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Int'l Cricket Council
6 days ago
- Sport
- Int'l Cricket Council
Five questions England must answer ahead of Ashes in Australia ICC World Test Championship
If England harbour aspirations on reaching the ICC World Test Championship Final for the first time then a positive result during the five-match Ashes series against Australia that commences in November is crucial. England showed plenty of good signs during their recent series with India, but still have some unanswered questions hovering over them as they attempt to win back the Ashes from Australia for the first time since the start of 2018. England tried as many as six different fast bowlers across the five-match series against India, but aren't really all that much clearer about what their best pace line-up looks like. Whether Chris Woakes recovers from his shoulder ailment in time for the Ashes remains to be seen, while the ongoing fitness concerns for pace spearhead Jofra Archer is also sure to be monitored before the trip Down Under. England will also be hoping that Mark Wood will be fit to make the trip to Australia as his pace will surely be an asset, with the likes of Josh Tongue, Brydon Carse and Gus Atkinson all in consideration for selection too. While there is no doubting the class of Joe Root, the England veteran is still yet to register a Test century on Australian shores and this is probably the only thing missing from his bulky resume as he tries to hunt down Sachin Tendulkar's record for the most hundreds in Test cricket. If Root can break his century duck this time in Australia and lead England to an Ashes victory then it will surely go down as one of the right-hander's biggest achievements during his illustrious international career. Youngster Shoaib Bashir appears to be the front runner to be England's first-choice spin option during the Ashes providing he recovers from his finger injury, but the 20-year-old is yet to really set the world on fire and may be targeted by Australia's batting group. Could England turn to the experience of Jack Leach or provide Liam Dawson another opportunity after he got a taste of it against India, or will Rehan Ahmed make a surprise return and be included in the touring party? Crawley was England's leading run-scorer during the most recent Ashes series in 2023, but the tall opener was somewhat disappointing on his inaugural visit to Australia when he managed just 166 runs from three Tests across the 2021/2022 series. Australia's experienced pace attack will fancy their chances against Crawley and the right-hander will be under pressure to perform well and get the side off to a good start alongside fellow opener Ben Duckett. Smith has made a superb start to his fledging international Test career and the comparisons with Australian great Adam Gilchrist seem somewhat justified given his Test batting average currently sits close to 50. It will be a step up in class for Smith taking on Australia away from home and the Aussies are sure to try and intimidate the talented 25-year-old in his first tour Down Under. ICC World Test ChampionshipICC World Test Championship, 2025/27News
Int'l Cricket Council
6 days ago
- Sport
- Int'l Cricket Council
Five questions India must answer ahead of next WTC27 challenge ICC World Test Championship
India don't have to wait too long for their next Test contest, with Shubman Gill's side heading home for a pair of two-match series against the West Indies and South Africa across October and November. The two-time World Test Championship runners up will be targeting maximum points across those four home clashes and we look at five burning questions the side must answer prior to their next Test match-up. The plan to only play Jasprit Bumrah in three Tests in England was somewhat vindicated by the 2-2 scoreline and the performances of fellow pacer Mohammed Siraj across the five matches and India will be keeping a close eye on the fitness of their pace spearhead going forward. Based on what happened in England it is unlikely to expect Bumrah to play all four home Tests later this year, especially with the ICC Men's T20 World Cup on the horizon early in 2026 . Sai Sudharsan and Karun Nair both got opportunities to make the No.3 spot their own during the England tour, but neither player really took advantage of the chance with the pair struggling to come to grips with England's pace attack. One of this duo will likely get another opportunity against the West Indies in October and India will be keen for someone to put their hand up and really make the spot their own. With conditions on the sub-continent likely to be vastly different to what the sides encountered in England, India will almost certainly include left-arm tweaker Kuldeep Yadav for their home contests against the West Indies and South Africa. Kuldeep was very close to playing in England, with veteran Ravindra Jadeja and all-rounder Washington Sundar instead included and the pair performed admirably across the series with seven wickets apiece. While Jadeja is a certain starter in any India Test XI at the moment, it will be interesting to see whether selectors continue to provide Washington Sundar opportunities in the same team and whether Nitish Kumar Reddy will also get a chance. Washington and Reddy are future stars of Indian cricket and Jadeja is much closer to the end of his career than the start, so expect more chances for the fringe all-rounders. The right-armer stepped up when needed most for India across the five-match series in England and will be full of confidence heading home ahead of red-ball contests with the West Indies and South Africa. It will be tough for Siraj to match his efforts in England, especially when you consider the 31-year-old has a much better Test bowling average away from home than what he does in India. Siraj doesn't need to be a match-winner in every game he plays though and can thrive in all conditions. ICC World Test ChampionshipICC World Test Championship, 2025/27News
Int'l Cricket Council
6 days ago
- Sport
- Int'l Cricket Council
England-India blockbuster reshapes WTC27 standings ICC World Test Championship
The ICC World Test Championship standings have seen significant shifts after India beat England in a thrilling showdown at The Oval to level the series 2-2 While it's still early days in the WTC27 cycle, India managed to usurp England and move into third place in the ICC World Test Championship standings with their victory in the final Test, earning 12 crucial points. They now have 28 points on the board and a points percentage of 46.67%. Despite having a similar number of wins and draws as India, England sit fourth in the standings with 26 points and a points percentage of 43.33%. Their position was impacted by a two-point deduction for a slow over rate during the Lord's Test. Australia remain at the top of the table, having won all three matches they've played in this cycle so far. Their opponents in those matches, West Indies, are yet to register a point and sit sixth in the standings — only ahead of South Africa, New Zealand and Pakistan, all of whom are yet to play a game in this cycle. Sri Lanka currently sit second in the ICC World Test Championship standings, having registered a victory and a draw in their two matches so far, giving them a points percentage of 66.67%. Meanwhile, Bangladesh are placed fifth, with just four points and a points percentage of 16.67%. ICC World Test ChampionshipICC World Test Championship, 2025/27News
Int'l Cricket Council
25-07-2025
- Sport
- Int'l Cricket Council
Ponting tips Root to overtake his Test tally in Manchester ICC World Test Championship
ICC Hall of Famer Ricky Ponting believes Joe Root is en route to overtaking his run tally in Test cricket on Day 3 of the Manchester Test. Root, who finished unbeaten at the score of 11 on Day 2 against India, is 108 runs behind Ponting in the all-time Men's Test cricket run charts. Speaking to Sky Sports ahead of the third day's play at Old Trafford, Ponting said, 'If he keeps going on like this, that could very well happen today. 'It's a great day for batting and what a remarkable career it's been for Joe. How he's transformed from someone that couldn't go on past fifty to hundreds. Now it seems like every time he gets to fifty, you just mark him down for a hundred, or a big hundred. 'Just looking at some of the numbers, 37 Test match hundreds, 13000 runs, what an amazing career to-date.' Root is currently the fifth-highest run-getter in the longest format – 18 runs behind Rahul Dravid and 19 runs behind Jacques Kallis, who are fourth and third, respectively. Ponting also added that there is more to come from Root, and that the England talisman can also overtake Sachin Tendulkar as the all-time run scorer in the format. 'There's still a fair bit to go. What is he, 35? Doesn't look like his passion for the game is going anywhere. 'His run-scoring passion has probably gone up over the years. Can he chase down Sachin? Let's see. He might as well do that.' England are currently leading 2-1 in the five-match ICC World Test Championship series. ICC World Test ChampionshipICC World Test Championship, 2025/27NewsJoe Root
Int'l Cricket Council
24-07-2025
- Sport
- Int'l Cricket Council
Openers power England to commanding position in Manchester ICC World Test Championship
England dominated Day 2 of the fourth Test against India, placing themselves in the driver's seat in Manchester. After taking the remaining six wickets to bowl India out for 358 in the second session, openers Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley led the charge with a commanding 166-run partnership, reducing the deficit to just 133 runs at stumps. India started the day at 264/4, with Ravindra Jadeja and Shardul Thakur at the crease. England, eager to inflict early damage, took the new ball and their persistence paid off when Jadeja nicked one off Jofra Archer, with Harry Brook taking a sharp catch in the slips. Washington Sundar and Thakur then steadied the innings with a well-composed 48-run partnership before the latter was dismissed for a well-made 41. Rishabh Pant showcased immense bravery, coming out to bat despite battling a fractured right foot, and brought up a fighting half-century. However, India's lower order offered little resistance to Ben Stokes, who ran through the tail with an impressive spell claiming his first five-wicket haul since 2017. England got off to a blazing start in their innings, with Crawley and Duckett aggressively taking on the Indian bowlers and piling up runs at a rapid pace. The pair remained unbeaten at tea, racing to 77 runs in just 14 overs. India finally broke the partnership when Jadeja induced an edge from Crawley's bat, with KL Rahul taking a clean catch in the slips, sending the opener back for a brisk 84. Soon after Anshul Kamboj claimed his maiden Test wicket by dismissing Duckett on 94, who fell short of a well-deserved century. New batter Joe Root, along with Ollie Pope, then negotiated a testing late spell from Jasprit Bumrah to see out the day, with England finishing on 225/2. ICC World Test ChampionshipICC World Test Championship, 2025/27News
