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Lions tours like this can't happen again: go to Fiji and Samoa first
Lions tours like this can't happen again: go to Fiji and Samoa first

Times

time9 hours ago

  • Sport
  • Times

Lions tours like this can't happen again: go to Fiji and Samoa first

Never mind the result. How desperately this British & Irish Lions tour and this Test needed the bite and spectacle, and the packed crowd at the Suncorp Stadium. There is a temptation to view this as the start of the tour. Until Saturday in Brisbane rugby as a sport must have felt crushed from all sides, especially in the past week when the sport had been a distant feature in a towering landscape, this tour plodding along in a way Lions tours must never plod. The Lions can never tour here again in the same format. Even a thumping great Test series is not going to save Australian rugby's return invite — the tour has taken a month and five matches before it came to life, in a rival sporting calendar that is packed, energetic and competitive. Members of the touring media gathered in numbers at the start of the week in an anxious state of mind — not to worry about the rugby but to follow the stunning action at Lord's, where England and India were locked in a nail-biting denouement. It was one of those days to showcase the glory of Test cricket. The tension stretched thousands of miles. Watching it in a Brisbane bar was hairy; it was not so much whether Ben Stokes and his men could take the final wicket, but if they could do so before closing time. Eventually, with one wicket left to take, the proprietor chucked us out. Enterprising viewers then climbed a wall to look through the window at the pictures that were still being beamed inside as the staff cleaned up. You wouldn't have peered over the wall to watch any of the pre-Test tour matches here. Rugby can sometimes come across as a great sport but it has felt rather puny compared to all that. And then, as this week went on, discussions began in the Australian media and elsewhere — after a newsworthy Wimbledon — about the Open Championship golf. Compelling summer sport is a crowded field. The Lions themselves are not to blame for the poor state of Australian rugby outside their Test team, but their officials are most certainly to blame for failing to ensure the agreement to field better teams outside the Tests was upheld. If the Lions play a series in Australia again, fine, but it must be after they have played meaningful fixtures in Fiji, Samoa and Tonga. Australia will lose a chunk and they deserve to. Frankly, it is way past time that the Lions abandon their hoary old rhythm of tours. But the Lions are also far too inward-looking compared with the other big sports at home. They employ one of those rather strange beasts sent up universally by the press pack as an MPO — a media prevention officer. Rugby's aversion to allowing intelligent players to speak intelligently, apart from in hushed snatches, is almost terminal. It is a crying shame and especially since Andy Farrell, the head coach, speaks so well. One day, rugby will suddenly realise how badly it has harmed itself by its paranoia in keeping the players out of any limelight. And one day it will awake into modern marketing instead of blathering. And what about the bite of true competition? From a distance, the England-India Test had loads of glorious bite, just like the old days in rugby. Compared to that, modern rugby is sanitised. A little medium-grade beastliness never did anyone any harm. Henry Pollock, the young Northampton Saints flanker, at least had a go last week, stating he wanted these Lions to be seen as the greatest of all time and that they saw a 3-0 Test series as the goal. His grasp of Lions history is negligible — the idea this worthy group will be seen as good as teams that won in New Zealand and South Africa is ludicrous — but at least he stirred the pot. Rugby cannot offer such a panoply of emotion as we saw at Lord's. It now has a short and vital couple of Tests to show itself and its glories. The odd disagreement and flash of anger would be welcome to light the blue touch paper of a tour that occasionally has looked soggy. Rugby in Australia is desperate for finance and success. But so too is rugby in the nations that comprise the Lions. They need spectacle and crave attention. They also need their Stokes, their Mohammed Siraj, their Jannik Sinner and their Rory McIlroy. When the Lions spend a month in Australia without an impact like thunder, it is time to rush to restore their glorious reputation, and change back from soggy to spectacular.

The fourth age of Bazball: Fewer risks and more sledging
The fourth age of Bazball: Fewer risks and more sledging

Times

time13 hours ago

  • Sport
  • Times

The fourth age of Bazball: Fewer risks and more sledging

A fter an epic contest at Lord's, England stand within one win of their finest series triumph of the Ben Stokes era. A 3-0 victory in Pakistan in 2022 was impressive, but this would be the first time they have won a five-match series against the big beasts of India or Australia. Their approach this summer has been notably different. They have not been flawless but their best cricket has shown greater maturity — what has been dubbed 'Bazball with brains'. The run chase at Headingley was measured; the best of the batting and bowling at Lord's on a difficult surface, pragmatic. Their strike rate of 49.01 in the previous match, the third Test at Lord's, was their slowest since Stokes took over as captain three years ago, and the victory was secured by drying India's runscoring to a trickle — a far cry from the first Bazball summer of 2022, when batsmen were told to embrace the danger and bowlers urged to think of every ball as a wicket-taking opportunity, and not worry about economy rates.

IND vs ENG: 'It doesn't just disappear' - Former England player says racism still runs deep in English cricket
IND vs ENG: 'It doesn't just disappear' - Former England player says racism still runs deep in English cricket

Time of India

time2 days ago

  • Sport
  • Time of India

IND vs ENG: 'It doesn't just disappear' - Former England player says racism still runs deep in English cricket

Ben Stokes of England celebrates (Photo by) Roland Butcher , the first Black cricketer to play for England 45 years ago, believes racism remains deeply rooted in cricket and British society despite progress over the decades. Currently promoting his autobiography 'Breaking Barriers: Barbados to England and Back', the 71-year-old former batter shared his experiences as a black cricketer in the 1970s and 1980s, including his decision to withdraw from the controversial rebel tour of apartheid-era South Africa. Butcher, who divides his time between Barbados and the United Kingdom, acknowledges that addressing racism requires sustained effort and time. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! "I am pragmatic enough to understand that something doesn't just finish just like that. The only thing that would finish anything in a hurry is a meteorite. But everything takes time and you chip away at it. Racism has been chipped away in England by a foreign person since the 1950s. We're in 2025 and we're still talking about it. So that tells you just how long the process is." The former England player was disturbed by the racism allegations made by Azeem Rafiq against Yorkshire County Cricket Club in 2020, which led to significant changes in the club's leadership. Exclusive | First look of the Old Trafford pitch "There has been incremental progress. I don't think that you will just suddenly get a blank sheet of paper and it'll all be a perfect drawing on it. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villas For Sale in Dubai Might Surprise You Dubai villas | search ads Get Deals Undo That's not going to happen. I think it's something that has to be worked at continuously. And gradually over time, let's reduce the instances. But it's not going to just suddenly disappear. If something's been going on for centuries, it doesn't disappear within one year. And both players, ECB, everybody has to work at it. Trying to just level the playing field. That's the important thing." During his career at Middlesex from 1974 to 1990, Butcher experienced racism but maintains others faced greater challenges. "Well, for me personally, it wasn't that bad because I am the sort of person that I didn't let anything deter me from what I really wanted to achieve. But in saying that, back in the '80s, there certainly was a lot of racism in England, not just in cricket, but I think in society. A lot of black players had difficult times, more difficult times than me around the circuit. But having made the breakthrough, I think it assisted a number of other black players who had been striving to get forward. " Butcher recalls specific instances of casual racism during his playing days at Middlesex, where he was part of a diverse team. Poll Do you believe racism still exists in cricket today? Yes, it's still prevalent No, it's largely eliminated "One of the things that I remember me personally is, I was fortunate to play in a very good Middlesex team that was very successful. We had a lot of good players, but we also had, at any one time, we had five black players in the team. So there was myself, Wayne Daniel, Will Slack, Neil Williams and Norman Collins. So, you know, we were a pretty multi-racial team, but it didn't stop opposition fans from remarking at times. I can remember one particular game against Kent where we were taking the field after tea and as we walked through the crowd, someone remarked, 'look, they've got five of them'. I just thought, how perceptive, we've been playing all day and you only just realised that there's five black players in Middlesex team." A significant moment in Butcher's career came in 1989 when he initially agreed to join the controversial rebel tour of South Africa but later withdrew. "I had made the decision to go for various reasons. And, then in reflection over a period of time, perhaps a little bit more education, I realised that going would be perhaps not the best thing in my interest or in the interest of black people in South Africa and outside of South Africa. There were legal challenges but then I made the decision to withdraw from the tour." Despite ongoing challenges, Butcher sees positive changes in modern Britain's approach to racial issues. "I think Britain is a much more tolerant country now than it used to be. It has to be if you think of the nationalities that live within England, Scotland and Wales right now. They have no choice but to be more tolerant because there are large percentages of foreign people living in this land. Back in the '70s, '80s, '90s, it would have been much more difficult to call out racism because any black or Asian or any foreign player didn't feel they could speak out because they were not represented in any way. Now they've got more of a voice because they're now encouraged to speak out. If you have a problem within your club, you're now encouraged to speak. And they've got people dedicated within the clubs to listen to you and take it forward. That didn't happen before. So again, that is progress." Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!

England's Test cricket team has rediscovered the power of sledging
England's Test cricket team has rediscovered the power of sledging

Forbes

time2 days ago

  • Sport
  • Forbes

England's Test cricket team has rediscovered the power of sledging

LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 14: Rishabh Pant of India is bowled by Jofra Archer of England during day ... More five of the 3rd Rothesay Test Match between England and India at Lord's Cricket Ground on July 14, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by) English cricket's dramatic victory over India at Lord's in the third Test was a match for the ages. It was old-fashioned, attritional Test cricket from the archives when run-scoring wasn't all about ramping it over the wicketkeeper's head. India nudged via the superb Ravi Jadeja. England needled with Brydon Carse and the exocet express of Jofra Archer. There was chatter out in the middle as the hosts put sledging on full volume for the final day at the home of cricket. Ben Stokes revealed that his team had a conflab after the fourth evening in St John's Wood with the series tied at one-all. The conclusion was they were too nice, too soft on the opposition when the scenario called for more aggression. It's all very well being the Bazball entertainers, trying to create a legacy of memorable greatest hits. It was time to back up the bravado with some verbals. Getting into India's heads was key. This all sparked from an incident in the first innings where India skipper Shubman Gill challenged Zak Crawley after the England opener ate up the last few minutes of play to avoid facing another over. It's an old time-wasting trick, but Gill's finger-pointing intervention, backed up with some fiery backing vocals, only served to juice up the hosts. Sledging has been around since the days of WG Grace. In 1989, Australian skipper Allan Border decided that the Australians, described as 'possibly the worst touring side ever to leave these shores', had to toughen up to reclaim the Ashes. In the previous 1985 series, Border was accused of being too convivial with David Gower's team in a 3-1 defeat. This time, the niceties were dead. When Robin Smith asked for a glass of water during a hot day, he got a volley from the Baggy Green skipper. 'No, you f*****g can't, what do you think this is – a f*****g tea party?' Since the inception of the IPL, combatants from different nations play with each other and that has diluted the aggressive interplay to some degree. Even the intemperate Virat Kohli admitted he could never have a go at AB de Villiers again after bonding with him for a decade at Royal Challengers Bangalore. Michael Clarke went so far as to claim that the richest cricket league in the world had stopped the Australians from going at the Indians in the 2018/19 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. 'I feel, Australian cricket, and probably every other team, over a little period went the opposite - actually sucked up to India. They were too scared to sledge Kohli or sledge the Indian players because they had to go and play with them in April," claimed the former Ashes-winning captain. Clarke was involved in one of the ugliest sledging incidents when he threatened James Anderson to 'get ready for a broken arm' in 2013. Kohli's shoulder barge with Sam Konstas at the MCG reminded everyone that India can push the envelope as much as anyone. 'The last thing I want is for boys and girls watching cricket to be going and playing club cricket and saying things like that to opposition players,' was Clarke's take six months later India have entered a new era under Gill, but this five-match series is huge box office drama for approximately 900 million cricket fans in the country. Broadcasters have a huge audience when the Men in Blue are in town, and with legends Rohit and Kohli now retired from the format, the new fire in the belly can only drive more engagement. Winning would also help. England were never going to wind up someone as wily as Jadeja, but after Washington Sundar was caught on various broadcast outlets predicting victory for the tourists, it was almost like a red rag to a bull. Brendon McCullum was instructing his team to raise the vocals in the field as the all-rounder strode to the wicket. When he was dismissed by Archer for a duck, the bowler and Stokes were happy to give Washington a less-than-presidential send-0ff. After the game, Stokes was adamant that nothing had crossed the line of what is acceptable on a cricket pitch. "I don't think there's anyone in the Indian dressing room or anyone in the English dressing room that's going to bed, going to cry themselves to sleep over what was said or done out there. Sometimes it gets a little bit over-egged from an outsider's point of view. I don't think it overstepped the line from the Indian team or from our team. It adds to the theater" he added. That theatre of Test cricket also included Mohammed Siraj getting in the face of Ben Duckett after dismissing the English batsman. He was fined 15 per cent of his match fee for "excessive celebration at close proximity to the dismissed batter.' Ultimately, fans of the format were captivated by the sheer passion of both teams. No one backed down to the very end when Siraj's forward defense rolled onto the stumps. Even the English players consoled him as he stood there in disbelief. LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 13: Mohammed Siraj of India celebrates after dismissing Ben Duckett of ... More England during Day Four of the 3rd Rothesay Test Match between England and India at Lord's Cricket Ground at Lord's Cricket Ground on July 13, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by) After the West Indies were bowled out for a miserable 27, the second lowest ever score in Test cricket in front of a sparse crowd at Sabina Park, England and India's fight was why red-ball cricket is seen as the ultimate in purists' eyes. It just doesn't pay the bills or fill the seats outside of the Big Three. 'They do not have to try and impress anyone or sledge just because it might have been done like that in the past. Just be themselves," Pat Cummins said of his teammates when he became Australian skipper. The Ashes in November will be the next staging point to see if Stokes's team can hit back with words as well as wickets. It could be spicy.

Bumrah likely for fourth Test - but workload management questions remain
Bumrah likely for fourth Test - but workload management questions remain

Mint

time3 days ago

  • Sport
  • Mint

Bumrah likely for fourth Test - but workload management questions remain

England have been well-served by captain Ben Stokes shouldering a large burden despite also having a history of injuries - but the nature of his injury makes it possible. The availability, or not, of Jasprit Bumrah has made the term 'workload management' part of the cricket fan's everyday vocabulary during India's tour of England in 2025. It was known well before the series that Bumrah would play only three out of the five Tests. There was a faint chance of that number rising to four if one of the games was either heavily affected by rain, or finished very quickly. But all three Tests played so far have gone into the fifth day, rendering that possibility more distant. India are trailing 2-1, despite having achieved dominant positions in all three Tests at various points. Bumrah played the third Test, but there is an eight-day gap before the fourth Test starts, and assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate indicated that since this was a must-win game if India are to win the series, Bumrah was more likely to play in the fourth Test, which will begin in Manchester from July 23. 'We'll make that call in Manchester,' Doeschate said after an India training session in Beckenham. 'We know we've got him for one of the last two Tests. I think it's pretty obvious that the series on the line now in Manchester, so there will be a leaning towards playing him. 'But, again, we're gonna look at all the factors. How many days of of cricket are we going to get up there, what do we feel is our best chance of winning that game, and then how that fits in together with The Oval (the venue of the final Test) and and looking at the last two games holistically as part of the series.' While Bumrah is undoubtedly India's most important player, England's most vital player is their captain Ben Stokes. Just like Bumrah, workload management has been an issue with Stokes too. He's had to battle injuries in his career, again, like Bumrah. He has the ability to produce magic at any point in a game and turn it, as Bumrah does. But during this series, Stokes' workload has been remarkable. He bowled 44 overs in the third Test at Lord's, and across three Tests, he has delivered 105 overs. And he has given it his all on every ball of every over bowled. Across three Tests, he has been England's best bowler in fact. And this is in addition to his batting and captaincy load. When asked about his thoughts on workload management given Stokes' showing, particularly on Day 5 of the Lord's Test when he bowled extended spells, Doeschate said the situations were different. 'That was super impressive, for Ben to come out on the last day and bowl the amount of overs he did with the intensity he did and, obviously, bats and fields as well,' Doeschate said. 'We're not here to compare our bowlers to individuals from other teams. We have our own strengths. 'We know what particularly Jasprit does in shorter spells, which he prefers bowling in.' The reason the Ben Stokes workload argument doesn't work for Bumrah is because they both had to come back from different injuries. Bumrah's unique bowling action puts more of a strain on his back, and those are notoriously difficult injuries to manage and rehab from. Stokes' issue was more with his knees. How he has managed that is by shedding weight and having artificial cartilages inserted via knee surgery. The leaner frame means there is less load that the knees have to bear, which has allowed Stokes to bowl with a lot more intensity and a lot longer than he could have previously. Which is why as Doeschate said, 'Not everyone has to be the same, and we feel that, in consultation with Jasprit, how we use him is the best way for the team.' More crucially, as India showed in the second Test, they have the personnel to win a game even without Bumrah. They are undoubtedly a better team with Bumrah in it - as any team in the world would be - but there is enough talent in the squad to take the 20 wickets required for a Test match win. Whether or not Bumrah plays, that should be the Indian team's focus.

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