County cricket transfer news: Two rivals doing battle to sign Shoaib Bashir, Hampshire make bid for Nottinghamshire's ex-England star and Gloucestershire lose ANOTHER three bowlers as mass exodus continues
Ajeet Singh Dale, their leading wicket taker in the Championship this season with 25 at 36.2 runs apiece, will move to Lancashire at the end of the season while Zaman Akhter - 20 at 40.9 - has agreed to join Essex.
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The Independent
5 hours ago
- The Independent
England given Chris Woakes fitness boost ahead of nail-biting finish to India series
Chris Woakes stands ready to bat with a dislocated shoulder and 'put his body on the line' for England, with Joe Root confident the hosts will apply the finishing touches to a nail-biting series decider against India. For the fifth Test in a row, the game is going all the way to the final day after a nerve-wracking fourth evening left all results possible. Brilliant centuries from Root (105) and Harry Brook (111) had England cruising towards a remarkable chase, set fair on 301 for three hunting 374, but they lost three late wickets to leave things in the balance. Bad light and rain halted a thrilling conclusion in its tracks, with England needing 35 runs and India seeking four more wickets. One of those belongs to Woakes, who has not featured since badly damaging his left shoulder while fielding on Friday. He was ruled out of the game the next morning but has remained with the team and is willing to bat at number 11 with his arm in a sling if required. 'You probably saw him in his whites in the dressing room. He's all in, like the rest of us,' said Root. 'Clearly, he's in a huge amount of pain. But it means a huge amount to him and it just shows the character and the person that he is, that he's willing to put his body on the line like that for England. 'If it does come to that, hopefully he can get us across the line and win an incredible series.' Root was not surprised to see a dramatic end unfold after almost seven weeks of full-blooded battle but, having done a huge amount of the heavy lifting alongside Brook, still fancies England to triumph. 'It was always going to happen like this wasn't it? Just look at the first four games,' he said. 'It's been amazing to play in and quite fitting that we're going to get that kind of finish. It's been one hell of a series, one hell of a journey, and there's clearly confidence in our dressing room. I'd like to think we've got what we need to get across the line.' Root had earlier marked his 39th Test hundred, and third this summer, with a touching tribute to the late Graham Thorpe. The former Test batter, who took his own life last year, enjoyed a close relationship with Root during his time as England's assistant coach. When he reached three figures, Root produced one of the Thorpe-inspired white headbands Surrey have been selling to raise funds for the MIND mental health charity and wore it as he looked to the skies. 'That was on behalf of our team. It was just a thank you for everything that he's given the game of cricket, and given English cricket, on and off the field,' he said. 'It's been amazing to recognise everything that he's done as a player, as a coach, as a mentor, as a friend to the dressing room and to the game. 'It was really great to see the amount of love that there is for him and for his family.' India's quicks had found wonderful rhythm before the weather intervened and would probably have liked to try and finish the job while the mood was with them. A night's break and an extra use of the heavy roller could play into England's hands but a saturated outfield meant the tourists were not complaining about the umpires' decision. 'We can see it's pretty wet out there,' said bowling coach Morne Morkel. 'In a way that's out of our control so all we can focus on is doing a good warm-up in the morning, get the boys ready to get the ball in the right area and create a little bit of excitement again.'
Times
5 hours ago
- Times
Joe Root: Chris Woakes will bat with a dislocated shoulder if he has to
The dramatic Test series between England and India has gone into the final day, with England still needing 35 to win — and could finish with the heroic sight of Chris Woakes, who has a dislocated shoulder, going out to bat to see his side to a 3-1 series win. A late downpour and bad light brought an early end to play at the Oval on Sunday, with England on the brink of completing their second-highest successful run chase after a sensational partnership of 195 between Harry Brook and Joe Root, who both scored hundreds. But the hard-fought series will head into its 25th day with the outcome far from certain as India staged a late fightback. They took the key wickets of Brook and Root as England fell to 339 for six, only for bad light and rain to stop play, setting the stage for what Root thinks will be a 'great day'. 'It was always going to happen like this, wasn't it? I mean, look at the first four games [which all went to the final day],' Root, 34, said. 'It's just been that kind of series. It's been amazing to play in and quite fitting almost that we're going to get that kind of finish tomorrow.' With England six wickets down and with India able to take the second new ball after three overs in the morning, there is a definite possibility that Woakes will have to come out to bat despite the serious left shoulder injury he suffered late on the first evening, when he was sliding to try to stop a boundary. The injury is so serious it is likely to take several months to heal and could rule him out of contention for the Ashes, but Root confirmed that the 36-year-old all-rounder was 'all in' and would 'put his body on the line' if needed. 'You saw him and his whites in the dressing room,' Root said. 'He's all in like the rest of us. It's been that kind of series where guys have had to put bodies on the line. Hopefully it won't come to that, but he has had some throw-downs in the nets, and he is ready if needed. 'Clearly he's in a huge amount of pain, having done what he's done, but it just shows, as we've seen from other guys within this series, like [Rishabh] Pant batting with a broken foot, guys taking all sorts of blows here and there, but it means a huge amount to him. 'It just shows the character and the person that he is that he's willing to put his body on the line like that for England — hopefully he doesn't have to, but if it does come to that, [he could] get us across the line and win us an incredible series.' Root scored his 39th Test match hundred but admitted he was frustrated not to still be in at the end of the day, although he has full confidence that the remaining batsmen can get the job done. 'We've got the players to get us across the line tomorrow,' he said. 'It's been one hell of a series, one hell of a journey and there is confidence in our dressing room.' Root hailed the 'incredible talent' of his fellow centurion Brook, 26, who battered a sensational 111 from 98 balls, and revealed that his Yorkshire team-mate had been unusually emotional on reaching the three-figure milestone. 'He mentioned out there how emotional he was, and I don't even think he knew where it came from, but clearly, it's been a hard-fought series and he's desperate to win games for England,' Root said. 'It means a huge amount to him. I think that's one of the rare occasions you've seen how much it means to him to play for England and to impact a game for our dressing room. 'We've both got very contrasting games, but I think that works really well in our favour. He obviously plays slightly more expansively than I do and has got an amazing array of shots but [what is impressive is] the amount of pressure he puts back on opposition, the way that he takes calculated risks at the right moments and can open a game completely up like he did today. 'It's amazing being able to play second fiddle to that and watch it in the best seat in the house. It's not like he's a one-off fluke. He's got ten hundreds playing in a very similar manner. He's incredibly consistent at it. There's definitely a huge amount of method behind what he does and the impact that it's had on this Test match is why we're sat here only needing 35 to win.'
BBC News
6 hours ago
- BBC News
Rain ends enthralling day with England needing 35 more
Update: Date: 18:45 BST Title: Goodbye! Content: Well, it's TTFN (ta ta for now) rather than goodbye. We will be back on Monday at 10:30 BST for day five of the fifth Test, with England needing 35 runs to win. You can read Stephan Shemilt's report from The Oval here. See you soon! Update: Date: 18:42 BST Title: Thorpe tribute 'from our whole dressing room' - Root Content: This video can not be played 'For the man who taught him so much' - Root marks century with Thorpe tribute More from Joe Root on Harry Brook's dismissal: "If that comes off and goes for four again, it is another question asked of them. He did that throughout his whole innings. You can question it but we wouldn't be in this position, he wouldn't have got those runs, without the way he went about it. He is incredibly consistent with it as well. He is an incredible player. He reads the game very well." On his headband tribute to Graham Thorpe: "I wish I had it in my pocket from the start. I put it there at tea. He is someone who impacted the game in this country as player, coach, mentor and friend. "That wasn't just from me but our whole dressing room. It is great to see everyone show the amount of love for him throughout this week because he is a real legend of English cricket and has done so much good for so many people." And on whether Chris Woakes will bat if required: "I assume so. He is desperate to do what it takes. There is a lot of things that have to happen before that." Update: Date: 18:40 BST Title: 'We're in a good position' Content: England batter Joe Root speaking to TMS: "It is quite fitting for how the rest of the series has gone. It has ebbed and flowed all of the way through and this Test is exactly same. We are in for a cracker for tomorrow. It is a weird one going into the fifth day with the sun out now but it will be a great finish. "We are in a good position. We have another heavy roller available. Things might happen quicker with new ball. It might be easier to score. A lot of things are in our favour. We have so much ability left in the dressing room. Clearly they have had a good passage of play but tomorrow could be a real good opportunity to get across the line." On his rebuild with Harry Brook: "It is a long process but you play it like a one-day game. The great thing is there is no scoreboard pressure of five or six runs an over. "Me and Brooky have contrasting games which works really well for us. That is such an important part of it. The way he played, how destructive he was, putting bowlers under pressure can really upset the rhythm of the opposition and swung things massively in our favour. [Having] deep cover, deep mid-off three down chasing 370 is extraordinary really. That is the impact he can have and is a big reason we are where we are." Update: Date: 18:38 BST Title: How's stat?! Content: Andy ZaltzmanTest Match Special statistician This is the second highest scoring Test series every played. We are past 7,000 runs. The only Test series with more runs was the 1993 Ashes which was a six Test series. Update: Date: 18:36 BST Title: Post Content: Michael VaughanFormer England captain on BBC Test Match Special It is inevitable that it will happen. I think England will get over the line and I think Jamie Smith will do the job. I am hoping Chris Woakes doesn't have to walk out there. Update: Date: 18:34 BST Title: Post Content: Jonathan AgnewBBC Chief Cricket Commentator on Test Match Special On injured all-rounder Chris Woakes potentially coming out to bat: They can't push Chris Woakes out in a sling, can they? Update: Date: 18:32 BST Title: Post Content: Phil TufnellFormer England spinner on Test Match Special That last 20 minutes I couldn't see where England were going to score a run. Update: Date: 18:30 BST Title: Post Content: Michael VaughanFormer England captain on BBC Test Match Special To get that buzz again in your legs again as a bowler is going to be difficult for India. Update: Date: 18:29 BST Title: Post Content: Sir Alastair CookEx-England captain on BBC Test Match Special On rain stopping play: It benefits England massively. It is a hammer blow for India. The atmosphere would have been unbelievable for India tonight. They were so on top. The only way England could get a run away was a leg-bye. Update: Date: 18:27 BST Title: Get Involved Content: #bbccricket, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (standard network charges apply) All those wides and byes from England's bowlers are looking pretty game changing right now. This should be all done and dusted if they had bowled more consistently. Sam, Chorley Update: Date: 18:25 BST Title: 'Brook is a maverick player' Content: Michael VaughanFormer England captain on BBC Test Match Special I like the way Harry Brook played today with the way he was dancing down. He played some lovely shots, he played an expansive game to get England back into this Test match. He is that good. I would back him to execute that shot, but he didn't execute it well enough. He is a maverick player and I like a player who takes the risk, and he took the risk. India were petrified of him. If that flies for six you're off your seat. Update: Date: 18:23 BST Title: 'You have to give Brook freedom to play that shot' Content: Sir Alastair CookEx-England captain on BBC Test Match Special This video can not be played 'What an incredible dismissal!' - Brook caught on 111 after bat goes flying into the air I wouldn't have played the shot Harry Brook did but I wouldn't have been able to play the innings to turn the game around. With players who can win games in situations you shouldn't, you have to allow them the freedom. If you start telling him he can't play that shot there is no way he would play that innings. If he had knocked it around he wouldn't have changed the tempo of the game. Update: Date: 18:21 BST Title: 'They have so much faith in Jacob Bethell' Content: Michael VaughanFormer England captain on BBC Test Match Special They have so much faith in Jacob Bethell. They saw him in the nets, they saw in the white ball game, they saw him in New Zealand pre-Christmas. I don't care who you are, Brian Lara, Sachin Tendulkar or Ricky Ponting - they always look rusty if they had not batted. You're talking about a 21-year-old who has not played any cricket - he is bound to look rusty. He needs a bit of time playing and getting runs away from this environment. If they feel he is going to be the next batter in Test match cricket, they have to find him some longer format games and get that rhythm of play. He needs to find that rhythm. At this level it is tough. Update: Date: 18:20 BST Title: 'He's played 20 first-class games' Content: Sir Alastair CookEx-England captain on BBC Test Match Special Jacob Bethell looked like a guy who doesn't know his four-day game. That is not a dig. He has played 20 first-class games. He has a rock solid defence but after 20 balls he looked like he didn't know how to score. Update: Date: 18:19 BST Title: Post Content: Michael VaughanFormer England captain on BBC Test Match Special Today has summed up the whole series. The Harry Brook and Joe Root partnership, it was done and dusted. Suddenly Brook gets out, there is more drama a young kid [Jacob Bethell] comes out to bat, he makes a mistake. Joe Root gets out. Any ball looked like Jamie Smith was going to snick off. Update: Date: 18:17 BST Title: Post Content: But how about these two interventions from Prasidh Krishna in the evening session. Can India maintain their momentum on day five? This video can not be played Bethell bowled middle stump by Krishna for five This video can not be played Root edges behind to leave England six down Update: Date: 18:16 BST Title: Post Content: Harry Brook, of course, could have been dismissed on 19. Mohammed Siraj, however, stepped onto the boundary sponge as he took the catch. This video can not be played 'He's got away with it!' - Siraj carries Brook catch over rope for six Update: Date: 18:14 BST Title: Post Content: Harry Brook (111) and Joe Root (105) both reached three figures for England. Here are the highlights from their innings. This video can not be played 'He's put them in a winning position' - Brook century edges England closer to victory This video can not be played 'A truly remarkable batsman' - Root hits 39th Test century Update: Date: 18:13 BST Title: Day four recap... Content: England resumed on 50-1 and after losing Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope in the first session, Joe Root and Harry Brook combined for a 195-run fourth-wicket stand to break the back of England's chase. Although Brook was dismissed 111 at the end of the afternoon session, England only needed 57 runs to win after tea. However, with the wickets of Jacob Bethell and Root, Prasidh Krishna turned the match in India's favour before the weather set in. Update: Date: 18:13 BST Title: Post Content: Sir Alastair CookEx-England captain on BBC Test Match Special The only thing I can think is that the outfield was so wet it wouldn't dry in time.
