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Times
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- Times
Joe Root rescues England and seals series with sublime century
One-day internationals can come and go, gone from the memory banks as quickly as some of the balls fly to the boundary, but sometimes they can linger. Sometimes an individual's brilliance, particularly when it goes against the grain of most modern thinking and hitting, will make a lasting impression, and that will surely be the case here after Joe Root's match-winning innings. It was that special; a magnificent unbeaten 166 (off only 139 balls), his 18th century in ODIs and 54th in total in international cricket, that, with its class and character, rescued England from a perilous position. It was clearly one of his finest innings, but all he would say was: 'It was good fun, I enjoyed it.' The 34-year-old went on to praise England's bowlers for restricting West Indies to 308 when 350 had looked likely at one stage. He had some luck early on, but the crispness and touch of his strokes — a back-foot punch and on drive, both off Jayden Seales, stand out most — and the calmness of his decision-making as the pressure grew were a joy to behold. We really are lucky to be able to watch a player of such greatness; such orthodoxy that can find its metier amid the muscle and the mayhem. And, given Root's age, we should cherish every moment of it. Root was superbly supported by Will Jacks, who is clearly revelling in his new role at No 7, in a partnership of 143 that helped England to an unassailable 2-0 series lead, ensuring tomorrow's finale at the Oval will be a dead-rubber match. 'The way that Jacksy played was exceptional,' Root said. 'In a position in which he has not batted a lot, to show the maturity, skill levels, calmness and clarity he did was really impressive.' It was the highest chase in an ODI at Cardiff and was scant reward for Keacy Carty's fluent fourth ODI century, but, without wishing to be too harsh and it was indeed pleasing to see West Indies competitive after Thursday's mauling at Edgbaston, Carty summed up where West Indies erred. Having been inserted on what turned out to be a good pitch, they really should have got so many more. They were bowled out with 2.2 overs of their innings remaining, and Carty will know that, with just under 15 overs of the innings left, he should then have gone for the kill rather than tamely being stumped off Jacks's off spin. It was hard too on Brandon King and Shai Hope, the captain, who both made half-centuries, as well as Alzarri Joseph, who bowled with pace and hostility. AP And England were actually poor in many areas. They were horribly sloppy in the field, dropping catches for fun, and, for all the excellence of Saqib Mahmood and Adil Rashid with the ball, they missed the injured Jamie Overton when attempting to intimidate West Indies with the short-ball ploy that had worked so well in Birmingham. With the bat they began horrifically and, though Harry Brook, the captain, sparkled briefly, it required something special from Root to take them to victory. The inexperienced West Indies opener Jewel Andrew got a duck but thereafter Carty and King put on a run-a-ball partnership of 141 that laid a solid foundation for the visiting team. Brydon Carse snared Andrew and could have had more immediately too but Ben Duckett failed to take two difficult catches at second slip, while Mahmood dropped King on 42 off Jacob Bethell. England could also have run either of Carty or King out when they were stranded mid-pitch after a mix-up, but Duckett chose the safe option of an underarm throw to the wicketkeeper from mid-on and, sadly, it was more of a lob and King made his ground. Inevitably it was the ever-reliable leg spinner Rashid who broke the partnership, persuading King to hit him to Carse at long-off. Shimron Hetmyer was trapped leg-before by Rashid and Justin Greaves went when Duckett at last had some success in the field, taking the catch at long-off to give Bethell a wicket. Brook took a brilliant tumbling catch to dismiss Matthew Forde and Roston Chase edged the next ball from Mahmood behind, and the end then came swiftly for West Indies, even if there was another fielding howler as Root dropped Hope before catching Gudakesh Motie the next ball off Rashid. Joseph slogged merrily, going six, four, out to Rashid, whose four wickets cost 63, before Hope was the last man out to Mahmood, who finished with three for 37. GETTY In reply England made the worst possible start, losing both openers for ducks, Jamie Smith edging a good ball from Seales in the first over, and Duckett completed a miserable day by slicing Forde to third man. And it could have been a third duck, as Root would have been a long way out from a direct hit when Brook called him for a single. And, on seven, Root was so close to being leg-before to Forde. The review just, and only just, fell in Root's favour. Next ball Brook, on 30, was dropped behind off Seales and Root could have been run out again on 30, before Brook top-edged Joseph to long leg. And a third duck did come, and it was a sketchy seven-ball one for Jos Buttler, bowled off his back elbow by Joseph. Root passed Eoin Morgan as England's leading runscorer in ODIs (he would take his record tally to 7,082) and made fifty from only 52 balls, but Bethell could not repeat his Edgbaston heroics, leg-before to Chase, and from the last 20 overs England required 142 with five wickets in hand. It was a tough ask, but Root pulled Motie for six to go to 96 and went to his hundred off 98 balls with a swept four next ball. Still 105 runs were needed, though, but three fours in a Chase over, including two reverse-sweeps, soon reduced that. With ten overs left, England, with Root on 132, required only 64. Root went to his highest ODI score (previously 133 not out) with a straight six off Greaves. 'It's a sign you're getting old,' he said afterwards with further typical modesty. West Indies seemed to delay Joseph's return to the attack too long, because, when he did reappear, he trapped Jacks leg-before for 49, with 33 still to win. On Root surged, though, passing 150 off 129 balls. Carse was bounced out by Joseph, who bowled a wicket maiden to finish off a valiant effort, but Root found further assistance from Rashid and, fittingly, the great man hit the winning runs, with seven balls remaining, with another beautiful on-drive. Simple and perfect.
BBC News
9 hours ago
- Business
- BBC News
Root 'getting better with age' - the numbers behind his ODI brilliance
England captain Harry Brook's assessment that Joe Root "is only getting better with age" is likely to send shivers down the spines of bowlers all around the world. Root surpassed World Cup-winning captain Eoin Morgan to become England's leading run-scorer in one-day internationals during his epic 166* against West Indies in Cardiff, a title he also holds in Tests. He came to the crease in the first over, and withstood all of West Indies' pressure when England were on the ropes at 133-5 in pursuit of 309 to win. A 98-ball century was raised having barely broken a sweat, reaching it in style with a six and a four, before the Yorkshireman glided into the next gear in his stand of 143 with Will Jacks which saw the helpless bowlers at his mercy. "He's unbelievable and he's only getting better with age as well," said Brook, who made 47 and added a counter-attacking 85 for the third wicket with Root, who stayed in his skipper's slipstream in a perfectly-paced knock."He's someone I look up to, he's such an amazing player, such an amazing bloke. He works the hardest out of anyone I've seen. "Nothing's ever right and he's always trying to get better - he's the perfect role model for any young cricketer out there." Upon reaching 42, Root bettered Morgan's tally of 6,957 runs and with typical modesty said it felt like "a sign of getting old" when asked about what the milestone meant - before adding there is plenty more in the tank as far as his future in the format is concerned, though he is still some way from reaching Sachin Tendulkar's record of 18,426."Until that desire, that want to turn up and get better every day and add to the group – the want to be not out at the end of a chase like that – when that's not a burning desire for me any more, it'll be time to stop," said 34-year-old Root."But that's not the case at the moment and doesn't feel like it's anywhere near the case. I will keep just trying to do my part in helping us win games and hopefully win series." Much of the second ODI belonged to West Indies: England spilled three catches inside the first 20 overs, missed two run out chances and then Jamie Smith, Ben Duckett and Jos Buttler all made ducks in the chase. But Root's class prevailed, his 18th ODI century almost certainly one of his finest. "We are running out of things to say, he's just on this constant journey of ticking everything off before him," former England fast bowler Steven Finn told BBC Test Match Special. "Now he's head and shoulders above the rest and the innings he played today signified his position in that. "He was so determined to be there at the end and the way he read the situation, soaked up pressure, saw people fall around him - West Indies had no answer." A genius at work - the numbers behind Root's magnificence Analysis by CricViz analyst Soham Sarkel Ticking the strike overSince his debut in ODIs, only two batters have a higher non-boundary strike-rate than Root (minimum of 2000 non-boundary runs). Off non-boundary balls, Root has a strike rate of 59.89, England's Jos Buttler is second with 63.77 and at the top is South Africa's AB de Villiers (65.70).High controlSince the start of 2018, Root has a false shot percentage of only 11.1% in ODIs. In matches between Full Member nations, only one batter in world cricket has a lower false shot percentage than Root - New Zealand's Kane Williamson (11%).Great against spinRoot averages 70.3 against spin in his ODI career - the next highest English batter is Buttler (52). In ODI history, only five batters average higher against spin than Root for a minimum of 1,500 runs - Mike Hussey (Australia), MS Dhoni (India), Michael Bevan (Australia), Shai Hope (West Indies) and Babar Azam (Pakistan). Of these, only Dhoni has scored more runs against spin than Root, while none of them have scored at a higher strike-rate than Root's runs off good ballsIn his ODI career, Root averages 47.7 against deliveries in the channel outside off stump and scores at a strike-rate of 77 against them. The average right-handed batter averages only 33 on this line. When the ball is wider than that, Root cashes in on the width, scoring at an average of 94.5 and striking at of the middle oversBetween overs 11-40, Root averages 66.6 at a strike rate of 87. Only two batters in world cricket have scored at an average and a strike-rate higher than Root's for a minimum of 2,000 runs – India's Virat Kohli (ave 70.7, S/R 93) and De Villiers (ave 68.9, S/R 97).Always evolvingIn ODIs until the end of 2015, Root had seven dismissals playing the reverse sweep at an average of just 7.4. Since the start of 2016, he has averaged 158 with the shot. Previously, he used to reach out well in front while playing the reverse sweep, with an average interception point of 2.10m from the stumps. Since the start of 2016, that has come much closer at 1.77m.
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First Post
3 days ago
- Sport
- First Post
IPL 2025 Today Eliminator Match, GT vs MI Predicted Playing 11 Live Updates: Bairstow, Asalanka expected to play for Mumbai
IPL 2025 Today Eliminator Match, GT vs MI Team Predicted Playing 11 Live Updates: Mumbai Indians are expected to make big changes to the playing XI as Will Jacks, Ryan Rickelton and Corbin Bosch have left the squad. Jonny Bairstow can come in. read more GT vs MI Live Updates, IPL 2025 Today Eliminator Match: It's do-or-die for Mumbai Indians and Gujarat Titans at Mullanpur. The loser will be out today, while the winner will reach Qualifier 2, where the Punjab Kings are waiting. We are expecting a lot of changes to the playing 11s. Jonny Bairstow and Charith Asalanka are expected to play for MI, while Kusal Mendis could replace Jos Buttler in the GT lineup. Follow the latest updates about the GT vs MI match and the playing XIs here. Mumbai Indians: Three new players, including Jonny Bairstow, will be available for Hardik Pandya's team in the Eliminator The IPL 2025 bandwagon remains at Mullanpur as Gujarat Titans face Mumbai Indians in the IPL 2025 Eliminator at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium. Royal Challengers Bengaluru have already reached the IPL 2025 final by beating Punjab Kings in Qualifier 1. Today, it's going to be a fight to avoid elimination. And we will bring you all the updates here. The Eliminator in the IPL playoffs is played between the teams finishing third and fourth in the points table. GT and MI in today's case. The winner will progress to Qualifier 2 while the loser will be eliminated. Yes. MI will have three new replacement players available for the playoffs. Will Jacks, Ryan Rickelton and Corbin Bosch have left the MI squad for national duties, while Jonny Bairstow, Richard Gleeson and Charith Asalanka have come in. ( READ MORE GT vs MI Predicted Playing 11 Live Updates, IPL 2025 Today Eliminator Match: The IPL playoffs badnwagon remain at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur, New Chandigarh, with Gujarat Titans facing Mumbai Indians in the Eliminator. It's a winner-takes-it-all match as the loser will be eliminated. The winner of the GT vs MI match will play against Punjab Kings in Qualifier 2 for a place in the final. Royal Challengers Bengaluru have already reached the final by beating PBKS on Thursday . Both MI and GT at one stage looked set for a top two finish, but PBSK and RCB won the race at the end. Nonetheless, they are still in the race for the IPL 2025 final, but can't afford any more mistakes. GT vs MI Predicted Playing 11 Interestingly, both teams will be forced to make crucial changes to their playing 11 as a result of top players leaving. While Will Jacks, Ryan Rickelton and Corbin Bosch have left the MI squad , Jonny Bairstow and Charith Asalanka are expected to walk into Mumbai Indians' playing XI. For GT, Kusal Mendis could replace Jos Buttler. We will soon have the toss news and the confirmed playing 11 details. Keep following our blog for all the latest news and updates from the GT vs MI match.
United News of India
4 days ago
- Sport
- United News of India
MI set to crack GT's playoff vulnerability
Chandigarh, May 29 (UNI) The IPL 2025 Eliminator clash between Mumbai Indians (MI) and Gujarat Titans (GT) at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh Cricket Stadium on May 30 is shaping up as a classic battle of resilience versus vulnerability, where MI's seasoned lineup and depth in talent are expected to prove decisive against a Gujarat side reeling from key player absences and recent setbacks. While both teams have showcased their championship credentials this season, it is Mumbai Indians' ability to absorb pressure through experienced campaigners and versatile replacements that sets them apart in this high-stakes knockout fixture. The five-time IPL champions have endured a rollercoaster campaign, losing three of their first four games before rallying to claim seven victories out of their last eight. This remarkable turnaround underlines Mumbai's championship temperament — the hallmark of a side accustomed to knockout battles. Though MI will be without overseas standouts Ryan Rickelton and Will Jacks, who have returned to national duty, the franchise's bench strength remains formidable. Jonny Bairstow, a seasoned IPL campaigner, is set to slot in at the top order alongside Rohit Sharma and the in-form Suryakumar Yadav. Charith Asalanka adds further depth and flexibility to the batting lineup. The return of Tilak Varma to his preferred No. 3 spot promises to stabilise the innings further, giving Mumbai a balanced blend of aggression and composure. At the same time, MI's middle order boasts match-winners Hardik Pandya and Naman Dhir, capable of shifting momentum at critical junctures. On the bowling front, the twin spearheads — Jasprit Bumrah and Trent Boult — bring a lethal combination of pace, precision, and experience. Bumrah, with 17 wickets at an economy rate of just 6.33, has been a standout since his return from injury. Complementing them is the resurgence of Mitchell Santner, whose spin options add a crucial dimension on the balanced Mullanpur pitch. Conversely, Gujarat Titans arrive at the Eliminator under pressure after back-to-back heavy defeats that saw their once-commanding position slip to third in the standings. More crucially, they face the playoffs without their marquee overseas batsman Jos Buttler, whose absence leaves a gaping hole in a top-heavy batting lineup. Sri Lanka's Kusal Mendis is expected to fill the void but lacks Buttler's explosiveness. While Sai Sudharsan and Shubman Gill have been dependable, the middle order's stability hinges on players like Sherfane Rutherford and Shahrukh Khan stepping up — a tall order given recent performances. On the bowling front, Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna remain the Titans' strike weapons, but inconsistent spells from Rashid Khan and Arshad Khan have raised concerns. With Mumbai's in-form batting unit waiting to exploit any weakness, Gujarat's bowlers must lift their game substantially to stay competitive. The Mullanpur surface offers an even contest between bat and ball, with pace bowlers expected to extract early movement and spinners to find grip in the middle overs. Teams batting first have held an advantage here, suggesting the toss-winning captain may prefer to set a target in this knockout. Weather forecasts indicate clear skies and dry conditions, ensuring uninterrupted play under hot and humid conditions. With the Eliminator effectively a season-defining moment, Mumbai Indians' blend of experience, squad depth, and recent form is tipped to eclipse Gujarat Titans' fightback ambitions hampered by crucial player losses and wavering confidence. While Gujarat can never be discounted given their talent and prior dominance this season, the balance of power currently favours Mumbai Indians, who appear better equipped to handle the pressure cooker scenario of IPL playoffs. Match starts May 30 at 7:30 PM IST. UNI BDN BM
India Today
5 days ago
- Sport
- India Today
IPL 2025: List of unavailable players in playoffs and their replacements
Mumbai Indians (MI), Punjab Kings (PBKS), Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), and Gujarat Titans (GT) are the four teams that have made their way to the playoffs in the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2025. However, the teams have been somewhat affected by the absence of some key Indians (MI) will be without Will Jacks, Corbin Bosch, and Ryan Rickelton. Jacks will be part of the limited-overs series against West Indies, while Rickelton and Bosch are included in South Africa's squad for the World Test Championship (WTC) final at Lord's Cricket fill the gaps, MI brought in Charith Asalanka, Richard Gleeson, and Jonny Bairstow. Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will miss Lungi Ngidi and have signed Zimbabwe's Blessing Muzarabani as his replacement. Tim Seifert has replaced England's Jacob Bethell, who will play against the West Titans (GT) replaced Jos Buttler with Sri Lanka's Kusal Mendis. They did not name a replacement for Kagiso Rabada, as Gerald Coetzee and Arshad Khan are already part of the Kings (PBKS) will be without Marco Jansen, who is part of the WTC final against Australia. They have not named a the list of players who won't be available for the playoffs and their replacementMumbai IndiansWill Jacks (ENG) - Charith AsalankaCorbin Bosch (SA) - Richard GleesonRyan Rickelton (SA) - Jonny BairstowadvertisementPunjab KingsMarco Jansen (SA) - No replacementRoyal Challengers BengaluruLungi Ngidi (SA) - Blessing MuzarabaniJacob Bethell (ENG) - Tim SeifertGujarat TitansKagiso Rabada (SA) - No replacementJos Buttler (ENG) - Kusal MendisStay updated on IPL 2025 with India Today! Get match schedules, team squads, live score, and the latest IPL points table for CSK, MI, RCB, KKR, SRH, LSG, DC, GT, PBKS, and RR. Plus, keep track of the top contenders for the IPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap. Don't miss a moment!Tune InMust Watch
