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The Hindu
10 hours ago
- Sport
- The Hindu
A drama-filled series replete with punches and counterpunches
Until 1845, where The Oval is now stood a market garden, with a waterworks overhanging it. Two years after The Oval came into existence, work to convert the waterworks into five gasholders began, and by 1874, they were all in place though over time, only one, called Gasholder Number One, survived. Soon, Gasholder Number One too will pass into history. Work is already underway to redevelop it into an apartment block with a massive banner that reads 'Iconic apartments and penthouses for sale' proudly announcing the imminent transition. As and when these apartments are ready for occupancy, a huge slice of the past would have faded away, though it is hard to envision the gasometer being forgotten totally for a long time to come. England, more than any other country, is proud of its investment in tradition, which is precisely why the renaming of the Pataudi Trophy as the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy ostensibly to contextualise the modern-day rivalry so that it resonates with younger fans came as such a surprise. The disappearance of the gasometer is in keeping with changing mindsets and attitudes, one might say. Mindsets and attitudes have definitely changed dramatically over the last 40 days of a Test series that began with so much bonhomie but has since assumed an added edge, perhaps because India have been more competitive than England might have imagined. For the first two Tests, it was normal service — lots of pats on the back, plenty of smiles exchanged, no more than the odd banter but no deathly stares and generous use of the lip. No more, not anymore. What's a professional contest without any needle, you say? Of course. Sport isn't just a bland and sanitised pursuit of excellence — perfection is overrated and its pursuit futile. It is fuelled by skills and ability, undoubtedly, but also by passion and emotion. It is inevitable that, in the heat of battle with so much on the line, tempers will fray, words will be exchanged, actions that might subsequently trigger regret will manifest themselves. It's almost a requirement of competitive sport; maybe there is some iota of truth to the 'nice guys don't finish first' school of thought. One of the reasons, the experts have insisted, for the cricket world shrinking to a global village is the proliferation of franchise-based T20 leagues across the world that allow fierce international rivals to occupy the same dressing room. That doesn't just facilitate exchange of cricketing ideas and viewpoints, it is also helps people get to know each other better. A drink in the evening and an occasional, accidental chat in the hotel isn't the same as sharing space for six or eight weeks, understanding backgrounds and mindsets and cultures and vision. That's what the Indian Premier League, and other leagues of such ilk, have catalysed. Players are more respectful of each other, they get where people come from, and the scope for misunderstanding has diminished exponentially, But that doesn't mean that there shouldn't be drama. That players should get on fine with each other at all times, going about their business like automatons. One isn't advocating abuse and poor behaviour, no. But emotions can and must surface occasionally, because they are just an offshoot of the hunger, the drive, the desire, the ambition that is so important to be successful. At the start of their home summer in May, England head coach Brendon McCullum had urged his players to 'improve their humility' — whatever that might mean — because of the outrage triggered by some of the comments made by his players in the media. Mark Wood, a crucial member of the England playing squad when he is not recovering from injury, conceded that they, meaning his team, could be a 'bit dumb' at times. Maybe McCullum's urgings hit home, because England were slightly more 'humble', but only slightly more. Why else would they term India's declaration with a lead of 608 in Birmingham 'ridiculous?' After, their captain had wanted to be tested by targets in excess of 500; Ben Duckett, the opener, had famously said 'more the merrier'. It was as if India's overseas record 336-run victory was their own fault because they had set such an impossible target; England being bowled out for 271? 'Well, we went for it, didn't we?' It is little short of ironic that the first signs of the fraying of tempers expressed themselves at Lord's, which prides itself on being the Home of Cricket. The MCC members who have exclusive access to the Long Room hadn't covered themselves in glory two years back when they booed and abused the Australian players after Alex Carey, standing well back, 'stumped' a doozy Jonny Bairstow with an underarm throw off paceman Cameron Green after the batter left his ground under the mistaken impression that the ball was 'dead'. The MCC, lest it should be forgotten, is the custodian of the Laws of Cricket and under the law, Bairstow was unquestionably out, but hey, why quibble over such minor details? Anyway, to the present. On day three of the third Test, after India were dismissed for 387 to leave the teams dead even after their respective first innings, England had some seven minutes to negotiate before stumps. Zak Crawley and Duckett took 90 seconds longer than the norm to walk into the middle, and the former pulled out when Jasprit Bumrah was about to deliver once, before copping a blow for which he summoned the physio. That was enough for affable young captain Shubman Gill to lose his cool and urge the England opener to grow a part of his anatomy. Strike one. The next day, on being set a target of 193, India had slumped to 58 for four. Washington Sundar's off-spin (four for 22) was largely responsible for England losing their last six wickets for 38 runs. That evening, Washington asserted that India would 'definitely' win, perhaps by lunch on the final day. That was enough for McCullum to exhort his players, from the team balcony, to start chirping when Washington came out to bat on the final morning. The kid gloves were off. Strike two. At the end of the Test, England insisted that Gill's confrontational tactics had backfired on India. The Indian skipper clarified that while he wasn't proud of the language he had used, what Crawley and Duckett had done wasn't in the spirit of the game. The 25-year-old might not have intended to prick England's ego by using the word 'spirit', but that was the eventual impact. Strike three. Somehow finding their way to the moral high horse, England also dominated the cricketing exchanges in Manchester with talismanic captain Ben Stokes in the forefront. By lunch on the fourth afternoon, only one result seemed realistic; trailing by 311 in the first innings, India lost their first two wickets in the first over of the second innings without a run on the board. With 10 hours to bat out, the odds on England taking a winning 3-1 series lead weren't that long. But through K.L. Rahul and their own inspirational leader, and then through Washington and the admirable Ravindra Jadeja, India saved the day. With chutzpah and spirit and character and spunk and ability and poise and control and dexterity. England threw everything at Washington and Jadeja for three and a half hours after lunch on day five, but they were met either by a brick wall or by a counter-attacking force, depending on the merit of the ball. Mounting frustration By tea, England's frustration had mounted. Frustration that they couldn't make any impression on the fifth-wicket pair, frustration that Joe Root had dropped Jadeja when the left-hander had yet to score. Frustration that the series win that appeared so imminent at Gill's dismissal had slipped away, comprehensively. Frustration that even a day-five pitch gave their bowlers nothing to work with. That was largely why Stokes stretched his hand out for Jadeja to return the gesture at the start of the final hour, which would have formalised a stalemate. Jadeja had battled through to 89, Washington was on 80 with a first Test ton never more deserved. India were well within their rights to ignore that outstretched right hand and bat on to individual milestones but apparently, that didn't go down well with Stokes' moral compass. He and some of his teammates taunted the two Indian batters, who barely looked in their direction to add to the hosts' sense of helplessness. England's petulance and lack of grace has since been pilloried across the board. On Wednesday morning, the eve of the final Test, Stokes appeared contrite though he said he had 'no regrets'. 'Let's just try our best not to focus too much on a 20-minute period of cricket,' he insisted. 'It's been such a good series so far.' It sure has, though Stokes will have no say in the denouement. The all-rounder has been ruled out of the decider with a muscle tear in his right shoulder which should take between six and seven weeks to fully heal. It's a carping shame, his absence, because on the giant metaphorical stage that this series has been, Stokes has been the principal, compelling protagonist bar none, though there have been numerous other extraordinary characters, not least the impossibly brave Rishabh Pant and Stokes' commendable counterpart. The final Test will be poorer for Stokes' no-show. When he is in action, he commands attention because you never know when a piece of magic will unfold. With the ball, Stokes has bowled himself to the ground – even in Manchester on the last day, with his shoulder clearly bothering him immensely, he bowled eight successive overs – and with the bat, he was just beginning to find his bearings. In the field, he makes the impossible appear commonplace. Gasholder Number One would have loved one final glimpse of Stokes in Test cricket this summer – it isn't in a minority – but sport doesn't always throw up fairytales, does it?
Business Standard
a day ago
- Sport
- Business Standard
Blow-by-blow account of Gambhir vs Curator spat
The five-Test series between India and England has reached its climax, but controversy continues to shadow the contest. After the initial row over renaming the Pataudi Trophy to the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy and a debatable end to the fourth Test in Manchester, tensions have now spilled into preparations for the final match at The Oval. Just two days before the decisive Test begins on July 31, India head coach Gautam Gambhir was involved in a heated altercation with Surrey's head groundsman Lee Fortis. The incident occurred during a routine pitch inspection on July 29, escalating into a public disagreement over ground protocols and behaviour. Flashpoint at The Oval: What triggered the face-off The confrontation began when Gambhir, accompanied by assistant coach Sitanshu Kotak, walked to the centre square at The Oval for a standard pre-match pitch assessment. Fortis, through a messenger, reportedly asked the Indian staff to remain 2.5 metres away from the pitch and objected to a cooler being brought onto the field. This triggered a reaction from Gambhir, who was caught on camera angrily responding to Fortis's instructions. In the viral clip, Gambhir can be heard saying, 'You don't tell us what we need to do… You are just a groundsman. Nothing beyond that.' ???? Just In: Gautam Gambhir involved in a heated argument with The Oval Stadium's pitch curator. Here's a glimpse of the confrontation — full video drops soon on our YouTube channel! ???????? #Gambhir #OvalTest #Cricket #ENGvsIND #INDvsENG???? @AnkanKar — Ray Sportz Cricket (@raysportz_cric) July 29, 2025 India clarifies: 'It's a cricket pitch, not an antique' In the aftermath, Kotak addressed the media, explaining that the Indian staff were wearing joggers, not spikes, and found the request to maintain distance from the pitch unusual. 'It felt awkward. This is a Test match starting the day after tomorrow. We were simply observing the wicket with rubber soles,' Kotak said. He noted that Fortis's concerns may have stemmed from a desire to preserve the pitch, but added, 'You can be protective, but at the end of the day, it is a cricket pitch, not an antique.' India head coach Gautam Gambhir was involved in a confrontation with Surrey ground staff during a training session. Batting coach Sitanshu Kotak has spoken about the incident at The Oval. — Test Match Special (@bbctms) July 29, 2025 Blow-by-blow account of the Gambhir–Fortis row The altercation unfolded in full view of support staff and players. Fortis, seated on a roller, reportedly shouted at the Indian contingent, instructing them not to place the 10-kg cooler on the field. Kotak attempted to mediate, but Gambhir interrupted the conversation, challenging Fortis's authority. Fortis warned Gambhir against using profanity and threatened to report him to the match referee. Gambhir responded defiantly, urging Kotak not to engage further and questioning the curator's right to instruct international coaching staff. 'You have no right to tell us what to do. You are just a groundsman,' Gambhir was heard saying, reiterating his objection several times during the exchange. VIDEO | Indian team's head coach Gautam Gambhir was seen having verbal spat with chief curator Lee Fortis at The Oval Cricket Ground in London ahead of the last Test match of the series starting Thursday. After having drawn the fourth Test at Old Trafford, India have a chance… — Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 29, 2025 Assistant coach offers perspective on heated exchange Speaking to reporters, Kotak emphasised that the team was mindful of preserving the ground's integrity. 'We were using rubber spikes. Tomorrow, batters will be sliding, bowlers will dive—so what difference does it make? If he's worried about grass growing overnight, that seems unrealistic. We respect the ground, but there's a limit to how possessive one can be,' he said. What might have been the groundsman's concern? The Oval still has several matches scheduled through early September, and Fortis is likely trying to protect the main square from overuse. However, the Indian camp felt that the demand to avoid the area around the three allotted practice pitches was unreasonable, especially given the proximity of the final Test. With the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy at stake, England lead the series 2–1. The final Test at The Oval begins on July 31, with emotions already running high after the latest controversy.
India.com
3 days ago
- Sport
- India.com
Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy: Who Will Take Trophy Home If India Win Final Test And Series Ends In Draw? Check Here
IND vs ENG: India pulled off a dramatic escape on Sunday, July 27, as they denied England a series win in the fourth Test at Old Trafford, Manchester. The hosts were firm favourites to seal the inaugural Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, needing just eight Indian wickets with nearly two days to play. However, India's resilience with the bat ensured the match ended in a draw, keeping the series alive at 2-1 in England's favour. Rahul and Gill Lay the Foundation Facing a daunting task, India's survival effort began with KL Rahul and Shubman Gill, who displayed remarkable patience and discipline to bat through the entirety of Day 4. Their stand wore down the English bowling attack and prevented early breakthroughs that could have led to a collapse. Jadeja and Sundar's Match-Saving Partnership On the final day, India were still under pressure, but Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar rose to the occasion. The pair put together an unbroken 203-run partnership that not only frustrated England but also shifted the momentum entirely. Sundar brought up his maiden Test century, while Jadeja remained unbeaten on 107, showcasing grit and maturity. Eventually, with the result inevitable, both teams agreed to shake hands and end the match as a draw—much to India's relief and England's disappointment. Series Heads to The Oval with Everything to Play For With the fourth Test drawn, the five-match series now stands at 2-1 in England's favour. The final Test will be played at The Oval starting Thursday, and India will need to win to level the series. A 2-2 result would be a moral victory for the visitors after being 2-1 down, but the big question remains who would retain the trophy? Who Will Hold the Trophy If Series Is Drawn? According to tradition in most bilateral Test series, if a series ends in a draw, the team that won the previous edition retains the trophy. In this case, while the 2021 Pataudi Trophy ended in a draw, England had beaten India 4-1 in 2018, technically making them the holders. However, the current series marks the inaugural edition of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, replacing the Pataudi Trophy. This raises uncertainty over whether the 2018 result still applies or if a drawn series would mean the trophy is shared. As of now, neither the BCCI nor the ECB has issued an official clarification on the retention rules for the new trophy in the event of a drawn series.
News18
6 days ago
- Sport
- News18
On This Day In 2011: Pietersen's Double Century Leads England In 100th Test Vs India
Last Updated: India's 2011 England tour began with the 100th Test at Lord's — a match that saw Zaheer Khan's injury, KP's double ton, Dravid's hundred, and the start of a painful 4-0 whitewash. On This Day In 2011: Historic and traumatic, the Lord's Test of India's 2011 tour of England started on this day. Ranked No.1 in the world then, the Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led Indian side embarked upon their toughest challenge to date, taking on Andrew Strauss' rising English brigade at the Home of Cricket for what was a special encounter. It wasn't just the start of the Pataudi Trophy but also the 100th Test between the two great rivals and overall, the 200th Test played in the game's history. The momentous occasion was backed by a huge turnout at Lord's, while TV and streaming viewership soared to incredible heights. With the world anticipating a gripping contest to start a long summer of exciting tussle between India and England, the visitors were left deeply embarrassed by an opposition that prepared for the marquee series twice as well. Reeling from fatigue and injuries amidst a quick turnaround from the IPL, India were already missing their instrumental opener Virender Sehwag for the series opener. In Sehwag's absence, Dhoni stood a little extra wary of a surface that carried a tinge of grass on it and decided to bowl first upon winning the toss. What followed would be recalled as the start of that Indian team's downward spiral, as Dhoni lost the leader of his attack, Zaheer Khan, to the most untimely hamstring injury in the second session of play only. Zaheer walked off clutching his hamstring and so did India's hopes of taking 20 wickets. England compiled a massive 474/8 declared, led by the amazing Kevin Pietersen's unbeaten double century (202). Swing bowler Praveen Kumar's 5 for 106 was India's only positive. #OnThisDay in 2011, the 2000th Test in cricket history came to a conclusion in England's Pietersen smashed a spectacular 202* in the first innings at Lord's to give the hosts a thumping 196-run win over India 🔥 — ICC (@ICC) July 25, 2020 While India's bowling was always their weaker suit, the batting line-up of ageing greats also faltered miserably. Even as the great Rahul Dravid produced an emotional Lord's hundred (103) to tick off the box he missed on his debut in 1996, India were dismissed for 286, with no other batter, not even the legendary Sachin Tendulkar (34), providing Dravid support for significant length of time. With their backs against the wall, India needed an inspiring turnaround to come out unscathed and save a draw. Ishant Sharma's 4 for 59 in the third-innings raised the tourists' hopes, but wicketkeeper-batter Matt Prior's magnificent 103 not out once again shut the door on Dhoni's team. England declared again on 269/6, setting India a target of 458 and the best part of five sessions to play through to safety. Then, in a snapshot of what was to follow for the rest of the summer, infamous for India's abject surrender and the ignominious 4-0 drubbing, England ace James Anderson came up with a masterclass of late swing and ran through that great Indian batting line-up along with his longstanding ally, Stuart Broad. Anderson took 5 for 65 and Broad 3 for 57, as the two exceptional seam bowlers accelerated the Indian downfall for just 261. VVS Laxman got a fighting 56 before young Suresh Raina waged the battle with his courageous 78. But it was never going to be enough. India eventually suffered a painstaking loss of 196 to kickstart a procession of defeats that spanned across Trent Bridge, Edgbaston and The Oval in perhaps their worst ever series loss on foreign soil. view comments First Published: July 25, 2025, 07:25 IST News cricket On This Day In 2011: Pietersen's Double Century Leads England In 100th Test Vs India Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
India.com
20-07-2025
- Sport
- India.com
I Feel Completely Out Of Place...: James Anderson Has A Weird Reaction On Sharing Trophy Name With Sachin Tendulkar
James Anderson has opened up about his feelings on sharing the title of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy with legendary Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar. Despite being one of the game's most successful fast bowlers, Anderson admitted that the honour feels somewhat unusual for him. He stated that he feels overwhelmed by the honour and feels out of the place in doing so. The ongoing England-India Test series is the first to be played under the newly named Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. Previously, the Pataudi Trophy was contested during series hosted in England. The change was made by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) ahead of the current five-match series, with England currently leading 2-1 going into the fourth Test in Manchester. Speaking on Sky Cricket, Anderson said, "I feel completely out of place when I see myself alongside him with the trophy. As I said, I hold him in such high regard." He further elaborated on the surreal nature of hearing praise for his achievements. "It is strange that when people talk about what I have achieved in cricket, like when I hear about it, as if someone's talking about someone else, if that makes sense. Like I don't feel it is me who has achieved all this. It sounds really strange, but that is how my head works. I just can't quite believe the things that come with playing such a long time." Despite taking 991 international wickets and cementing his place as one of the greatest pacers in cricket history, Anderson finds it hard to accept being placed on the same pedestal as Tendulkar. He retired from international cricket in July 2024 after playing his final Test against the West Indies at Lord's and was last seen representing Lancashire in the County Championship. England are currently leading the series after a narrow 22-run win in the third Test at Lord's. The fourth Test is scheduled to begin on July 23 at Old Trafford. For India, led by Shubman Gill, the match is a must-win to keep their series hopes alive. A win for England would secure the series, making the upcoming game crucial for both sides. India's Squad - Shubman Gill (c), Rishabh Pant (wk), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, Nitish Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav England Squad for the Remaining Tests: Ben Stokes (Captain), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Zak Crawley, Liam Dawson, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Josh Tongue, Chris Woakes
