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The Hindu
19-07-2025
- Sport
- The Hindu
ENG vs IND, 4th Test: With series on the line, captain Gill's real test begins now
These are early days for Shubman Gill, the captain. Leading India for the first time in Tests, his aggression on the pitch and the ability to calmly handle crunch situations have earned him praise from the cricket pundits. But his real test is now as India heads to Manchester, trailing 1-2 in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. It's going to be a herculean task for the young skipper, leading the team at Old Trafford, a venue where India has never won a Test. Providing role clarity will be crucial for India to win key moments throughout the game. In Australian legend Greg Chappell's recent column for ESPNCricinfo, he wrote: 'Gill must start setting those expectations - clearly, proactively, and consistently.' And that certainly will be crucial in the remainder of the series. There's plenty to deal with anyway: whether to play Jasprit Bumrah in Manchester or keep him for the game at The Oval; should Karun Nair be replaced at number three; and is this the right time to bring in Kuldeep Yadav? Making the right calls will be decisive. Barring the previous game at Lords, Gill has made his impact with the bat, amassing 607 runs in six innings this series. However, former England captain Andrew Strauss believes that in the early days of captaincy, one can usually strike a balance and that's been the case with Gill so far. Also read | David Gower: World Test Championship is inevitably flawed 'He is a quality player, but I think that back in my times, when I started the captaincy with England, that extra responsibility really helps your batting in the early stages. Maybe, towards the back end it becomes more difficult,' Strauss told Sportstar. 'But right at the moment, he's in that sweet spot and I suppose he's just got to ride the wave and enjoy it,' he added. In a high-voltage series, where stakes are high, it is never easy to handle situations, and that's where Gill needs to learn, step up and instill belief in the team that it can bounce back no matter how tricky the situation gets. Having observed Gill's captaincy closely in the series, former England captain David Gower is impressed with the way the 25-year-old has led, coming out of the shadows of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. 'Building a team relies on so many things. At the start of the series, people talked about two great players - Rohit and Virat - not being around. But Shubman played beautifully in two Test matches,' Gower told this publication. 'To lead you don't have to be 34, you can be 24, but talented, and with a good head, good mind, good technique. If you have that, you can fill that gap.' Leading for the first time, there have been teething troubles for Gill: at times, he has gotten a bit carried away. But with the series on the line, it will be important for him to lead with his actions and decide how he wants to shape this team. It will certainly define Gill's character as a captain.
The Hindu
17-07-2025
- Sport
- The Hindu
EXCLUSIVE — David Gower: World Test Championship is inevitably flawed
Former England captain David Gower isn't against Bazball — but he believes Test cricket's future hinges on something bigger than England's approach. One of England's most elegant batters, Gower scored 8,231 runs in 117 Tests at an average of 44.25, with 18 centuries to his name — and he's now calling for the ICC to urgently rethink how it supports its 'relatively poor' member nations if the longest format is to survive. Speaking to Sportstar on the final day of the third Test at Lord's, Gower weighed in on the 'inevitably flawed' World Test Championship, praised Shubman Gill's early captaincy, and argued that for England, the challenge isn't to abandon Bazball — but to know when to rein it in. With aggressive batting and quick results becoming the norm in Tests, how do you view this shift — and do you worry about its impact on batting craft? The idea of batting positively isn't new. Back in 1985, during the Ashes here, we scored at over four an over in five of six Tests — which, for that time, was rapid. The Australians of the '90s did it too: they'd score quickly to give (Glenn) McGrath and (Shane) Warne time to bowl teams out — and still fit in a round of golf. So, the concept has always existed. What England have done under (Ben) Stokes and (Brendon) McCullum is take it to new heights. The (Jonny) Bairstows, the (Zak) Crawleys, and others who love their shots have recorded scoring rates that are the highest in the last three to four years. And on its day, it's thrilling to watch. There's huge entertainment value in it, but also a slightly desperate need to prove that Test cricket can still be entertaining. We're talking on the fifth morning of this Test, and the buzz is absolutely electric. It was the same last night. This entire series has had moments that have reminded everyone what five-day cricket can offer. For those lucky enough to be at the ground, it's a real event — something you feel. That isn't something you get with formats where you pop in for a couple of hours and leave with a result. I still believe Test cricket is the highest form of the game by some distance. When Virat Kohli says it is, that's great PR — because 1.4 billion people hear him. But we need more people speaking up for it. What we — my generation especially — always wanted from England was a blend of flair and grit. In the Lord's Ashes Test two years ago, they collapsed in an hour of madness; only Stokes stuck it out. Since then, a few others have started to ride out the tough periods, then push on again with clear skies and fair winds. That's progress. Over the past four years, there were moments when a different approach for an hour or two might have changed the result. And now, in this series, you can see they've begun to learn from those. The pace of the Lord's Test has been different. Batting hasn't been easy — there've been no soft 200s. That's fabulous. And you can feel it everywhere — the stands, the press box, the corporate boxes — this sense that you're watching something special. (Smiles) I wasn't planning to come in today [final day]. But after last night, it felt like it would be a shame to miss it. Is Bazball the way forward — or just a necessary tactic to keep Test cricket relevant in the T20 era? If teams are capable of playing that way, then yes — it's important for Test cricket to prove it's still worth watching. In an era where white-ball formats dominate and data tells us fans love the instant thrill — balls flying to the boundary, sixes every few minutes — anything that shows how vibrant the long format can be is valid. But not every team has the talent or depth to play that way. If you're lower down the pecking order, you've got to find the best way you can to win a Test — even if that means playing more conservatively. Look at Australia. Sure, they have someone like Travis Head, who fits naturally into a more aggressive mould. But their overall approach has often been pragmatic. That alleged culture clash in the Ashes two years ago — England's ultra-positive style versus Australia's discipline — ended with the pragmatic side winning. Ultimately, in iconic series like the Ashes or the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, or even the World Test Championship final, it's not about style points — it's about doing what it takes to win. And part of keeping Test cricket relevant is showing people that drama can unfold in many ways. In that WTC final, the ball dominated for two days — low scores, not your usual white-ball fare — and then Aiden Markram played a stunning innings to snatch the game. That ebb and flow, those wild momentum shifts, are unique to this format. I know it's a harder sell to younger fans — and nearly impossible to explain to Americans — but for those who still value Test cricket as the game's highest form, their voice still matters, even if it's a smaller group now. Ashes reverie: David Gower, England's debonair captain, stands tall on the Oval balcony, cradling the Ashes urn — the gleaming symbol of a summer triumph. The 3-1 series win in 1985 is his crowning moment. Beside him, Allan Border embodies the stoic dignity of defeat. | Photo Credit: THE HINDU ARCHIVES With T20 leagues on the rise and bilateral interest fading, what reforms can help safeguard Test cricket without ignoring the game's commercial realities? Well, I never quite know the answer to that sort of question. But what's telling is how the conversation has shifted. Two years ago, influential voices were busy carving out windows for franchise cricket. Now, those same people are saying we need a dedicated window for Test cricket. And it's complicated, isn't it? There are so many factors — money, resources, infrastructure. Lord's is an exception: 28,000 people will turn up on a Monday for Day Five of a Test if the match is set up well. India still gets good crowds, though in a 100,000-seater, 30,000 can look sparse. Australia gets healthy numbers when we tour. But in the West Indies, the stands are nearly empty. Test matches there often lose money. In New Zealand, they've at least adapted by using smaller grounds to make things feel fuller. But for many boards, the arithmetic doesn't work. You can understand why a board like Cricket West Indies, already under pressure, might prefer eight days of white-ball cricket over 15 days of loss-making Tests. That's a hard call to argue with. So, unless the ICC can think of — I know it wouldn't go down well in India — redistributing the funds that can help out the poorer nations, we will see Test cricket declining apart from the top three, four, five nations. (This can't be) just an odd boost every other year or in three or four years, but year by year. So I'm not the Solomon who can tell you exactly how to solve this. But one of the things I do think very strongly is that if you want Test-playing nations to still be in business, then they need help. With Bazball's rise, England's pitches seem flatter and more batting-friendly than before. Is old-school English cricket losing its edge? (Smiles) I suppose these flat pitches suit Stokes' desire to chase — well, sometimes. Even this England team would agree that a better contest between bat and ball makes for a better spectacle. That's been a mantra for so many of us over the years. Watching teams pile up 600 on certain flat pitches — it gets quite dull, doesn't it? Then there's the commercial side to consider. Take this Lord's Test: if it finishes in three days, that's potentially two days of lost revenue. But how do you weigh that against the quality of entertainment the crowd has already had? The dream is a fair contest, something in it for both batters and bowlers. A game that lasts at least four days, stays tight, and builds toward a tense finish, like this one. That's when Test cricket is at its best. When Tests wrap up in just two or three days — especially in the subcontinent — does it hurt the format's appeal? Home advantage can be abused, of course. And when the temptation is to win at almost any cost, teams sometimes go too far. That series in India last year, for example — dominated by turning tracks — you could tell it wouldn't last five days. And you could probably guess the result going in. But if you're trying to reach the World Test Championship final, you want points and wins — that's the reality. England's tour of Pakistan last October showed both extremes. One Test was on a flat pitch — Harry Brook's triple hundred was brilliant in its own way. Then the next games, the ball spun, and we watched a side that was dominant unravel. So yes, pitch preparation can shape a series — that's undeniable. Whether that's right or wrong is open to debate. Some dream of a unified pitch formula: 'no, no, no, no, no, no. It's only seam, flat and spin' — as if there's a dial you can turn remotely. That would be ideal. But let's be realistic — you take what you get and try to win on it. David Gower: 'As a captain, you can just try and find a way of motivating or inspiring every man to be at his best somehow. That's all you can do.' | Photo Credit: PTI The WTC has added context to Tests — but what changes would make the format more relevant and engaging? The World Test Championship is inevitably flawed — whether it's the percentage system or the points lost for slow over-rates. It's a brave attempt to address the issue, but clearly not enough. The real problem is that it's not an even contest. Not all top sides play each other, and everything depends on where, how, and who you play. No amount of maths can fix that imbalance. That said, it does add context — especially for the teams in the top four pushing for a final spot. But if you're sitting at number nine, frankly, no one gives a flying fox what happens. India is in a rebuilding phase under a new captain. If you had a word with Shubman Gill, what advice would you give him on bringing the best out of his players? Building a team depends on so many things. At the start of the series, people focused on the absence of Rohit (Sharma) and Virat (Kohli). But Shubman stepped up and played beautifully in two Tests. You don't have to be 34 to lead — you can be 24, if you've got talent, a good head, and a solid technique. That kind of player can fill the gap. If you're one or two players short of a great side, you work around it and trust others to develop. I trust my old colleague Michael Atherton when he says India won nine of the 10 days. That's not bad for a team supposedly in transition. In Birmingham, they bowled better than us. At Lord's, England finally found something in the ball we hadn't really seen before. Team-building often comes down to individual moments. Look at Stokes at Lord's — this is the Stokes we've missed: bowling 90 miles an hour, driving the attack forward. You want all your key players at peak performance — that's what shifts a match. I always say, if six of your XI are playing to their potential, you're in a good position. If six are having a shocker, you're likely coming second. If all 11 hit their peak — you're unbeatable. But that rarely happens. As a captain, you can just try and find a way of motivating or inspiring every man to be at his best somehow. That's all you can do.
The Hindu
15-07-2025
- Sport
- The Hindu
WTC format inevitably flawed, feels David Gower
Former England captain David Gower believes the World Test Championship (WTC) format is 'inevitably flawed' because it does not offer an event contest among the teams. According to him, while the tournament adds some context to the teams that are vying for the top spots, it has very little to offer to teams struggling at the bottom. 'The WTC is inevitably flawed — be it the percentage system or the points lost for over-rates… The obvious flaw in the format is that it's not an even contest. It's not even if all the top sides don't play each other,' Gower told The Hindu. 'It depends on where you play, how you play and who you play. Whatever you try to do mathematically, it's never going to be right…' Each WTC cycle runs for two years, where teams play six series in that period — three at home and three away — with 12 points awarded for winning a match, six for a tie and four for a draw. But then, as teams play a different number of Tests across their six series, the table is ranked by percentage of points won. 'To be fair, it gives added context to the teams who, at the end of the two-year cycle, are somewhere in the top four and vying for the top two. If you're down at No. 9, no one (cares about) what goes on,' Gower said. While India, Australia and England have been the biggest advocates of Test cricket, several smaller boards have struggled to get the format going. 'Unless maybe, the ICC, can think of — I know it wouldn't go down well in India — redistributing the funds, that can help out the poorer nations. And, not just an odd boost, but should happen year by year. If you want Test-playing nations to still be in business, then they need help,' added Gower.
Telegraph
08-07-2025
- Sport
- Telegraph
Cambridge University facing revolt for ‘mistreatment' of iconic Fenner's cricket ground
The Cambridge cricket community is in revolt about the treatment of Fenner's, the iconic first-class ground used by Cambridge University that has nurtured 21 Test match captains. The ground, situated in the heart of Cambridge, has hosted first-class cricket since 1848 and developed cricketing greats including Kumar Shri Ranjitsinhji, Gilbert Jessop, Ted Dexter and Michael Atherton. But the future of the ground is now in jeopardy. Telegraph Sport can reveal: Access to the ground has become much harder, with new measures taken to stop 'undesirable individuals' from being able to watch games, and even student players being barred from arriving at games. The number of fixtures played at the iconic ground has declined dramatically, with under half of Cambridge University Cricket Club's home fixtures played at Fenner's this year. Players have attacked the pitch and facilities as substandard. Extortionate fees of £425 plus VAT for a one-day match, have left local teams unable to afford to play at the ground. There has been no full-time groundsman at Fenner's since 2022. Former England captain David Gower has sounded concern 'that such spaces should remain intact.' Concerns about the future of Fenner's have intensified since land around the pitch was bought by Hughes Hall, a college at Cambridge University, last July. Late last year Hughes Hall announced plans to build new student accommodation on green Protected Open Space adjacent to the college and near the cricket pitch. In response to the plans, a petition organised by the Protect Fenner's Action Group urging Hughes Hall not to redevelop on the site has so far attracted more than 4,000 signatures. While no building on Fenner's has yet been confirmed, this season Hughes Hall has made it more difficult for casual fans to watch cricket. Rather than being able to walk through the park to see games, as has been the case throughout the ground's history, spectators must now sign in at the porter's lodge at Hughes Hall. The measure is part of an attempt to curb 'undesirable individuals' accessing the ground, Cambridge University Cricket Club explained in an email circulated before the season. The email said that: 'It is the wish of Hughes Hall that the main Mortimer Road gates during match days remain closed to limit the number of undesirable individuals walking through college grounds and into Fenner's, we would also support this. However, the Porters Lodge have agreed to staff the gates at all times during a match day to allow anyone wishing to watch the game, whether on foot or driving, to come in.' In practice, insiders believe that the new measures have deterred casual fans, who do not wish to sign in if they only intend to watch cricket for a few minutes, and contributed to a decline in spectator numbers. 'The gates are locked and Hughes Hall wants more land to turn the grounds into a private campus,' said Steve Platt, a CUCC member who has lived near the ground for over 50 years. 'Fenner's is being privatised by stealth.' 'It's not unhindered like it used to be – last year you could just walk in,' Anthony Hyde, the secretary of the Cambridge University Cricket Club, told Telegraph Sport. 'It was a surprise and a lot of people have mentioned it – students and non-students. I don't understand it. Fenner's is a Cambridge institution and it's always been an open space on match day.' Hughes Hall's purchase of land by the ground is understood to have cost around £3 million, paid to the university's Cricket and Athletic Club Limited. Yet there are fears that this money is not being spent on investing in the future of cricket at the ground. Lucy Walker, a former city councillor in Cambridge and long-time resident, told Telegraph Sport, 'Where is the £3 million that Hughes Hall apparently paid for the land? I hope it is being invested in Fenner's future, because it is too valuable an asset to lose.' Decline in number of games From 39 scheduled days of cricket at Fenner's in 2024, there are just 31 days of cricket scheduled at the ground this year. This is thought to be the lowest number, excluding 2020, in any year since the Second World War. While Oxford University's men's and women's teams play 33 of their 36 home games at their main ground this season, the Parks, just 18 of the 38 games played by the Cambridge University sides are at Fenner's.
The Independent
02-07-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Ben Stokes reveals he was bed-bound for days after draining England vs India first test
Ben Stokes has revealed that he was bed-bound for two days following the 'exhausting' England vs India first test. Speaking to David Gower on BBC Radio 4 on Wednesday (2 July), the cricketer said that he was 'very tired physically and mentally' following the five-day match last month. 'I was bed-bound for two days, I was pretty exhausted', revealing he wasn't the only one, sharing that Brydon Carse also felt extremely fatigued. 'It just proves how much test cricket takes it out of you, and it's weird, but that's why you love it.' Captain Stokes oversaw a five-wicket victory at Headingley, with England now leading 1–0 in the five-match series.
