Jaiswal century puts India back in command of opening test
Cricket - International Test Match Series - First Test - England v India - Headingley Cricket Ground, Leeds, Britain - June 20, 2025 England's Joe Root celebrates with teammates after taking the catch to dismiss India's KL Rahul, off the bowling of Brydon Carse Action Images via Reuters/Craig Brough REUTERS
Cricket - International Test Match Series - First Test - England v India - Headingley Cricket Ground, Leeds, Britain - June 20, 2025 England's Zak Crawley appeals unsuccessfully for the wicket of India's Sai Sudharsan Action Images via Reuters/Craig Brough REUTERS
Cricket - International Test Match Series - First Test - England v India - Headingley Cricket Ground, Leeds, Britain - June 20, 2025 England's Ben Stokes celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of India's Sai Sudharsan, catch taken by Jamie Smith Action Images via Reuters/Craig Brough REUTERS
LEEDS, England - A superb century from India opener Yashasvi Jaiswal helped put India back in command of the opening test of their five-match series against England on Friday, with the tourists on 215-2 at tea having previously cruised into a strong position.
Despite the clear, humid Headingley conditions seemingly favouring the batting side, England chose to bowl first, knowing each of the previous six Leeds tests had been won by the side bowling first.
Skipper Ben Stokes' decision initially seems ill-advised, with India openers KL Rahul and Jaiswal looking in fine form, taking India into the nineties unbeaten as lunch approached.
Missing numerous frontline pace bowlers through injury, it was left to Brydon Carse, making his first test start on home soil, to make the crucial breakthrough just as Rahul was settling in on 42, before debutant Sai Sudharsan fell last ball before lunch for a disappointing duck.
Returning from the break on 92-2, the pressure was on new India skipper Gill to shift the momentum back in India's favour, with their fans expecting a smooth transition following the retirements of stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.
Supported manfully by Jaiswal, who sailed to his sixth half century in 10 innings against England, Gill showed his class with his fastest-ever test 50, and, most crucially, first as captain.
Jaiswal, despite receiving treatment for an injury to his hand throughout the session, took the limelight from the skipper, however, storming to his fifth century from just 20 matches, his third against England, to put India in control at tea. REUTERS
Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
44 minutes ago
- Straits Times
Boulter hat-trick bid ends in Nottingham
Tennis - Nottingham Open - Nottingham Tennis Centre, Nottingham, Britain - June 20, 2025 Britain's Katie Boulter reacts after losing her quarter final match against McCartney Kessler of the U.S. Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers REUTERS NOTTINGHAM - Katie Boulter's bid for a hat-trick of Nottingham titles came to an end as the Briton was beaten 6-3 3-6 6-4 by American McCartney Kessler at the WTA 250 event on Friday. Eighth seed Boulter secured a service break early in the deciding set but Kessler stormed back to reach the semi-finals. Boulter became Britain's number one when winning the Nottingham title in 2023 and held it until being knocked off top spot by Emma Raducanu this week. Kessler only recorded her first main draw Tour-level win on grass last week at Queen's but is now eyeing a title on the surface. She will face either Slovak Rebecca Sramkova or Czech Linda Noskova in the semi-final. Saturday's other semi-final will feature Ukraine's Dayana Yastremska and Poland's Magda Linette. Yastremska beat Canada's fifth seed Leylah Fernandez 6-3 7-6(6), while Linette beat Clara Tauson 6-2 7-5 to reach a career-first semi-final on grass. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
UCI to trial gear restrictions to combat dangerous speeds
Cycling - Tour de France - Stage 20 - Nice to Col de la Couillole - Nice, France - July 20, 2024 General view of riders in Saint-Martin-Vesubie during stage 20 REUTERS/Stephane Mahe/File Photo LONDON - A trial to restrict gear ratios and slow down professional cyclists will be conducted later this year, cycling's world governing body the UCI confirmed on Friday. "A test to limit the maximum gear ratio -- approved by all families -- will be carried out during a stage race in the second half of the 2025 season," a statement read. "The maximum gear ratio limitation aims to limit the speed reached in competition. It has been proven that the very high speeds reached by riders today are a risk factor for safety." Under the trial, the maximum gear ratio will be a 54-tooth chain ring with an 11-tooth sprocket. Many teams currently use a 54-10 gear ratio which, allied to the huge power of top-level riders, can result in extremely high speeds. Other safety features recommended by SafeR, the organisation dedicated to improving safety in men's and women's professional road cycling, include a minimum handlebar width of 400mm. The rule will come into force on January 1, 2026 in road and cyclo-cross events with a mass start. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Straits Times
Draper reaches Queen's semis, seals top-four seeding at Wimbledon
Tennis - Queen's Club Championships - Queen's Club, London, Britain - June 20, 2025 Britain's Jack Draper celebrates after winning his quarter final match against Brandon Nakashima of the U.S. Action Images via Reuters/Peter Cziborra REUTERS LONDON - Britain's Jack Draper continued his Wimbledon build-up by reaching the semi-finals at Queen's Club for the first time with a 6-4 5-7 6-4 defeat of American Brandon Nakashima on Friday. Draper not only kept himself on track for the prestigious ATP 500 title, but also secured the win that guarantees a top-four seeding at Wimbledon where he will be the big home hope. The 23-year-old was fully tested by world number 32 Nakashima and his powerful game began to misfire as he lost the second set on a baking hot day on Andy Murray Arena. But Draper settled back into the groove in the deciding set and broke serve in the seventh game with one of his trademark forehand pile drivers. The left-hander had to save a break point when serving for the match at 5-4 but recovered to seal victory and set up a clash with Czech Jiri Lehecka who had earlier beaten Britain's Jacob Fearnley 7-5 6-2. "It means the world to me to reach the semi-finals here," Draper, bidding to become the first British player to win the title at the prestigious west London club since Murray won it for the fifth time in 2016. While being ranked fourth means Draper will avoid either defending champion Carlos Alcaraz or world number one Jannik Sinner until the semi-finals at Wimbledon, Draper shrugged off the significance of that when asked about it. "I kept getting asked about that by the journalists but I've got to reach the semi-finals first," he said. "But it is an incredible position, I was at Wimbledon last year ranked 40 so to go there as fourth seed is a testament to all the hard work my team has done so very proud of that." Alcaraz was following Draper on to court as he took on Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech in his quarter-final. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
