England name squad for 1st Test vs India, all-rounder returns after 3 years
Jamie Overton has made a comeback after three years as England announced a 14-member squad for the first Test against India, scheduled to begin on Friday, June 20, at Headingley in Leeds. Overton made his Test debut at the same venue in June 2022 against New Zealand, where he picked up two wickets and scored a career-best 97.The 31-year-old earned a recall to the red-ball side after Gus Atkinson was ruled out with a hamstring injury sustained during the one-off Test against Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge in Nottingham.advertisementOverton brings valuable experience with 97 first-class matches to his name, having scored 2,383 runs, including a top score of 120. With the ball, he has taken 237 wickets at an economy rate of 3.48, which includes seven four-wicket hauls and six five-wicket hauls.
Chris Woakes also returned to the squad, having last featured in the three-match series against New Zealand in 2024. Left-handed batter Jacob Bethell, who recently impressed for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the IPL 2025 and scored 82 in the first ODI against the West Indies, has also been included.England will be without their full-strength pace attack for the series, as both Mark Wood and Olly Stone continue to recover from knee injuries. Jofra Archer also missed out on selection after sustaining a thumb injury while playing for Rajasthan Royals in the IPL.advertisementThe speedster is not expected to be fit before the second Test, which begins on Wednesday, July 2, at Edgbaston in Birmingham.England failed to reach the finals in the first two editions of the World Test Championship (WTC) and will be aiming to make a strong start this time around.England squad for 1st Test vs IndiaBen Stokes (C), Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Sam Cook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Jamie Overton, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Josh Tongue, Chris WoakesMust Watch
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Indian Express
an hour ago
- Indian Express
Will the WTC cap off the finest triumph for Messrs Starc, Cummins, Hazlewood & Lyon who have never won ICC Test silverware together?
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But for four of Australia's bulwarks, an enticing chance of collective glory awaits at the home of cricket, nevertheless. Will the S.C.H.L school Temba Bavuma and Co. on the way to defend their status at the top of the championship, or will the underdog South African attack upset the Aussie applecart at the home of cricket? Lalith Kalidas is a Senior Sub-Editor with the sports team of The Indian Express. Working with the online sports desk, Lalith specializes in the happenings on the cricket field, with a particular interest in India's domestic cricket circle. He also carries an affinity towards data-driven stories and often weaves them into cricketing contexts through his analysis. Lalith also writes the weekly stats-based cricket column - 'Stats Corner'. A former cricketer who has played in state-level tournaments in Kerala, he has over three years of experience as a sports journalist. Lalith also covered the 2023 ODI World Cup held in India. ... Read More
NDTV
an hour ago
- NDTV
AB De Villiers "Quietly Confident" On South Africa's Chances In WTC Final vs Australia
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First Post
an hour ago
- First Post
Playing WTC final at Lord's is huge moment for South Africa cricket: AB de Villiers
AB de Villiers has called South Africa's WTC Final against Australia at Lord's a historic moment, backing the team to pull off an upset against Australia. Aaron Finch, on the other hand, has warned Travis Head could once again be the game-changer in a major final. read more South Africa will play Australia in the final of WTC 2023-25. Image: AP London: AB de Villiers feels South Africa playing World Test Championship final against Australia at Lord's is a massive moment in the country's cricketing history. South Africa and Australia will play in the final of the third edition of the World Test Championship final from June 11 to 15. Australia are the defending champions. 'This is a massive moment for South African cricket—a final at Lord's. The entire nation will be behind our team, and hopefully, we can cross the line,' De Villiers told Star Sports. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD De Villiers, who scored 8,765 runs including 22 centuries in 114 Tests, described South Africa's squad as a well-balanced unit and backed them to pull off an upset against Pat Cummins-led Australia. 'I'm excited for the challenge. It's a well-balanced side, and I'm quietly confident we can upset Australia—I say 'upset' because they're clearly the favourites for this ICC World Test Championship Final.' However, De Villiers termed Australia as a 'well-oiled machine'. 'Australia are a very experienced, well-oiled machine of a team. It won't be easy for South Africa. But I'm quietly confident because we're going there with many in-form players and big-hearted guys who have something to prove on this stage.' Lord's, with its rich history, can be daunting for first-timers in the South African squad, and De Villiers wants the nerves to settle quickly. 'For many of these players, it'll be their first match at Lord's—hopefully, they'll settle quickly. But I'm really looking forward to this contest. It's going to be fantastic cricket—after all, it's a final, and both teams have earned their place here.' Head could be a game-changer, feels Finch Former Australia skipper Aaron Finch expects Travis Head to work his magic in a second successive World Test Championship final. Head was Australia's hero in 2023 when he took the Indian attack to the cleaners with a superb century. 'He's proven in multiple finals now—the World Test Championship Final and the 50-over World Cup Final—that he can rip the game away from the opposition in an instant. As an opponent, these are the players you fear most. He can change a match faster than anyone,' he said. 'I believe the batting line-up will be extremely well-prepared. With several players not involved in the IPL, they've had the opportunity to focus specifically on their Test preparations. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'Consider Steve Smith entering the World Test Championship fresh, Marnus Labuschagne, and Cameron Green already acclimatized by playing cricket in England. Many of these players will arrive eager and ready to perform at their best.'
