
ENG V ZIM: McCullum Demands Humility Before Series V India First Sports With Rupha Ramani
ENG V ZIM: McCullum Demands Humility Before Series V India | First Sports With Rupha Ramani | N18G
ENG V ZIM: McCullum Demands Humility Before Series V India | First Sports With Rupha Ramani | N18G
England's men's cricket team begin a critical rebuilding phase as they take on Zimbabwe in what is seen as a litmus test before the all-important West Indies series and India's Test tour. The 2019 World Cup winners will begin a new era under young captain Harry Brook. Despite boasting talents like Ben Stokes, Joe Root, and Jos Buttler, England have endured a dismal year across formats, losing 24 of their last 48 matches. From Champions Trophy exits to T20 humiliation in India, questions are being raised not just about performance, but attitude. In a fiery press conference, head coach Brendon McCullum called for humility and a reality check within the team. Rupha Ramani explores whether the under-fire English setup will rediscover their identity and reconnect with fans? Or is this just the beginning of more turbulence?
See More

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Mint
35 minutes ago
- Mint
Piyush Chawla, IPL third highest wicket taker, announces retirement from all forms of cricket
One of India's finest spinners, Piyush Chawla announced his retirement from all forms of cricket on Friday afternoon. He announced his decision by releasing an official statement on Instagram. Sharing the statement on Instagram, Piyush Chawla wrote, 'Closing this chapter with Gratitude !! Retiring from all formats of the game, thank you, everyone, for your support throughout this beautiful journey.' In the statement on Instagram, Piyush Chawla wrote, 'After more than two decades on the field, the time has come to bid adieu to the beautiful game. From representing India at the highest level to being part of the victorious 2007 T20 World Cup and 2011 ODI World Cup squads, every moment in this incredible journey has been nothing short of a blessing. These memories will forever remain etched in my heart. A heartfelt thank you to the IPL franchises who placed their trust in me - Punjab Kings, Kolkata Knight Riders, Chennai Super Kings, and Mumbai Indians." "The Indian Premier League has been a truly special chapter in my career, and I have cherished every moment playing in it. A special mention to my late father, whose belief in me lit the path I walked. Without him, this journey would never have been possible. Today is a deeply emotional day for me as I officially announce my retirement from all forms of international and domestic cricket. Though I step away from the crease, cricket will always live within me. I now look forward to embarking on a new journey, carrying with me the spirit and lessons of this beautiful game," he added. Chawla made his debut in competitive cricket at 15, and he also represented India U19 and Uttar Pradesh U22. He then made his first-class debut at 17. Piyush Chawla played three Test matches in his entire career between 2006-12, where he took 7 wickets and his best bowling record is 4/69. He also played 25 ODI matches between 2007-11 and picked 32 wickets. His best bowling record is 4/23 at an economy of 5.10. In 7 T20Is between 2010-12, Chawla took 4 wickets. Chawla last played for India in December 2012 when he played against England in a T20I match in Mumbai. However, his best figure came in the Indian Premier League between 2008-24. During this long span of IPL career, he represented franchises like Kolkata Knight Riders, Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians. He played 192 IPL matches and picked 192 wickets, making him the third-highest wicket-taker in IPL history. His best record in IPL is 4/17. In 137 first-class matches, Chawla took 446 wickets.


The Hindu
36 minutes ago
- The Hindu
FIFA 2026 World Cup qualifiers: Uzbekistan seals maiden berth with goalless draw against UAE
Uzbekistan coach Timur Kapadze lauded the efforts of his players after the Central Asian country qualified for the World Cup for the first time. The White Wolves claimed their spot at the expanded 48-team 2026 finals on Thursday with a 0-0 draw in the United Arab Emirates, which guaranteed Kapadze's side a top-two finish in Group A, alongside already-qualified Iran. Uzbekistan has tried and failed to qualify seven times since its independence after the break-up of the Soviet Union in 1991, suffering heartbreak in the final stage of continental qualifiers for Germany 2006 and Brazil 2014. A genuine force in Asia since its 1994 Asian Games triumph, the Uzbekistan FA has invested heavily in youth development in the attempt to take the final step onto the world stage. Kapadze has reaped the dividends with a young generation of players, including Manchester City's 21-year-old centre back Abdukodir Khusanov at his disposal. 'We have achieved an important result after a long and difficult journey. A lot of work was done for this result, I sincerely congratulate our people,' Kapadze told Uzbekistan's online publication Zamin. 'This is not only our victory, but the victory of our entire people. Our players showed determination in every match, worked with all their might, and we achieved the result ... ' Kapadze, who played 119 times for Uzbekistan and led the under-23 team at last year's Olympic Games, was appointed coach after Srecko Katanec left because of illness in January. 'Before the game, (everyone) expressed their confidence in our team's victory and expected a good result from us,' he said. 'This confidence also became a great responsibility and pressure for us. But we managed to overcome this pressure and complete the task.' Kapadze was mobbed by his players in his post-match press conference and received a congratulatory telephone call from Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. 'In a fierce competition against the strongest teams in Asia, you demonstrated true character, unbreakable will, and professionalism,' Mirziyoyev said.


Indian Express
an hour ago
- Indian Express
India's two-time World Cup winner Piyush Chawla announces retirement from all formats at 36
India's two-time World Cup-winning leg-spinner, Piyush Chawla, announced his retirement from all formats of professional cricket on Friday. 'After more than two decades on the field, the time has come to bid adieu to the beautiful game,' the 36-year-old Chawla wrote in an Instagram post. Featuring for India in the 2007 T20 World Cup and 2011 ODI World Cup triumphs, Chawla amassed over 1000 wickets across formats in professional cricket. Chawla played 3 Tests, 25 ODIs and 7 T20Is for India across six years till his last appearance in 2012, nabbing 43 wickets. Aged 17 years and 75 days when he first represented India in a Test match against England in March 2006, Chawla remains as India's second youngest male debutant in the format after Sachin Tendulkar (16y 205d). A post shared by Piyush Chawla (@piyushchawla_official_) 'From representing India at the highest level to being part of the victorious 2007 T20 World Cup and 2011 ODI World Cup squads, every moment in this incredible journey has been nothing short of a blessing. These memories will forever remain etched in my heart,' Chawla added. In a prolific IPL career spanned across four franchises, Chawla racked up 192 wickets in as many matches, with his last stint coming with the Mumbai Indians between IPL 2022-24. 'A heartfelt thank you to the IPL franchises who placed their trust in me – Punjab Kings, Kolkata Knight Riders, Chennai Super Kings, and Mumbai Indians. The Indian Premier League has been a truly special chapter in my career, and I have cherished every moment playing in it. I owe my deepest gratitude to my coaches – Shri K.K. Gautam and Late Shri Pankaj Saraswat-for nurturing and shaping me into the cricketer I became.' 'Today is a deeply emotional day for me as I officially announce my retirement from all forms of international and domestic cricket. Chawla made his final competitive appearance for Uttar Pradesh in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in November 2024, recording figures of 4/12 at the Wankhede Stadium. 'Though I step away from the crease, cricket will always live within me. I now look forward to embarking on a new journey, carrying with me the spirit and lessons of this beautiful game,' he concluded.