Springboks make 11 changes for Italy Test
Erasmus was angry with a subdued second-half performance by the Springboks in a 42-24 first Test victory over the Azzurri last Saturday in Pretoria.
Team (15-1)
Willie le Roux; Edwill van der Merwe, Canan Moodie, Andre Esterhuizen, Makazole Mapimpi; Manie Libbok, Grant Williams; Jasper Wiese, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Marco van Staden; Ruan Nortje, Salmaan Moerat (capt); Wilco Louw, Malcolm Marx, Thomas du Toit
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France 24
24 minutes ago
- France 24
Deep lucky to escape Duckett 'elbow' as India get under England's skin
Deep's clash with Duckett lit the fuse on the second day of the deciding Test as an increasingly tense rivalry approaches boiling point. The India seamer mockingly put an arm around Duckett's shoulder after having the opener caught behind for 43 attempting a cheeky reverse scoop in England's first innings. The dismissal came not long after Duckett was heard telling Deep "you can't get me out". Deep's provocative act could be deemed to breach International Cricket Council rules on "inappropriate physical contact". Duckett did not react as he walked off, but Deep had to be pulled away by KL Rahul to stop the row escalating. Trescothick, who made 76 Test appearances for England from 2000 to 2006, was stunned by Deep's 'send-off' and said the reaction in his playing days would not have been as composed as Duckett's. "I was just saying many in my time, a lot of players would have just dropped the elbow on him. I don't think I've ever seen a bowler do that after getting someone out," said Trescothick. "You see bowlers have many words like we've seen a bit in this series on both sides. But it was just different wasn't it? I was just laughing and joking about it. "Ben doesn't really do a great deal. Put your head down and walk off, your job is done at that point. There is no need to walk him off in that fashion." With the animosity rising, England batsman Joe Root responded furiously after an exchange with Prasidh Krishna as he ran between the wickets later in the innings. Root, who has rarely lost his cool on the pitch, was clearly incensed as he shouted at Krishna. 'Plenty of words and arguments' Speaking after the day's play, Krishna insisted the exchange was just good-natured banter in the heat of the moment. "It was a very small thing. It was just a combative edge that was coming out. We are good mates off the field. It was just a bit of banter and we both enjoyed it," he said. Root was eventually dismissed by Mohammed Siraj for just 29 and Krishna revealed India had been determined to unsettle him with an aggressive approach. "I think that was the plan but I didn't think the couple of words I said would get such a big reaction from him," he said. "I love the guy, he is a legend of the game. It's great when two people are out there wanting to do their best." Krishna was involved in another clash when he threw the ball towards Zak Crawley, hitting his bat in the process, after fielding a shot from the England opener. Earlier in the series, India captain Shubman Gill accused the hosts of ignoring the "spirit of cricket" following Crawley's time-wasting late on the third day of the third Test at Lord's. England were angered by India's decision to bat on in the fourth Test at Old Trafford rather than agree a draw as soon as possible. England hold a 2-1 lead in the series with three days left in the deciding Test, with India leading by 52 runs at 75-2 in their second innings. Trescothick insisted the teams would remain on friendly terms after the series, despite the growing evidence to the contrary. "The game has been fought in good spirits, even though there have been plenty of words and arguments along the way," he said.
France 24
an hour ago
- France 24
India's Krishna and Siraj rock England in series finale
England were 129-1 in reply to India's 224 all out as they threatened to build a substantial first-innings lead. But they were eventually dismissed for 247, just 23 runs ahead, in a match India must win to end one of the most enthralling series in England since the 2005 Ashes level at 2-2. The recalled Krishna had figures of 4-62 in 16 overs and fellow paceman Siraj, ever-present in a gruelling campaign, 4-86 in 16.2 India were 75-2 in their second innings, a lead of 52 runs, when bad light ended play on the second day, with England a bowler down in the absence of the injured Chris Woakes. Yashasvi Jaiswal was 51 not out after being dropped twice. The left-handed opener was reprieved on 20 when Harry Brook floored a tough catch at second slip following a loose drive off Gus Atkinson. And he was missed again on 40 when Liam Dawson failed to sight a catch in the deep and was hit in the face. Jaiswal cashed in with a 44-ball fifty completed when he uppercut Jamie Overton over the slips for six. India opener KL Rahul was caught by first slip Joe Root off Josh Tongue before Sai Sudharsan, dropped on seven, was lbw to Atkinson for 11 shortly before stumps. Earlier, Crawley and Ben Duckett shared a blistering first-wicket stand of 92 in just 13 overs after Atkinson marked his return to Test cricket with a five-wicket haul. Both openers fell either side of lunch, however, before stand-in England captain Ollie Pope, leading the side in place of the injured Ben Stokes, was lbw to Siraj for 22. Crawley and Duckett dominated India's attack, with left-hander Duckett telling Akash Deep "you can't get me out". Deep, however, had Duckett caught behind for 43 off an attempted scoop, then put his arm round the unimpressed batsman's shoulder and appeared to say a few words as he walked off. This incident came after India captain Shubman Gill accused England of ignoring the "spirit of cricket" by time-wasting in the third Test at Lord's. England were then angered by the India's decision to bat on in the fourth Test at Old Trafford rather than agree a draw as soon as possible. Siraj stars Ater Duckett's exit, Crawley holed out off a miscued pull against Krishna for 64, with 56 of those runs coming in boundaries. The usually mild-mannered Root, second in the all-time list of Test match run scorers, found himself exchanging words with Krishna before the umpires intervened, and was lbw to Siraj for 29. Jamie Smith's edged drive off Krishna well caught by Rahul at second slip and four balls later Overton was lbw for a duck. Brook struck an extraordinary 'falling' sweep for six off Siraj during a 57-ball fifty. But Siraj bowled him for 53, with Brook the last man out as Woakes was unable to bat. England paceman Woakes was effectively ruled out of the rest of the match before play on Friday after suffering a shoulder injury when diving in an attempt to prevent a boundary on Thursday. But Atkinson responded with a superb return of 5-33 in 21.4 overs and also ran out the in-form Gill. The 27-year-old's fourth five-wicket haul in just 13 Tests was all the more creditable as this was Atkinson's first senior match since being sidelined with hamstring trouble following a one-off Test against Zimbabwe in May. India, who resumed on 204-6, lost their last four wickets for just 20 more runs in 5.4 overs on Friday.
France 24
6 hours ago
- France 24
Douglass dedicates world gold to stricken US after 'rough' week
The US team have been hit by an outbreak of acute gastroenteritis in the camp, with team officials saying the "overwhelming majority" of swimmers have been affected. Douglass comfortably won her race in a championship-record 2min 18.50sec, with Russian world record holder Evgeniia Chikunova (2:19.96) second and South Africa's Kaylene Corbett (2:23.52) third. Despite their troubles the US lead Australia in the medals table with two more days of competition left and Olympic champion Douglass said she was happy to make a contribution. "That win was huge, not just for me but for the whole team," said the 23-year-old. "I wanted to get a gold for Team USA to help our medal count. "I think with the rough week that we've had, we've done a great job of coming back and showing that we are here to race." Douglass took control of the final early and never looked like giving up her lead, despite a late surge from Chikunova. The Russian was competing under a "neutral athletes" banner and Douglass said she was "really excited to race her tonight". "I felt like we were both going to push each other to be better," said the American. "Honestly, if I wasn't racing her I don't know if I would have gone 2:18. I think that really pushed me to be my best." Also on Friday, Torri Huske picked up bronze for the Americans in the 100m freestyle, behind winner Marrit Steenbergen and Mollie O'Callaghan in silver. It was Huske's second medal of the week after winning silver with the US women's 4x100m freestyle relay team. "I've never had such a roller coaster of a meet," said Huske, who withdrew ill from a previous race. "I am really proud of that swim and that I was able to get back to kind of normal." © 2025 AFP
