Latest news with #Testmatch
Times
4 days ago
- Sport
- Times
Thrilling England-India finale attracts a million viewers
More than a million people watched the gripping 56 minutes of play on the final day of England's narrow Test-match defeat by India at the Oval. England needed 35 runs on Monday morning to win the Test and the five-match series; India required four wickets to prevail in south London and secure an overall draw. It reached a thrilling denouement inside the first hour, including Chris Woakes scampering between the wickets with his arm in a sling, before an inspired Mohammed Siraj clinched victory for the visiting team. A usual weekday session of non-Ashes cricket attracts about half a million viewers but Sky, which showed the finale live across both their Main Event and Cricket channels, attracted twice that. Viewing figures generally peak at weekends but a thrilling climax at the end of a brilliant series brought far higher numbers than usual. As well as a surge in viewers on Monday morning, almost 1.5million watched across the Sky channels on Sunday — day four of the Test, when England continued their attempted record 374-run chase. Video clips of the winning moment and immediate post-match interviews have since been viewed close to two million times across social media platforms. Brendon McCullum, the England head coach, meanwhile dismissed concerns over the intensity of the Test schedule, insisting that the demands of five matches in a little more than six weeks have highlighted the players with strong character and resilience. 'I think the scheduling is fine,' he said. 'It's kind of what you want — those tired bodies working out who is tough and who is more of a frontrunner. That is ultimately what can separate teams down the stretch.' McCullum pointed to India's Siraj as a prime example of the kind of fortitude demanded by such a gruelling run of fixtures. 'I go back to Siraj — I thought he was unbelievably impressive,' he said. 'Five Test matches, to be bowling 90mph in his 30th over as one of three seamers bowling your team to a win. Those are the characters you are desperate to have.' McCullum, who has championed a high-octane, fearless and tough approach to Test cricket, believes England are fortunate to have similar figures in their own ranks who have been able to cope with the demands of the brutal schedule. 'We have a few of them, which we are very lucky to have,' he said. 'I don't mind that it challenges us physically. That's what makes it such a great game. Everyone is tired. Five Tests is tough. Especially the last two as back-to-back Tests. It has been tough but they wouldn't change it for the world. 'They have thoroughly enjoyed the contest, playing a good side who have been well supported right throughout England and around the world. It's a privilege to be in the position that our guys are in and no one takes that for granted. Yes, you are tired, but you are trying to get the last bit of strength out of yourself to perform.' The sight of Woakes, who suffered a dislocated shoulder on the first day of the Test, going out to bat on Monday morning with his left arm in a sling to try to help England win the series was the epitome of that toughness, McCullum believes. 'Woakesy came to me in the first innings and said, 'Do you want me to bat?' I said [no], it was fine! It was within 24 hours of [his injury] happening and he was in an immense amount of pain. He came to us on Sunday night [during the second innings] and said, 'If it gets down to it, I am ready to go.' Again, it's what you want from our players. 'This game is hard and takes us to some tough places, challenging us mentally and physically. To still want to go out and do your best for your country is what these guys are desperate to show. I thought Woakesy was really brave to do that. You could see running between the wickets how much pain he was in. 'I thought we might have a fairytale, where we needed two to win and he was on strike and found a way. But it wasn't to be. We hope the injury is not too bad but we will have to work that out over the next week or so. He's been a huge member of this side and played five Tests here, putting himself through it. To do the injury the way he did [diving to save a boundary] sums up the guy, he's all in and gives everything for the team.'
The Independent
6 days ago
- Sport
- The Independent
Lions hooker to face disciplinary committee over alleged foul play
Dan Sheehan, the British and Irish Lions hooker, has been cited for alleged foul play during the third Test against Australia. The incident involved apparent head contact with Wallabies fly half Tom Lynagh during a ruck clear-out. Lynagh subsequently failed a head injury assessment, ending his participation in the match before half-time. World Rugby 's Independent Foul Play Review Committee will review the incident on Sunday under Law 9.20 (a). Australia secured a 22-12 victory in the match, preventing a 3-0 series whitewash.
BBC News
7 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Rugby Union Weekly: Wallabies deny Lions series whitewash
The final Test match of this series had everything - drama, lightning, stoppages and monsoon like conditions which made it a very eventful match between the Lions and the Wallabies in the end the weather appeared to favour the home side as Australia won 22-12 on the night – with Andy Farrell's side taking the series victory is joined by former Lions, Andy Nicol and Alex Cuthbert, as well as Aussie great Stephen Moore and ABC broadcaster Quentin Hull with all the on the whistle guys take shelter from the crazy downpours and ask what went right for the Wallabies and what does this result mean for the Lions legacy?!
BBC News
31-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Burton makes first England start in Spain warm-up
Rugby World Cup warm-up: England v SpainVenue: Mattioli Woods Welford Road Date: Saturday, 2 August Kick-off: 15:00 BSTCoverage: Live on BBC iPlayer and website with live text commentary on the website and app Flanker Abi Burton makes her first Test start as England begin their pursuit of a home women's Rugby World Cup title with a warm-up match against Spain on 25-year-old has fought her way back to the top after spending more than three weeks in an induced coma in 2022 as she was treated for autoimmune former Sevens player's previous two appearances for the Red Roses came off the bench in this year's Six Nations campaign. Elsewhere England make 10 changes from the starting line-up that beat France in their Grand Slam decider in April, with several front-line stars centre Jade Shekells and second row Lilli Ives Campion, who both have two caps, are given a chance to stake their claims, while Lucy Packer is in at starting scrum-half with Natasha Hunt on the Packer, winning her 111th cap, captains the side from open-side flanker with Maddie Feaunati switching to number eight and Burton completing the back versatile Helena Rowland starts for the first time on the wing having previously covered the position from the bench. Jess Breach is on the other with Emma Sing continuing at Aldcroft, Sadia Kabeya, Holly Aitchison and Abby Down are among the meeting with Spain, ranked 13th in the world, is the first of two warm-up matches for the World Cup. They will also take on France away next week, before they begin their World Cup campaign against the United States in Sunderland on 22 Sing; Rowland, Jones, Shekells, Breach; Harrison, L Packer; Clifford, Atkin-Davies, Bern, Galligan, Campion, Burton, M Packer (capt) Campbell, Botterman, Muir, Aldcroft, Kabeya, Hunt, Aitchison, Dow
ABC News
31-07-2025
- Sport
- ABC News
Ben Stokes and India's handshake drama the latest example suggesting 'spirit of cricket' is a myth
They are the three words that seem to resurface every couple of years like clockwork: spirit of cricket. Everyone's favourite debate is back again this week after a tense ending to the fourth Test between England and India, a series that has become increasingly more spiteful with each passing day of play. England, led by its skipper Ben Stokes, was peeved when India's Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar denied their handshakes to prematurely end a Test match that was headed towards an obvious draw with an hour left to play on the final day. Roughly 15 minutes after turning down Stokes's handshakes, Jadeja and Sundar recorded their centuries, which were well-deserved given they batted for the majority of day five to keep the series alive heading into this week's finale at The Oval. Stokes was initially accused of refusing the shake Sundar's hand at the completion of the Test, and was widely panned for doing so, especially in Australia, before a different camera angle emerged showing he had indeed congratulated the Indian all-rounder. It was all very dramatic, and a classic cricket drama. So here we are again, debating about the spirit of cricket, who champions it and more importantly, who doesn't. Among all the sports people tune into around the world, there is perhaps none where the spirit of the game and what exactly that entails is debated more fervently than it is in cricket. It makes sense, given the amount of grey area that exists in cricket and all the different rules it has, both written and unwritten. England and India's handshake-gate was the latest example of many that suggest spirit of cricket isn't a thing that actually exists, but is rather a fantasy that those who love the sport seem to constantly dream up. The thing that seems to get missed in any spirit-of-cricket discussion is the intensity professional sport is played at. These are the world's best athletes competing for the biggest prizes. If they are presented with a chance to win or to improve their own situations at the cost of their opposition, they are going to do that every single time. Cricketers are no different. In the situation involving England and India, it is pretty easy to understand why each side behaved in the way it did. Jadeja and Sundar, having grafted hard for the majority of day five, were well within their rights to deny England's request to end the game when they were within touching distance of their centuries. Test centuries are incredibly hard to come by, particularly when you're an all-rounder like Jadeja or Sundar. Prior to the fourth Test, Sundar had never made one in his career. Jadeja, considered one of the best all-rounders in the history of Test cricket, had just four, and only one of those had come outside of India. Stokes making it sound like they'd simply reached their centuries because they faced a couple of overs from Harry Brook in the 90s was unfair. If any cricketer, from England or elsewhere, tells you individual accomplishments do not matter to them, they are lying. There is a reason why getting a century or a five-wicket haul at Lord's is one of the highlights of any Test player's career — the ground's iconic honour board. Individual accomplishments are what get you on that honour board, not winning spirit-of-cricket debates. While Stokes and his charges reacting the way they did to Jadeja and Sundar batting on certainly wasn't ideal, their collective frustration was also understandable. England's bowlers, having had India on the ropes at 2-0 late on day four, would have backed themselves to close out the Test and the series nine times out of 10. However, after 143 long overs in the field, including 80 on the final day that yielded just two wickets, they were tired and easily irritable. Stokes, who bowled just 11 overs in the second innings while nursing a sore shoulder that has since ruled him out of the series finale, understandably wanted to get his bowlers off the park with minimal damage, given the short turnaround between the two Tests. Like Stokes, Jofra Archer, who bowled 23 overs in India's second innings, will not play at The Oval as England carefully nurses him towards this summer's Ashes in Australia. The narratives following the end of the fourth Test have grown the legs they have because of the essential ingredients to make a story worthwhile — a hero in the two Indian batters and a villain in Stokes and England. The hand-wringing from pundits and fans of cricket's Big Three — England, India and Australia — in the wake of this incident has been hilarious to watch. These three cricketing nations consistently get on each other's nerves because of one reason — they are exactly the same as each other. Put India and Australia in England's shoes, and they'd both have been equally petulant. Put Stokes in Jadeja's shoes, and he is absolutely staying on the field in search of a Test century. These three nations aren't the only ones who push the boundaries of the spirit of cricket either. New Zealand is perennially seen as cricket's "good guys", but they too aren't immune to pushing the envelope on occasion to win a match. Brendon McCullum, who is ironically now the coach of England and the brains behind "BazBall", famously ran out Sri Lanka's Muttiah Muralitharan during a Test match in 2006 when Muralitharan completed a single and then prematurely left his crease to congratulate teammate Kumar Sangakkara on his century. McCullum even apologised for the incident 10 years later when delivering the Cowdrey Lecture. "If I could turn back time, I would," he said, with Sangakkara among those in attendance. "We were within the laws of the game, but not the spirit, and there is a very, very important difference, which is glaringly obvious to me years later." Almost 10 years on from that speech, it would be interesting to see whether McCullum still holds those same views about adhering to the mythical "spirit of cricket". The Sri Lankans have also found themselves engaging in acts of pettiness on the field. Sri Lanka famously denied India's Virender Sehwag a century in an ODI match, in an incident that resulted in spinner Suraj Randiv being suspended. With Sehwag unbeaten on 99 and India requiring one run to win the match, Randiv bowled a huge deliberate no-ball that denied Sehwag his century. Like McCullum, Randiv too apologised, as did Sangakkara, with the Sri Lankans admitting the heat of the moment had gotten the better of them. If you combed over the history of each international cricket team, you'd be able to find more incidents like these across the board. No-one is entirely blameless, and no-one is entirely innocent either. This is not to say there isn't room for general sportsmanship in sport — there absolutely is. It is still important to win and lose with grace. However, there is also room for common sense to be applied, for an understanding that professional athletes are trained all their lives to be ruthless competitors. With that ruthless streak is going to come moments of discomfort. Not all of these moments need to be a referendum on the "spirit" of whatever the sport is. It is not ideal, but incidents like what occurred at the end of the fourth Test will happen once again. This is what happens in professional sport when there are big prizes and legacies on the line. Perhaps spirit of cricket isn't a thing that actually exists. It is time for those around the sport to accept that and to understand that cricket will be OK if that is the case.
