Latest news with #TestXI
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Sport
- Indian Express
‘Rohit Sharma wouldn't have been in XI without captaincy': Irfan Pathan says he was compelled to support star batter in Sydney Test interview
Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan did not mince words as he said that Rohit Sharma would have struggled to make the Test XI in the second-half of the 2024 calendar year without the captaincy tag. Recalling Rohit's decision to opt out of the final Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Sydney in January this year after averaging an abysmally low 6.20 across three matches on the tour, Pathan said that he was compelled to support his ex-India teammate in an interview during the match. 'Rohit Sharma is an amazing player in white-ball cricket, but his average in Test cricket that year was 6, so we said that if he was not the captain, he would not have had a place in the team, and this is true,' Pathan said in a teaser video released by Lallantop on Wednesday. 'It was difficult for me to take this decision but if everything is put in front of us, then this decision was sensible, and I will not think too much ahead. What the team needed at this time, this was the only thought, and there was no other thought apart from that,' Rohit added. 'People say that we supported Rohit Sharma more than necessary. Of course, when someone comes to interview on your broadcasting channel, you will not misbehave with them, right? You have invited him, so you will behave politely. When Rohit came to interview, we were, of course, polite, and we had to show that, because he was our guest. So that was connected and said we were supporting him, but it was we who said…we had said that he should keep fighting, but that said, he should not have had a place in the playing XI. If he was not the captain of the team, he would have been dropped,' Pathan said. Rohit returned to form in white-ball cricket and led India to the Champions Trophy title in March before calling it quits from the longest format in May during the IPL 2025 season.
India Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- India Today
Coach Gautam Gambhir believes in me more than I believe in myself: Akash Deep
Fast bowler Akash Deep has spoken about the backing he received from coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Shubman Gill during India's tour of England. Akash was effusive in his praise for Gambhir, saying the head coach had more belief in him than he had in himself. The fast bowler featured in three of the five Tests, producing decisive contributions in India's victories in Birmingham and recalled a conversation with Gambhir after scoring a match-winning 66 in the second innings of the fifth and final Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. Coming in as nightwatchman, he put together a 131-run partnership with centurion Yashasvi Jaiswal, laying the foundation for India's total of 396."You aren't aware of your capabilities. See, I was telling you, you can do it. You have to play with this dedication always," Akash told PTI, quoting Gambhir's words. "Gautam bhai is a very passionate coach. He always motivates us. He believes in me more than I believe in myself, in both my batting and my bowling," he 28-year-old fast bowler made his debut during Rahul Dravid's tenure in February 2024, going on to play nine more Tests under Gambhir. He was part of the Australia tour, featuring in two Tests in Brisbane and England, Akash missed the series opener in Leeds, but claimed a 10-wicket match haul in the second Test at Birmingham, bowling India to a famous wickets were harder to come by at Lord's and The Oval, Akash made important contributions with the bat, again as a nightwatchman, in the crucial deciding Test.'SHUBMAN GILL NOT LIKE A NEW CAPTAIN'Praising Shubman Gill, Akash said the young captain excelled in his first assignment, and that it never felt like he was playing under someone new to leading India in the longest format."He is a very good captain. It's not like he's a new captain. He's already been an IPL captain for a couple of years, which is a big platform, and that experience counts," Akash said."With Shubman as captain, I didn't feel like I was playing for the first time. He's very supportive. When a captain backs you and understands things well, especially when you're down, it makes a big difference."I played in the Duleep Trophy under his captaincy last year, so it wasn't the first time. He's a cool customer with plenty of ideas, and when someone is calm, it helps in making good on-field decisions."advertisementGill was appointed Test captain ahead of the likes of Jasprit Bumrah, KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant - a move that raised eyebrows as the young batter had yet to cement his place in the Test XI and had struggled at No. 3 during the 2024-25 Gill silenced his critics with a commanding series in England. Leading from the front, he amassed a record-breaking 754 runs, including four centuries. His captaincy grew stronger as the series progressed, and he remained composed in the tense finale in London, as India levelled the series 2-2 to retain the played 10 Tests for India and made an impact in domestic white-ball cricket, Akash expressed his desire to represent India in ODIs and T20Is."We can't just go and talk to selectors. They're experienced people and, when they feel they need me for any format, they will call. My job is to perform and be ready for the call-up," he Akash is yet to make a mark in the Indian Premier League, he averages 24 in List A cricket and 26 in T20s.- EndsYou May Also Like
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Business Standard
22-07-2025
- Sport
- Business Standard
Ben Stokes' recovery plan post two gruelling 10 over spells vs India
England are set to face India on Wednesday in the fourth Test of what has already become a fiercely competitive and high-quality series. Riding high after a dramatic win at Lord's, the hosts head into the match with confidence and minimal changes to the XI. Speaking at a pre-match press conference on Tuesday, captain Ben Stokes confirmed that he is physically ready for another demanding five days, following two intense bowling spells that helped seal victory in the previous Test. He stressed that the team's main focus would be on maintaining the same energy and intensity that earned them the win at Lord's, and said the break between matches had proved essential in recharging both minds and bodies. 'Recovery first, then back to business,' says Stokes Reflecting on the physical toll of his 44 overs at Lord's—including demanding nine- and 10-over spells—Stokes shared that rest was his highest priority over the past week. He said his post-match promise of getting straight into bed was no exaggeration, joking that it felt like he was in a long-distance relationship with his family due to the amount of time spent recovering at home. The England skipper described how important it was to listen to his body after such a heavy workload, but also confirmed that he's ready to take on the same responsibility again if conditions demand it. He noted that during those long spells at Lord's, he just felt 'really good'—his rhythm was there and the ball was coming out nicely, which gave him the confidence to carry on, even though the wickets didn't always reflect the effort. Physical signs of progress and preparation Stokes admitted that such long spells weren't always enjoyable in the moment but said the satisfaction came from doing everything possible to help the team win. He saw his ability to deliver them as a sign of how much physical progress he had made in recent months, crediting the training and preparation leading into the series. He admitted that the ability to bowl at high intensity without issues gave him confidence that his body could now withstand such pressure when needed. He added that much of the recovery between matches had been 'sensible management' of workloads and allowing tired bowlers the time to fully regroup. England keeping changes to a minimum Stokes confirmed that Chris Woakes would continue in the line-up, saying that it was a simple decision given Woakes's effectiveness and all-round value. With a long break after the Lord's Test, there was no serious need for rotation. He also praised Liam Dawson, who returns to the Test XI eight years after his last appearance. While Stokes acknowledged that nerves are natural for someone returning after so long, he was confident Dawson's domestic and white-ball performances have shown he's ready.
India Gazette
07-07-2025
- Sport
- India Gazette
Stokes hints at Jofra Archer's return for Lord's Test against India
Birmingham [UK], July 7 (ANI): After England's heavy 336-run defeat to India, captain Ben Stokes hinted at the possibility of Jofra Archer returning to the Test XI for the second match at Lord's, but stressed that the decision will depend on how players recover ahead of the game. 'Again, it will be a decision that we have to make seeing how everyone pulls up. We've had him here this week to get around the group and build him up with his workloads and everything like that. So everyone's in consideration for the game at Lord's,' said Stokes at the post-match press conference. The 30-year-old speedster recently made his long-awaited return to red-ball cricket after more than four years, representing Sussex in a County Championship match against Durham at Chester-le-Street. He bowled a tidy spell, returning figures of 1/32 from 18 overs, and also contributed 31 runs with the bat, showing signs of form and fitness as the match ended in a draw. Archer last played a Test match in February 2021, and has since battled multiple injuries. While he made a return to England's white-ball setup ahead of the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup and has featured in ODIs and T20Is, his red-ball workload has been carefully managed. Archer's pace and aggression could be a valuable asset at Lord's, but Stokes and the management remain cautious. Archer's availability will be closely monitored over the next few days, as England seek the right combination to square the series. Coming to the match, England once again opted to field first. After getting KL Rahul (2) early, a 80-run stand between Yashasvi Jaiswal (87 in 107 balls, with 13 fours) and Karun Nair (31 in 50 balls, with five fours) helped India gain some footing in the match. Skipper Shubman Gill had valuable partnerships of 203 runs with Ravindra Jadeja (89 in 137 balls, with 10 fours and a six) and a 144-run stand against Washington Sundar (42 in 103 balls, with three fours and a six), helping India towards 587, scoring 269 in 387 balls himself, with 30 fours and three sixes. Shoaib Bashir (3/167) was the pick of the bowlers for England, while Chris Woakes and Josh Tongue also managed two each. In England's first innings, India had them on the ropes with 84/5. However, a 303-run stand between Harry Brook (158 in 234 balls, with 17 fours and a six) and wicketkeeper-batter Jamie Smith (184* in 207 balls, with 21 fours and four sixes) sent India on an endless hunt for leather and answers. However, Siraj (6/70) and Akash Deep (4/88) got something out of the new ball and tumbled down the last five wickets for 20 runs, bundling them down for 407 runs, gaining a 180-run lead. India's response was a swift half-century partnership between Jaiswal (28 in 22 balls, with six fours) and KL Rahul, who also continued his good run with a 10-boundary-filled 55 in 84 balls. A 110-run stand for the fourth wicket between Rishabh Pant (65 in 58 balls, with eight fours and three sixes) and Gill upped the attack, while Gill managed yet another epic 175-run stand with Jadeja, scoring 161 in 162 balls, with 13 fours and eight sixes. Jadeja scored an unbeaten 69* in 118 balls, with five fours and a six. India declared at 427/6, leading by 607 runs and setting England a monstrous 608 runs to win. During the run-chase, England was restricted to 50/3. Jamie Smith (88 in 99, with nine fours and four sixes) was the only glimmer of hope for England as they were skittled out for just 271 runs, losing by 336 runs, thanks to a brilliant spell from Akash Deep (6/99), who ended up taking a ten-fer. (ANI)
Indian Express
20-06-2025
- Sport
- Indian Express
‘Not at the level we expect': Australia drop Marnus Labuschagne for first time in six years for 1st West Indies Test
A week on from their ICC World Test Championship final defeat, Australia have made two changes, including the axe of batter Marnus Labuschagne for the first time in six years from the Test XI since he burst onto the scene. After five scattered Test appearances, Labuschagne took to the spotlight during the 2019 Ashes at Lord's when he came in as a concussion substitute, replacing Steve Smith who is also ruled out of the forthcoming Test in the Caribbean due to a finger injury he suffered during the WTC final. Labuschagne had since gone on to compile 11 Test hundreds and amass over 4000 Test runs while leading the charts for Australia for the majority of the three WTC editions. However, a barren run since December 2022 had Labuschagne's Test average take a massive dip from 60 to below 47 this year. The 30-year-old was moved up to open the batting in the WTC final defeat to South Africa, making only 39 runs in two innings. 'Marnus at his best can be a really important member of this team. He understands his output hasn't been at the level we, or he, expects,' Australia chairman of selectors George Bailey said in a statement. 'We will continue working with him on the areas of his game we feel he needs to rediscover. We continue to value his skill and expect him to work through the challenge positively.' Post the WTC final loss, Australia head coach Andrew McDonald had sounded out that the team would back Labuschagne to bounce back in the Caribbean. 'He's missed out on big scores. He threatened at the MCG (when he) got a pair of 70s, and, you know, if they had been a pair of hundreds, the conversation shifts as well. 'But we're confident that he could return to his best and hence (that is) why we keep picking him. It is at what point do we stop picking him?' Konstas, Inglis in Sam Konstas who made a sprightly debut during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy will take Labuschagne's spot while Josh Inglis will replace the injured Smith after having notched up a century against Sri Lanka on debut in February. Australia tour of West Indies schedule, squads First Test: June 25-29, Bridgetown, Barbados Second Test: July 3-7, St George's, Grenada Third Test: July 12-16, Kingston, Jamaica Australia Test squad: Pat Cummins (c), Sean Abbott, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Matt Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster West Indies Test squad: Roston Chase (c), Jomel Warrican (vc), Kevlon Anderson, Kraigg Brathwaite, John Campbell, Keacy Carty, Justin Greaves, Shai Hope, Tevin Imlach, Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Brandon King, Johann Layne, Mikyle Louis, Anderson Phillip, Jayden Seales
