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The Independent
a minute ago
- The Independent
England forced into final-day decider despite Joe Root and Harry Brook tons
Joe Root and Harry Brook hit what looked to be series-clinching centuries in England's classic fifth Test decider before India stormed back to set up an agonising day five finish. Facing a towering target of 374 at the Kia Oval, England looked to be home and dry on 301 for three but Brook (111) and Root (105) both stumbled with victory in sight. Jacob Bethell also fell to a dreadful shot as they faltered to 339 for six when bad light and rain intervened – needing another 35 amid unbearable tension and increasingly unplayable bowling. They had been all set to peel off perhaps the most audacious chase of the Bazball era, and the second highest in their history, with apparent ease when they fell foul of a nasty twist in the tale. Jamie Smith and Jamie Overton will be the men at the frontline on Monday morning, with the live prospect of Chris Woakes being needed to bat at number 11 with a badly dislocated shoulder. England's late stumble started when Brook threw his bat and wicket away, hurling the kitchen sink at Akash Deep and skying a catch to mid-off. Then the jittery Bethell produced an ugly swipe to drag down his stumps, before Root succumbed to spiralling tension under leaden skies. An India team who looked like they had thrown in the towel a couple of hours earlier were now flying, working Root over with a series of big lbw appeals then having him caught behind for 105 as the pressure got to the calmest player in the England set-up. Things had been following an entirely different script as he Brook shared a 195-run stand and Root looked primed for the central role. Upon reaching his 39th Test ton, Root produced a white headband featuring Graham Thorpe's name and likeness and wore it while looking to the skies. Thorpe, one of Root's batting mentors, took his own life last year and the headbands have raised more than £150,000 for the MIND charity this week. India now have a chance to leave with a 2-2 draw and avoid a bitter case of deja vu. Having watched England make 378 for three at Edgbaston in 2022 and 373 for five at Headingley in the first match of this series, they were in grimly familiar territory as Brook and Root feasted. India dismissing Zak Crawley with the last act of Saturday evening and made a promising start by removing Ben Duckett (54) and Ollie Pope (27) to make it 106 for three in a testing morning session. Prasidh Krishna, gamely filling the considerable boots of the rested Jasprit Bumrah, came desperately close to pinning Root lbw for just three but saw a huge appeal rejected. There was no DRS call and although ball-tracking showed it clipping leg stump, it would not have been enough to overturn the decision. India's fielders were chirpy as Brook stepped to the middle but his arrival brought a screeching gear shift. He went for all-out aggression, at one stage lashing 27 runs in eight balls. That included a crunch through midwicket and a lavish six over cover off Deep before a near miss at fine-leg, risking his wicket but picking up six more as a mortified Siraj carried a catch over the boundary rope. A combination of defensive fields, passive captaincy and tired bodies left India short of answers as Brook and Root ruthlessly milked the situation, scoring a steady stream of low-risk runs and waiting for the chance to hit fours. A ragged full toss from Ravindra Jadeja and a woeful misfield from Deep, who kicked the ball over the ropes after declining to use his hands, suggested the game was up as the required runs dropped to double figures. Brook looked to speed up after reaching a well-deserved hundred, lashing Deep for back-to-back fours, but chipped a bizarre catch to mid-off as he launched his bat in the opposite direction. It was now England's turn to have a crisis of confidence. Root took tea on 98 and safely ticked off his hundred, but the sense of safe progress evaporated as soon as Bethell paid for a rush of blood to the head. Stuck on five from 30 balls, he aimed a flat-batted swipe at Krishna and dragged down his middle stump. Suddenly India had the ball nipping around and Root in their sights. He survived three lbw appeals in rapid succession amid stifling tension, then wafted carelessly outside off to edge Krishna behind. With 37 still needed and the pressure peaking, he was furious with himself. India held all the cards when the weather turned and both sides will resume with hopes of a famous win.
The Independent
a minute ago
- The Independent
Chelsea sign 19-year-old Netherlands defender Jorrel Hato from Ajax
Chelsea have completed the signing of Netherlands defender Jorrel Hato from Ajax in a deal worth a reported £37million. The 19-year-old, who has been capped six times by his country, has signed a seven-year contract at Stamford Bridge. He becomes the Blue s' eighth signing of the summer transfer window. 'I'm very excited, I'm so happy to be here,' Hato, who can operate in central defence or at left-back, told the Premier League club's website. 'I thought a lot about my future and wanted to take the next step in my career. Chelsea is the best place for me to do that so I'm very happy.' Hato joined Ajax's academy from hometown club Sparta Rotterdam in 2018 and signed his first professional contract aged 16 four years later. He scored four goals in 111 appearances for the Eredivisie giants, with his international debut coming as a substitute in a 6–0 win against Gibraltar in November 2023. Club World Cup champions Chelsea begin the new top-flight season on Sunday, August 17 at home to London rivals Crystal Palace.
Daily Mail
2 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Rangers players needed to hear home truths from Martin, insists Dowell
KIERAN DOWELL has revealed that Russell Martin told his Rangers failures to take a long hard look in the mirror after blowing it at Fir Park — and admitted some harsh truths are maybe what some of them needed. The Ibrox side drew 1-1 at Motherwell after a James Tavernier opener was cancelled out three minutes from time by Emmanuel Longelo. Martin claimed his side didn't deserve a point given the standard of performance and lashed out over egos in the team as well as a lack of mentality and fighting spirit. Dowell didn't argue when told Martin had accused players of going into self-preservation mode and stopping looking for the ball when things get tough. Admitting similar was said in the dressing-room, he admitted: 'The manager's been here five or six weeks now and that's what he's noticed. It's not been a successful time for the club and maybe we needed those sort of home truths. 'It's not for me to say. It's the manager's opinion. He said to us: 'Look yourself in the mirror. If you think that was you, have a look at yourself'.' Asked about Martin feeling hurt by the display, Dowell replied: 'We all were, but he was right. We weren't good enough for this club. The quality of players we have, compared to (Motherwell), we shouldn't be throwing that game. 'We had a good start and then didn't put the game to bed. We almost sleepwalked into conceding that equaliser and probably deserved it in the end. 'They threw a lot more at it. They got a lot more aggressive in the second half and probably should have scored sooner. 'We didn't take the initiative to get that second goal. That's what we have to learn from, fast. 'It's not been the most successful period for the club and it's down to us as players. We've obviously had a few managers now and it's up to us to prove it.' Rangers fans were angry after the final whistle, but Dowell believes the team can bounce back. 'It's a long season, but I definitely understand the frustration. It's not to say we can't recover, definitely not. 'It's not a big blow. It's a reality check.'
