse at the city hospital and his father, a cricketer-turned-radiographer, worked at the Starship Children’s Hospital.After rising through the ranks in school cricket, Adithya represented New Zealand in the 2020 Under-19 World Cup in South Africa, where he impressed with his ability to give the ball a rip.Related

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He was earmarked as a future Black Cap from then, but major back surgery forced him out of action for almost a year starting December 2023. During this period, something as simple as getting out of a car was difficult for him.”Honestly, it was a pretty scary time for me,” he recalls. “I’ve reflected on it over the last while and I think it has changed my attitude towards understanding myself as a person, and I’m grateful to be doing something like everyday chores. I feel blessed to have the support of New Zealand Cricket through all of it. They put me in touch with one of the best surgeons in the world. He was the surgeon who operated on [Jasprit] Bumrah, but I don’t think any other spinner has had this back surgery.”I also had the support of my team in Auckland, the physio, the S&C [strength and conditioning] coach, and my family and girlfriend during one of my hardest phases of life. It was a big 12-15 months, but it’s definitely something I wouldn’t trade for anything else because it gave me so much perspective on life.”After rehab and navigating through his loads on a “trial-and-error basis”, Adithya returned to action in late 2024 and played his part in Auckland’s run to the 50-overs Ford Trophy final, which they lost to Canterbury. After handsome contributions in the 20-overs Super Smash and the four-day Plunket Shield, he has worked his way back into the New Zealand A and New Zealand set-ups. In May this year, he claimed a fourth-innings five-for to spin New Zealand A to victory against Bangladesh A in the first Test in Sylhet.Adithya’s tattoo in Tamil reads “My way is a unique way”•Deivarayan Muthu/ESPNcricinfo”I think the Bangladesh tour was amazing,” he says. “Any chance you get to contribute towards a red-ball win is something that’s very close to my heart. I really enjoy playing red-ball cricket and I think just getting the opportunity to go and play somewhere foreign, have a few weeks trying to understand the conditions and then coming up with a plan to try and be effective and then for it to work, that’s the model.”I think that’s the part that I’m most happy with – having the opportunity to do that. And coming here to India is just another opportunity to do the same. In terms of trying to hit a new level, you’re always trying to push yourself to a higher standard, but I think I’ve just enjoyed the opportunity for the first time to go somewhere different, try and implement a plan, and for that plan to come away and have some success, I think it was cool.”In Chennai, Adithya tested his variations, which include the wrong’un and the square-seam slider, on various types of surfaces against local batters and New Zealand’s Rhys Mariu and Dale Phillips (brother of international Glenn), who were also part of the camp.”We don’t get the black soil, we don’t get the [same] red soil, we don’t get the clay [in New Zealand],” Adithya says. “Understanding that on red soil you don’t have to potentially bowl as much overspin as we do back home in New Zealand. Red soil is a bit more conducive, so you can afford to bowl a little bit faster, you can afford to use a little bit more of the sidespin, square-seam deliveries that you see all the Indian bowlers bowl so well with.Adithya took ten wickets at an economy of 4.9 from seven matches in the 2024-25 Ford Trophy•Joe Allison/Getty Images”Just getting accustomed to what that feels like in hand, even something as small as using the SG ball, something that I’ve never done before, so understanding what that feels like in my hands… Do I have to grip it a certain way to get the same result? We are kind of on a fact-finding mission.”Adithya credits former New Zealand spinners Tarun Nethula, his long-time mentor, and Paul Wiseman, the current New Zealand talent identification manager, for his progress.”Tarun and Paul have been massive for me in terms of my spin bowling, and [are] two people that I’ve admired and really gone to for advice or technical help or anything,” he says. “I needed to be stronger [after the back injury], so that was a big part of it.”But from a technical aspect, we were just trying to make sure that I was a little bit more aligned at the crease, trying to make sure that my approach to the crease is a little bit more direct, keeping my front arm in play for longer and trying to make sure I put as much as I can on the ball, keep imparting a lot of overspin, especially in white-ball cricket.”Any changes I need to make in order to put more sidespin on the ball or bowl a little bit faster – I think I’m very lucky to have those two in my corner to be able to be able to WhatsApp them at any point in the day. I know that when I wake up the next morning or come back from lunch, there will definitely be a message with a lot of knowledge and wisdom, which I’m very excited to read always.”During his “fact-finding mission” at the CSK academy, Adithya got to understand different soil types and how to bat and bowl on them•Super Kings AcademyAdithya is not part of New Zealand’s T20I squad for the upcoming tri-nation series against hosts Zimbabwe and South Africa but he is set for more opportunities during the upcoming season. There’s also a T20 World Cup in the horizon, but he isn’t looking too far ahead.”My priority now is to learn from Sri [Sriram Krishnamurthy, current head coach of the Super Kings academy and a former Wellington coach], stay where my feet are at the moment and experience this phase of the calendar in Chennai and Vellore,” he says. “Then there’s an A tour to South Africa and the domestic season with Auckland.”For now, I’m looking to soak up these experiences and invest into what I’m learning here, find new things, try to take some learnings away to South Africa with the A tour, learn more things there, enjoy the culture, and from there we’ll have a look at what the next little phase looks like.”Adithya’s top priority is to add to his three internationals for New Zealand and win games for them, but he also has ambitions of playing for CSK in the IPL in the future.”Ever since I moved to New Zealand, Auckland and New Zealand has been my home and I’d love to play for New Zealand as much as I can and win trophies for them. But I’d be lying if I said there wasn’t a part of me that wants to connect with my heritage and local side that aligns with Chennai. That’s something that excites me, but the foremost thing is to represent New Zealand.”Adithya has travelled a long and winding road from Vellore to New Zealand and continues to tread his own path to becoming a Black Caps regular.

England’s captain said he had a feeling on an auspicious date, and so it transpired

Vithushan Ehantharajah14-Jul-20250:55

Manjrekar: Stokes always makes things happen

Ben Stokes had a hunch when he woke up on Monday morning.On the sixth anniversary of England’s 2019 ODI World Cup win, on the final day at Lord’s, with six wickets to get before India achieved the remaining 135 to win this third Test, Stokes felt there was only one man who should start the day with the ball.It was not from the end from which Jofra Archer bowled that famous Super Over against New Zealand. Stokes still had two deliveries left after taking out nightwatcher Akash Deep with what became his final ball on Sunday. But the Pavilion End, from where Archer, on Thursday, had taken his first Test wicket since February 24, 2021, would do just fine. Especially when fate was calling.Related

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So it proved. A six-over spell produced a pearler to send Rishabh Pant’s off stump for a walk, then a stunning reflex catch – Archer sprawling to his right in his follow-through – did for Washington Sundar. Since 2006, when such records started being kept, Archer’s was the sixth fastest day-five spell recorded.”It felt right in my tummy that Jofra was going to do something this morning to break the game open,” Stokes said. “Gut feel doesn’t always work, but those two wickets he got this morning swung the game massively in our favour.”Undoubtedly, it was Stokes’ dismissal of KL Rahul, sandwiched by Archer’s strikes, that was top of the podium. England’s three wickets in the first seven overs of play had put them out in front. And just when it looked as though India were creeping back into the picture with their ninth-wicket stand, Stokes returned to prise out Jasprit Bumrah, even if the No. 10’s shot selection was curious given the situation.England’s heroes in that 2019 final – both the man who dragged them to that Super Over, and the one who held his nerve to defend 15 therein – were back at it in 2025. Cricket is a sport that, more often than not, baits romance rather than serves it up. However, for Stokes to bowl as much as he did, and for Archer to be back bowling in a Test match at all, provided a moment – as was the case six years ago – that English cricket will not be able to take for granted.Then and now: Six years on from the 2019 World Cup final, Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer were centre stage at Lord’s•Getty Images

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Archer was at midwicket when the final ball of the match trickled agonisingly onto Mohammed Siraj’s leg stump. As Shoaib Bashir charged off towards the Grandstand – where Archer himself had been enveloped by Bashir after removing Jaiswal four days earlier – Archer fell to the floor.His resting place was more or less the same patch of grass onto which he had sprinted and dived after Jos Buttler had run out Martin Guptill from Jason Roy’s throw. But the significance of that moment is probably a little overblown, considering Archer could not recall why July 14 was special when Stokes broached it with him”You know what day today is, don’t you?” Stokes had asked before the start of play, looking to stir the 30-year-old. It turns out, Archer thought this was the anniversary of India’s two-wicket win over England at Lord’s in 2002’s NatWest series final. “You know that highlight package of India knocking off 300-odd back in the day with Ganguly?” Stokes explained to the media, referencing the then-India captain windmilling his shirt over his head on the away balcony. “He thought that was a World Cup final. He thought that was six years ago today.”The confusion was broadly understandable. That fixture actually took place on July 13, and highlights of that 325-plays-326 slobberknocker were on the television screens on Monday morning when England arrived at the ground. When Stokes informed Archer he meant the World Cup “we won”, Archer responded with, “oh, that one”.Ben Stokes at the centre surrounded by the rest of England•Getty Images

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Archer will have known which one, of course, and confusing it with a match that took place 23 years ago suggests 2019’s final feels more recent than it actually is.The memories from that summer have kept Archer going, and kept England so invested – literally – in getting him back to this point. He had followed his World Cup haul of 20 dismissals at 23.05 (the third most in the tournament) with 22 more at 20.27 in the men’s Ashes, all of them underpinned by express pace. Few players have had such a sweet first taste of international cricket, and fewer still have nailed their own involvement so spectacularly.Archer’s problems have come ever since. From that summer into this one, his nine Test caps brought just 20 further wickets at 42. When people doubted that Archer could return as the bowler he had been back in 2019, they had their reasons.During this period, England did overbowl him, most notably on a flat pitch in Mount Maunganui, where he sent down 42 in a single innings. The link between his elbow and lower-back stress fractures was easy to make.Even on his thrilling Test debut at Lord’s against Australia, England were already playing recklessly with their new toy, as he sent down 44 overs in the match. And though he did get into a 40th on this comeback, the breakdown of his work suggests lessons have been learned.In 2019, there was an eight- and seven-over spell, along with six other spells at least four. This time, there were only six spells of four or more across the four days England spent in the field, with his two longest at five when opening the first innings, and six on this final morning.Much of that is down to the fact Stokes shouldered the longest burdens. Going into stumps on day four with 4.4 overs, he resumed in the morning for 9.2 more, and then later in the day for 10.While Archer did the post-match media rounds, looking fresh and beaming from ear to ear, an exhausted Stokes, carrying his bowling boots in one hand, blood seeping through the sock on his left foot, began his session for the written media with a simple request: “Any chance you can just do ‘yes’ or ‘no’ questions?”2:32

Stokes: I was going to decide when I stop bowling

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The connection between Stokes and Archer truly began in 2019, bound by that World Cup win.Stokes was the first to go over to Archer in the moment of victory, putting his arms around him during those celebrations on the outfield. They have gone on to become good friends, gaming together, even becoming business partners. And as Test captain, with Archer trending towards full fitness throughout Stokes’ tenure, the 34-year-old has been his biggest cheerleader and defender during various setbacks.Despite all the affection, Stokes did lose his cool with Archer on Sunday evening.During Archer’s third over, after Karun Nair had hit him for a second boundary through the covers in four deliveries, he gestured for a man to be placed out as insurance. Stokes refused.At the start of the 16th over, Rahul’s bunt out to deep square-leg was not immediately attacked, resulting in Stokes throwing his arms out at Archer, who was stationed back on the leg-side boundary. As the players walked off after Stokes had taken out Akash Deep’s off stump, Sky cameras caught Archer trying to speak to Stokes, who gave him short shrift.This is not Archer’s first Test in which Stokes has been captain, but it is his first since his regime officially began in 2022. Though Archer has been with the team since the second Test, this was the first time he was really “in it”. It is not a total surprise he is not up to speed with some of the non-negotiables.One insistence he seemed to fall foul of was asking for negative field settings – Stokes believes every fielder should be affecting a dismissal, something he reiterates by telling his bowlers he simply does not care about their economy rates. The other “must” is giving your all in fielding. No dawdling or escorting. A great example was Bashir, an over before he took the final wicket. Nursing a broken pinkie on his left hand that has ruled him out for the rest of the series, Bashir slid along the point boundary to intercept the ball inside the rope – scooping it with his right hand, then cradling it in the pit of his right elbow.Archer, by Monday, had clearly got the memo, diving about in the field, and letting his captain set whatever field he demanded. In return, he maintained his express pace throughout, including when he struck Siraj on the shoulder with a fierce bumper clocking in at 88mph. It turned out to be his final delivery of the match.Ben Stokes celebrates after sending back Jasprit Bumrah•Getty Images

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Stokes revealed the main sticking point he had with Archer on the penultimate evening was not to do with his fielding but where people were stationed. Specifically, Stokes himself.”He wanted me to come to mid-on and Carsey [Brydon Carse] to go to leg slip so he could talk to me,” Stokes said. “But I didn’t trust Carsey at leg slip, to be honest. Honestly, that whole thing was he wanted me to come to mid-on so we could chat about what he’s trying to do.”Even in the heat of this Test match, it was a rare moment of vulnerability from Archer. Public-facing, too. Those chats would have been tactical, but there is something to be said for the extra comfort Stokes would have brought Archer by his side.Stokes was at mid-on for the last ball of the Super Over, collapsing onto his back at its conclusion. His unbeaten 84 had left the match all-square in normal time. But more important even that the eight extra runs he picked off alongside Jos Buttler in setting New Zealand a Super Over target of 16 was his advice to Archer before he took centre stage.Though Archer already had the confidence – he knew he’d have to bowl the Super Over even before Eoin Morgan had confirmed it – he was wary. He would later admit: “I don’t know what I would have done tomorrow” had he been responsible for losing that final.Stokes, however, had experience of that from 2016’s World T20 final in Kolkata. And so, he took Archer to one side and offered the following: “Win or lose, today does not define you. Everyone believes in you.”The irony is failure in this Test may have re-defined Archer. It would have been proof, in the eyes of the doubters, that he was a waste of central contracts. That he has been coddled by the ECB. That maybe he does only care for franchise riches, that he is only good for white-ball cricket. That, you know what, he is overrated. Speaking to Sky in the moment of victory, he railed against the “keyboard warriors” who had been the bane of his rehab for four years.Now, those thoughts can settle down. Of course, much will depend on how Archer recovers from this week’s exploits, though the nine days between now and the fourth Test will help him. A meaningful role in this winter’s Ashes is now a genuine possibility.A lot has happened in six years. And yet here we are, back at Lord’s, with English cricket grateful for Stokes and giddy about Archer all over again. All told, it’s good to be back.

Joe Denly and Adil Rashid shared seven wickets as England closed out victory in their final white-ball encounter of the tour

The Report by Andrew Fidel Fernando in Colombo27-Oct-20181:39

Social Story: Denly’s back!

Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsJason Roy – dropped three times – thwacked 69 off 36, Moeen Ali smote 27 off 11 while the lower-middle order rallied, and England lurched in fits and starts to 187 for 8, which would prove 30 too many for Sri Lanka.The target was imposing enough by itself, with only one greater total having been successfully chased at Khettarama. But when Joe Denly, playing in his first England international in almost nine years, removed both Sri Lanka openers with his virtually non-turning legspin, Sri Lanka’s pursuit was seriously imperilled. England’s other legspinner – the main one – Adil Rashid then claimed three wickets through the middle overs to essentially seal victory for his team.Between them, Rashid and Denly accounted for Sri Lanka’s top five, and had them well behind the asking rate. Sri Lanka captain Thisara Perera slammed his way to 57 off 31 balls for the remainder of the innings, but his team had lost too much ground to make even that innings meaningful. The hosts limped, eventually, to 157 all out by the end of 20 overs, Denly claiming career-best figures of 4 for 19.England, and Roy in particular, made their intentions felt in the very first over. Running down the pitch to Lasith Malinga, Roy thumped him over long-off for six second ball, before glancing the fourth ball to the fine leg boundary for four. Sri Lanka tried to target Roy with the left-arm spin of Amila Aponso, perhaps working off the theory that he was susceptible to that form of bowling early in his innings. It didn’t work – Roy thrashed two fours off Aponso’s first two balls.The spinner would have more luck at the other end, in his second over, however, dismissing Roy’s opening partner Jos Buttler, and Alex Hales in the space of four balls. That prompted a brief respite from Roy’s onslaught – a period of about four overs when he did not hit a boundary. The big hits would resume soon enough, though.The ninth over, bowled by Lakshan Sandakan, was the most eventful over of the innings, and perhaps the definitive one of the game. Batting at the time on 34 off 25 balls, Roy top edged the second ball, and sent a miscued slog-sweep high to deep midwicket. But the substitute fielder, Sadeera Samarawickrama, spilled the straightforward chance, after which Roy nailed a slog-sweep into the western stand. Fourth ball, another top edge, this one to Dasun Shanaka at long-off. That was also grassed. Last ball, Sandakan should have had Ben Stokes lbw as well, only for the umpire to deny him, and his team-mates to refuse the review.Adil Rashid made important inroads•Getty ImagesRoy, who was dropped again in the next over, clobbered 34 runs off 11 balls after his first reprieve. Stokes made 24 off his next 21. Between these two innings and that of Moeen, who struck three sixes and a four off his first 10 balls despite having arrived in the 12th over with four wickets already down, England were powered to their daunting total.Denly, who produced a useful 20 off 17 with the bat as well, might not have been the kind of bowler that worried Sri Lanka before this match, but he nevertheless was the first to push them off course, before Rashid truly toppled them later on. He slipped a ball under Kusal Mendis’ ambitious slog-sweep with the last ball of his first over – Kusal making a return to single-figure limited-overs scores, after hitting a half-century in the last ODI. Niroshan Dickwella, who is perhaps the form batsman of this top order, was out in almost identical fashion in Denly’s next over.Dinesh Chandimal and Dhananjaya de Silva threatened to rebuild – even if Sri Lanka were already struggling in terms of run rate – but Rashid’s arrival at the bowling crease the moment the Powerplay ended, swung the match decisively for England. He had Chandimal caught attempting a reverse-slog in his first over, then dismissed Kamindu Mendis and de Silva in the space of three deliveries in his third, conceding only 11 runs – no boundaries – right through his four-over spell.Aside from Thisara’s late fifty, debutant Kamindu’s all-round performance might have been the only real positive for the hosts. Not only did he deliver both left-arm orthodox and right-arm offbreaks for the first time in an international match since 1996 (Sri Lanka’s Hashan Tillakaratne had been the last to do it), his batting was also full of promise. In 14 balls at the crease, he struck three fours and a six, before eventually holing out attempting a slog-sweep. For now, his batting appears his foremost cricketing talent, even if the uniqueness of his bowling will command more headlines.

The old cliche goes that if you can’t beat them, join them, but the same is also true that if you can’t stop them, then sign them. Liverpool appear to be doing the latter.

Few players will have given Anfield hero Virgil van Dijk sleepless nights in recent years, although Alexander Isak might well be one of them, with Newcastle United’s Swedish sensation proving an absolute menace for the Dutchman and his fellow defenders.

Described by the Reds skipper as “definitely the most in-form striker at the moment in world football”, ahead of the Carabao Cup final in March, the returning Isak duly scored in that Wembley showpiece to seal an emotional, surprise win for the Magpies.

In all, the former Real Sociedad man has netted four times in just six appearances against the Merseysiders across all competitions, with that likely to have played its part in their apparent bid to prise the 25-year-old from St James’ Park on a £120m deal.

Such bombshell news has become the talk of the town from a Premier League perspective, although on Tyneside, Eddie Howe and co don’t appear to have thrown in the towel just yet.

Still steadfast in their desire to keep hold of the 6 foot 4 machine, Newcastle may steer Arne Slot’s side toward potential attacking alternatives…

Liverpool's potential Isak alternatives

The obvious place to start is with the man who could well have a pivotal role to play in Isak’s future, Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike.

The young Frenchman is being lined up as a future replacement for the Sweden star at St James’, albeit with Liverpool also throwing their hat into the ring, should it prove too difficult to get their top target out of the north east.

It would appear that it isn’t just that duo who the Merseysiders have their eye on, however, with the Daily Mail’s Simon Jones reporting that the champions are considering multiple other options in the bid for a new number nine.

Transfer Focus

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Among those said to have been discussed at Anfield is Manchester United outcast, Marcus Rashford, with the Englishman noted as one of the six Isak alternatives that have been considered.

As the report does note, such talks have not progressed any further as yet with it looking unlikely that Slot and co will pounce, albeit with the 27-year-old certainly available having been exiled by Red Devils boss Ruben Amorim.

Valued at £40m earlier this year, amid the chance for Aston Villa to purchase their loan signing on a permanent deal, Rashford would represent a far cheaper choice than that man Isak. He would also be far more controversial, however…

Why Liverpool could be targeting the new Michael Owen

It says it all that the last player to directly move between Liverpool and Man United was Phil Chisnall, with the forward scoring ten goals in 47 games at Old Trafford, before moving to Anfield on a £25k deal in 1964.

Even signing a player with a previous association to the ‘other’ club has been a rarity in modern times, with notable examples including a certain Paul Ince in the late 90s, alongside the more infamous ‘treachery’ of Michael Owen.

Once the golden boy of Liverpool, having emerged from the academy ranks as a dazzling teenager, Owen burned his bridges – and then some – after ending up on the books at United in 2009, having joined Sir Alex Ferguson’s side via spells at Real Madrid and Newcastle United.

Despite admitting that he had had his heart set on returning to Merseyside amid his exit from Madrid in 2005, no such homecoming came to fruition, with the declining striker later linking up with Fergie on a free transfer.

Still just 29 at the time of that controversial switch, it was evident that Owen’s powers were on the wane, with his last-gasp goal in a 4-3 win over rivals Manchester City the only real moment of note across the next three years. Just 17 goals in 52 games says it all.

While circumstances might be different in the case of Rashford, he too could prove to be something of a bizarre, unnecessary signing, this time for Liverpool, with it hard to see the wisdom in even considering the Three Lions star as an Isak alternative.

Like Owen – who burst onto the scene as a 17-year-old at Anfield – Rashford was also once a teen sensation for Man United, having scored twice on debut as an 18-year-old back in February 2016, before ending that campaign with eight goals in just 18 games under Louis van Gaal.

2024/25*

24

7

3

2023/24

43

8

6

2022/23

56

30

11

2021/22

32

5

2

2020/21

57

21

18

High points have followed since for the academy graduate, namely his 30-goal season in 2022/23 during Erik ten Hag’s time at the helm, although inconsistency has been the theme of recent years.

As evidenced in the table above, the forward’s “unstoppable” 2022/23 campaign, as hailed by Ten Hag, stands out amid a rather underwhelming half a decade, in truth, with Liverpool not exactly targeting a player in his pomp.

As was the case with Owen, for all parties this appears to be a move best avoided, with the scrutiny and controversy unlikely to be made worthwhile by performances on the pitch.

He's better than Ekitike: Liverpool chasing "monster" £60m Isak alternative

Liverpool are looking to sign a new number nine in the summer transfer window.

ByAngus Sinclair Jul 15, 2025

Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco was arrested in the Dominican Republic on Monday, police said. Franco, who is on indefinite administrative leave from Major League Baseball as he awaits trial, was reportedly involved in an altercation Sunday that led to guns being drawn. Per ESPN's Jeff Passan, Franco and an unnamed woman are being held for questioning over the incident.

Franco has a December 12 trial in the country for a separate case in which he is accused of sexual abuse, sexual exploitation against a minor and human trafficking. As noted by ESPN, Franco's bail agreement allows him to travel within the Dominican Republic and he is free to carry a gun so long as he has a license to do so and the weapon is registered.

The 23-year-old shortstop was placed on MLB's restricted list in July and then on administrative leave in August after he was accused by prosecutors of having a sexual relationship with a then-14-year-old girl. Until that case is resolved Franco is considered under investigation by MLB over the league's domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse policy.

Franco signed an 11-year, $182 million deal with the Rays in 2021. He has not taken the field for the franchise since 2023.

Walker Buehler will have a new look when he takes the mound for the first time in 2025. After spending the first eight seasons of his Major League Baseball career with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Buehler will be donning a Red Sox uniform next season.

His uniform won't be the only change for Buehler's look next season—he is also changing his number from No. 21 to No. 0.

For the first time in his career, Buehler will play for a team other than the Dodgers and wear a number other than No. 21. Buehler explained his decision to take the No. 0, making him one of just three players in Red Sox history to sport the number.

"No. 21 was taken, or somewhat taken, or however you guys classify it," Buehler said, via Chris Cotillo. of MassLive. "But no, I had few options there at the end. And I don't know, it felt fitting. We battled a lot on double zero or single zero, but I think the smaller number makes me look a little skinnier out there. So I went with a single zero."

Buehler signed a one-year, $21.05 million deal in December coming off of his World Series-winning performance in October. After missing nearly two seasons because of Tommy John surgery, Buehler returned in 2024. He struggled early in the year, posting a 1-6 record and 5.38 ERA over 16 regular season starts, but stepped up in the postseason amid injuries to the Dodgers' rotation. He pitched six scoreless innings in the World Series, and clinched the victory by closing out the final inning of Game 5.

After missing the playoffs in three consecutive seasons, the Red Sox are hopeful Buehler's postseason heroics will come in handy in 2025.

The San Francisco Giants have found their long-term answer at shortstop.

ESPN's Jeff Passan reported Saturday, citing sources, that the Giants agreed to sign shortstop Willy Adames to a seven-year contract worth $182 million, pending a physical.

It is the largest contract handed out in franchise history, marking Buster Posey's first big move since taking the president of baseball operations role in October. Adames's deal, which includes a $22 million signing bonus, tops Posey's nine-year contract extension worth $167 million that he signed as a 26-year-old catcher back in 2013.

Adames, 29, hit the open market after spending four years apiece with the Milwaukee Brewers and Tampa Bay Rays. He was traded to the Brewers in May 2021 and developed into one of the game's best sluggers at the position, mashing at least 25 homers in each of the last four years.

In 161 games with Milwaukee last season, Adames batted .251/.331/.462 while setting career bests in just about every offensive category, including homers (32), doubles (33), RBIs (112) and stolen bases (21).

Adames now holds the keys to shortstop at Oracle Park, a position San Francisco thought it filled in free agency two years ago. In December 2022, the Giants agreed to sign shortstop Carlos Correa to a 13-year contract worth $350 million, only to back out of the deal on the day of his scheduled introductory press conference due to concerns that arose over his physical.

Adames's deal is currently pending a physical, too, of course.

While Correa enters the 2025 campaign on the third season of his six-year contract he signed with the Minnesota Twins, it appears the Giants have finally found their cornerstone shortstop. And Posey has proved he can do what former executive Farhan Zaidi struggled to accomplish—bringing a star to the Bay Area on a long-term deal.