31-07-2025
TEST MATCH BREAKFAST: Oval groundsman made sly escape under Australian noses in Pitchgate 1.0, and Ben Stokes enjoys timely ratings surge
Test Match Breakfast takes a look at some of the biggest issues around cricket ahead of England's decisive fifth and final Test against India at The Oval.
Here, RICHARD GIBSON discusses the first Pitchgate incident and a groundsman's cheeky escape, some good news for Ben Stokes despite his shoulder problem, and confusion in the Indian camp over whether Jasprit Bumrah will get the nod again.
GROUNDSMAN MAKES HIS ESCAPE
Pitchgate 2.0 comes a full 16 years after Australia 's media turned their guns on former Oval groundsman Bill Gordon for his alleged role in Ashes defeat here.
While Gordon's successor Lee Fortis felt the brunt of India coach Gautam Gambhir's finger-wagging, reminding him to stay in his 'capacity', 48 hours before a ball was sent down, the 2009 ire came post-match.
Despite Australia scoring 360 in their second innings, and the contest being turned on its head by the run out of Ricky Ponting by Andrew Flintoff, our colleagues down under reckoned it was the production of a Sahara-like surface in a country noted for its wet weather that did for their brave boys.
Under siege from Stuart Broad's five-pronged hot streak - a breakthrough performance in an England shirt - the Australians lost 10 for 87 on day two, and the 172-run deficit halfway through the contest proved influential in the outcome.
However, when a member of the Australian press tried to hunt Gordon down after England reclaimed the urn, he was alleged to have said: 'My name is John. Bill Gordon left an hour ago. I'll tell him you want to talk to him.'
Subsequent identification from photographs and verification by other staff at the ground suggested that the white haired man was indeed Gordon.
STOKES' RATINGS SURGE
Ben Stokes leaves the series, to begin his rehabilitation from a shoulder injury with November's Ashes in mind, in his highest-ranked position as a Test all-rounder for almost three years.
The 34-year-old is up to third in the ICC's official ratings following his 141 and haul of six wickets - including a five for in the first innings - in the fourth Test draw in Manchester.
That represents a surge of three places for England's inspirational leader, who briefly considered playing as a specialist batsman this week before handing the armband to Ollie Pope.
World number one batter Joe Root's 150 at Old Trafford has stretched his lead over second-placed Kane Williamson to 37 points.
BUMRAH MIND GAMES
If India were playing mind games over the selection of their prime bowling weapon Jasprit Bumrah for a fourth time in the series, no one bothered to tell Arshdeep Singh.
Arshdeep left The Oval telling people that he had no idea whether he would be making his Test debut more than three years after his white-ball bow for his country.
The 26-year-old has been a resounding success in India's T20 team, and needs one wicket in his next two appearances in the format to become the quickest to 100 career victims amongst seam bowlers.
HUNDRED TEAM KEPT WAITING
Oval Invincibles are one of two Hundred teams yet to have their strategic partnerships with investors completed.
While six of the eight have been finalised, Indian billionaires the Ambani family are yet to conclude formalities. Trent Rockets are the others.
The £500million investment in English cricket will see investors operating their franchise in The Hundred in partnership with the host club from October 1.
'With these new partners on board, we're entering an exciting new phase and a seminal moment for cricket in England and Wales. Their global perspective and track record in elite sport and business will help us reimagine what's possible - from deepening fan connections to attracting even more world-class players,' said ECB chief executive Richard Gould.
WILDCARD AHMED STAKES HIS CLAIM
Rehan Ahmed, considered a wildcard for selection for this winter's Ashes for his wrist spin, is doing his best to make a case to go down under as a frontline batsman.
Amongst his 760 County Championship runs, Ahmed, still only 20, has struck five hundreds - the latest against Kent at Canterbury this week.
Talk about making the most of an elevation into the top three for the promotion-chasing Foxes….
