logo
India should go for three-spinners combination at Old Trafford: Atherton

India should go for three-spinners combination at Old Trafford: Atherton

Qatar Tribune5 days ago
ANI
New Delhi
Former England cricketer Michael Atherton weighed in on the possible tweaks that India can make for the fourth Test at Old Trafford in Manchester and suggested a three-spinner bowling combination against his former side.
England broke Indian hearts with a 22-run victory in the third Test at Lord's to ascend to a 2-1 lead in the five-match series. With India contemplating its pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah's utility and the best combination to restore parity, Atherton believes it is time for left-arm wristspinner Kuldeep Yadav to showcase his prowess and weave his magic.
The 57-year-old offered cogent advice to India to go with a two-pace and three-spin bowling attack, considering Old Trafford has favoured wrist spin. Even though a spin-laden combination could work wonders for India, the weather forecast in Manchester has hinted at the possibility of rain, which could prompt them to reconsider their team selection.
'In the middle, where the televised pitches are, I said just flat, flat, flat. You know wrist spin goes well at Old Trafford in those circumstances, so I was wondering whether they could go like Bumrah and Siraj and then play their three spinners, Washington Sundar, Jadeja and Kuldeep. But you don't know about the forecast in Manchester, that's the other thing. If it's going to be cooler and showerier, more showery, and whether the fast bowlers then come into it, but I think that's a definite option India should think about,' Atherton said on thepodcast.
After India brought the series to level terms in the second Test at Edgbaston, India captain Shubman Gill claimed that it was tempting to use Kuldeep, but extending batting depth was their first priority. India went with the same combination, with Bumrah replacing Prasidh Krishna, and ultimately misfired in their attempts to chase down England's 193-run target, conceding a 1-2 lead.
With India desperate for a win, former India captain Ajinkya Rahane has urged the tourists to create space for Kuldeep if Manchester's strip resembles the past surfaces.
'If the wicket is similar to the last three matches, he should play. You need guys who can get you those wickets, batting-wise, it is all well. But if you score 25-30 runs less, it is okay, but you need someone to take these wickets, as you cannot always depend on fast bowlers. One guy has to play that defensive role; guys who can bowl those long spells and in one channel. It will also bring a different variation,' Rahane had said on his YouTube channel.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

LuLu Exchange, LuLu Money partner with Argentine Football Association
LuLu Exchange, LuLu Money partner with Argentine Football Association

Qatar Tribune

time2 days ago

  • Qatar Tribune

LuLu Exchange, LuLu Money partner with Argentine Football Association

Tribune News Network Doha LuLu Exchange, a cross-border payments provider in Qatar, UAE, Oman, Bahrain, and Kuwait, and LuLu Money, its flagship remittance app, have announced a partnership with the Argentine Football Association (AFA), signing on as their Regional Fintech Partners. This sponsorship is part of a larger global agreement through which the various entities under LuLu Financial Holdings, across 10 countries, will become official AFA partners within their respective regions. In India, LuLu Forex, a leading foreign exchange provider, and LuLu Finserv, the group's microlending and financial services arm, will represent the brand. Meanwhile, LuLu Money will take on the partnership role in Malaysia, the Philippines, and Singapore. The partnership, which initially runs through mid-2026, was officially unveiled at an event held in Dubai on Tuesday, in the presence of Argentina's World Cup-winning coach Lionel Scaloni, senior LuLu Financial Holdings leadership, and AFA executives. The agreement spans a key period in global football, culminating in the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico, where the reigning champions will defend their crown. Over the next twelve months, customers of various LuLuFin entities can look forward to a range of exciting campaigns and fan-centric activations, both digitally and through their 380+ customer engagement centers. These will include contests and promotions offering exclusive prizes such as match tickets, official AFA merchandise, and even opportunities for meet-and-greet experiences with players. 'For countless fans, the Argentine team represents more than football - it symbolizes hope, resilience, and joy,' said Adeeb Ahamed, Founder and Managing Director of LuLu Financial Holdings. 'These are the same emotions that shape the everyday journeys of our customers, who use our services to care for their families and build better futures. This partnership is a celebration of that shared spirit.' Claudio Tapia, President of the AFA, said: 'We are delighted to have the LuluFin family as new regional sponsor of the Argentine Football Association for the Middle East, APAC and India. AFA's international expansion continues to grow, incorporating prestigious groups in important territories for our national team. We celebrate this new agreement, which has a strong bond with the Indian community, printing such affection for our team. We share the same values and the importance of teamwork. Today we welcome the LuLuFin family as new regional sponsors of the Argentine national team.' Leandro Petersen, Commercial and Marketing Director of AFA, said: 'This new regional sponsorship with Lulu Financial Holdings, through its flagship brands in strategic territories such as India, APAC and the Middle East, marks a new step in the global expansion of the AFA brand. Since we arrived in the Middle East and India, we have seen strong support for the Argentine National Team. We are proud to continue positioning the team as a benchmark in the sports industry and generate close identification with the Indian community by each of our commercial agreements. We are pleased that Lulu Financial Holdings has chosen the Argentine Champions as its brand image for this renewed World Cup period. We are very excited and confident that this agreement will be a great success in the market.' This collaboration reinforces LuLu Financial Holdings' vision of building meaningful global partnerships that resonate with its diverse customer base. By aligning with the spirit, resilience, and global appeal of Argentine football, LuLuFin aims to deepen its emotional connection with communities it serves — both on and off the field.

Kamboj likely to make debut for India; England pick Dawson
Kamboj likely to make debut for India; England pick Dawson

Qatar Tribune

time2 days ago

  • Qatar Tribune

Kamboj likely to make debut for India; England pick Dawson

Agencies Manchester India skipper Shubman Gill has hinted that pacer Anshul Kamboj is 'close to making his debut' and it could be a toss-up between him and Prasidh Krishna for the spot in the fourth Test against England which begins at Old Trafford on Wednesday. With the series 2-1 in favour of England heading into Manchester, Team India would be aiming to deliver an incredible all-round performance to level the scoreline. With the injured all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy set to miss out on the remainder of the series and left-armer Arshdeep Singh set to miss the fourth Test due to injury, it has opened a gateway for Kamboj, a 24-year-old right-handed seamer from Haryana. Speaking of Kamboj, who impressed during India's A's tour to England before the series, Gill said that the team has seen enough of him and the communication with him has been kept simple. 'The communication is simple. We have seen him enough. I think the kind of skill set that he brings to the table is exactly what we want in this team. And he is there because we believe that he can win us the match,' said the captain. 'Even in the second test match, when Akash Deep was brought in, a lot of people had questions, you know, why he's been brought in. But it's mainly the belief that we have within our squad that any player who comes into the team can or can win matches for us,' he added. Gill also said that Akash Deep is unavailable for the fourth Test. Kamboj is known for his ability to stick to traditional lengths and hit the deck hard, generating movement. He was part of the India A squad before for the two unofficial Tests against England Lions and impressed in the second, taking four wickets, including two in a single over. Not just with the ball, Kamboj exuded grit with the bat, stitching an unbeaten 149-run stand with Tanush Kotian in the same contest and scoring a half-century himself. In the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy season, he scalped 34 wickets in six matches and finished as the leading wicket-taker in the 2024-25 Duleep Trophy. He created history by becoming only the third Indian to take all ten wickets in an innings against Kerala. In First-Class cricket, Kamboj boasts 79 wickets in 24 matches at an average of 22.88 while maintaining a strike rate of 44.2 and an economy of 3.10. Gill said that while it is not ideal to feature a different bowling attack in every match, he was prepared for this scenario before the series and had planned accordingly. 'And secondly, yes, Anshul, he is very close to making his debut. We are going to see tomorrow, between him and Prasidh, who is going to make it to the playing XI,' he added. So far in the series, Prasidh has been a mixed bag, taking six wickets at an average of 55.16, with best figures of 3/128, having bowled some expensive spells so far, despite some flashes of brilliance. England include spinner Dawson Liam Dawson will play his first Test in eight years after being named in the England team to face India at Old Trafford on Wednesday. Left-armer Dawson, 35, returns as the replacement for off-spinner Shoaib Bashir, who suffered a broken finger in the thrilling third-Test win at Lord's. Pace bowler Chris Woakes keeps his place, with Gus Atkinson not risked to make a comeback after two months out with a hamstring injury. England are 2-1 up and will win the series if they take the fourth Test in Manchester. They have not won a five-Test series since 2018. Hampshire's Dawson will win his fourth Test cap, his third coming against South Africa in July 2017. While Dawson will provide reliable slow left-arm, he also boosts England's lower-order batting. He owns 18 first-class hundreds and his average of 35.29 outstrips opener Zak Crawley. India's updated squad: Shubman Gill (C), Rishabh Pant (VC & WK), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd. Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Kuldeep Yadav, Anshul Kamboj. England XI: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (captain), Jamie Smith (wicketkeeper), Liam Dawson, Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer.

Seifert's fireworks power NZ to seven-wicket win over SA
Seifert's fireworks power NZ to seven-wicket win over SA

Qatar Tribune

time2 days ago

  • Qatar Tribune

Seifert's fireworks power NZ to seven-wicket win over SA

ANI Harare A fiery half-century from Tim Seifert and fine performances from the bowling attack helped New Zealand complete a seven-wicket win over South Africa in the tri-nation series match at Harare on Tuesday. With this win, NZ have ended the group stage of the series with three wins in three matches and set a title clash with Proteas, who won two and lost two to finish second. The hosts, Zimbabwe, are out of the competition after losing all three matches. NZ opted to field first after winning the toss. They consistently troubled the Proteas batting, reducing them to 79/5 in 14.1 overs. Reeza Hendricks (41 in 37 balls, with four boundaries and a six) offered some resistance at the top, helping SA get past the 100-run mark in 15.3 overs. George Linde (23* in 15 balls, with a four and six) was the only other notable contribution as SA finished with 134/8 in their 20 overs. Adam Milne (2/21), skipper Mitchell Santner (2/26) and Jacob Duffy (2/33) topped the bowling charts for Kiwis. During the run-chase, Seifert and Devon Conway (19) got their side off to a fine start, with a 51-run opening stand. Despite some hiccups, Seifert's quickfire 66* in 48 balls, with six fours and two sixes and Daryl Mitchell (20* in 15 balls, with two fours) brought things back under control with a half-century partnership. The final will take place at Harare on Saturday, July 26. Scores: New Zealand 135 for 3 (Seifert 66*, Mitchell 20*, Muthusamy 2-24) beat South Africa 134 for 8 (Hendricks 41, Linde 23*, Milne 2-21, Santner 2-26) by 7 wickets.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store