Cricket

Joshua Da Silva, the West Indies wicketkeeper-batter, has expressed his understanding of England's focus on the 2025-26 Ashes, despite their current series against the Caribbean side. Da Silva believes that England's long-term planning could inadvertently benefit West Indies if it leads to underestimation of their current opponents.England's dominant victory at Lord's, which gave them a 1-0 lead in the three-match series, was overshadowed by the retirement of legendary fast bowler James Anderson. The move was made with an eye towards regaining the Ashes in Australia in two years' time.However, Da Silva does not view England's decision as a slight. He acknowledges their motivation to prepare for Australia in advance, especially if it means underestimating West Indies. "If they take us for granted, we might get a win, or might win the series," he said.West Indies' batting performance in the first Test was disappointing, with only Gudakesh Motie scoring over 30 runs. Da Silva admitted that the team had a "few soft dismissals" and that they needed to "soak up more pressure" and avoid losing wickets in clusters.Despite the setback, Da Silva remains optimistic about West Indies' chances at Trent Bridge. He believes that the team can learn from their mistakes and improve their performance. "We are doing everything we can, rebuilding, and going hard forward into the next Test," he said.Da Silva also emphasized the importance of his experience in the team, despite being only 24 years old. He is the fourth most experienced member of the squad and has scored a century against England in the past. "I hope to see that some of the boys can ask me some questions and just look up to the games that I've played," he said.Da Silva echoed head coach Andre Coley's call for a repeat of the resilience the team displayed against Australia at the start of the year, when they squared a two-match series at the Gabba after a similar loss in Adelaide. "It's something we can look at," he said. "If we can replicate that, all of us will be really happy."

Joe Root, England's Test captain, has expressed mixed emotions following the retirement of legendary fast bowler James Anderson. While acknowledging the need for England to plan for the future, Root admitted he will miss Anderson's presence on the field.Anderson, 41, bid farewell to international cricket at Lord's on Friday, finishing his illustrious career with 704 Test wickets. Despite being forced into retirement, Anderson appeared content with his decision and will now serve as a bowling mentor for the team.Root, who has played alongside Anderson for 12 years, praised his former teammate's contributions to English cricket. "For me, all I've ever known for England is playing alongside Jimmy," Root said. "I'll terribly miss playing alongside him, but the fact that he'll be around for the summer will be great for the young bowlers coming through."However, Root also acknowledged the need for England to move on and plan for the future. The team is currently at the bottom of the World Test Championship standings and is looking ahead to the 2024-25 Ashes series."We've not seen what they're capable of with the bat yet, and we won't be taking that for granted," Root said of West Indies, who drew 1-1 in Australia earlier this year. "And then when it came to the ball, they've got some very skillful bowlers."Despite the retirements of Anderson and Stuart Broad, Root remains committed to playing for England for the foreseeable future. "I'd like to think I'll be playing for a good while yet," he said. "And when that day comes, I'm sure I'll figure something out."

Jonny Bairstow's controversial stumping at Lord's last summer has been revisited in the latest series of Australia's documentary "The Test." The incident, which occurred during England's final-day run-chase, sparked fury among MCC members and set the tone for a thrilling Ashes series.Bairstow, however, insists that the incident had a galvanizing effect on England. "I think that post that event, the way in which we as a side reacted to that was a real positive," he said. "You look at the results after that thing that happened at Lord's and I actually think that we finished that series a lot stronger than Australia did."Mitchell Marsh, Australia's T20 captain, acknowledged that the atmosphere at England's grounds that summer was febrile. "I dare say this will be full and it'll be mostly English fans, so it'll be like playing at Headingley all over," he said.The stakes for England in particular have been ramped up this week, following their wash-out against Scotland. However, Bairstow is not getting the permutations in Group B get the better of him. "It doesn't derail us either way. We know we've got to win more games than we lose in tournament cricket," he said.England versus Australia is always a great occasion. Two very good teams going toe-to-toe. It's going to be an exciting spectacle. "Hopefully it will be a fantastic atmosphere like it always is in Barbados and the best side will come out on top."

England Women's cricket team is embracing artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance their selection process. Head coach Jon Lewis credits AI with playing a crucial role in their drawn Ashes series last year.Lewis first encountered the technology from London-based company PSi while coaching in the Women's Premier League (WPL). The system allows coaching staff to simulate various match-ups and scenarios."We can run simulated teams against simulated opposition to understand how they might match up," Lewis explained. "I can send multiple lineups, and they run approximately 250,000 simulations per team, considering all possible permutations."Lewis emphasizes that AI is not the sole determinant of team selection but rather a valuable tool to inform decisions. "We used it successfully in the Ashes last summer to match up against the Australian side," he said.However, Lewis acknowledges the limitations of historical data in the women's game, which can impact the accuracy of AI simulations. He believes this will improve as the international schedule and franchise scene expand.While AI can assist in borderline selection calls, Lewis prioritizes a people-first approach. "We're on the ground with the players, and that's our primary consideration," he said. "But AI is a fascinating tool that complements our cricketing judgment."Lewis highlighted the T20I leg of last summer's Ashes as an example where AI proved beneficial. "We identified a strength in Australia and matched our best bowlers to that part of the game," he said. "It helped us win the T20 series and get back into the Ashes."Beyond data analysis, England Women have also engaged in team-building exercises, including cold-water swimming, to foster resilience and clear thinking under pressure."Cricket is a tactical game that requires clear thinking and anxiety management," Lewis said. "By taking players out of their comfort zones, we encourage them to voice opinions, support each other, and connect on a deeper level."The players' honest discussions about their fears and anxieties will enable the coaching staff to support their personal growth and enhance their performance on the field.

England's captain, Heather Knight, has set a bold challenge for her squad to dominate regional cricket this summer. With the T20 World Cup and Ashes looming later this year, Knight hopes domestic players will seize the opportunity to stake their claim for selection.The Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, a 50-over competition, kicks off on Saturday. While many of England's centrally-contracted players will miss the opening weekend due to Tammy Beaumont's wedding, they will have chances to feature for their regions before the T20I series against Pakistan on May 11."It's never a closed door," Knight emphasized. "The standard of regional games has skyrocketed, so performances are more valuable. We want England players to dominate and put their names forward for selection."Competition for places in England's T20 setup is fierce ahead of the World Cup in Bangladesh. Knight is encouraged by the recent 4-1 series win in New Zealand and the return of Mahika Gaur and Freya Kemp from injury."We have a real depth of players," Knight said. "It makes selection tougher, but it's a good place to be. With the World Cup in October, we need to keep moving forward."Maia Bouchier emerged as a breakout star in New Zealand, finishing as the leading run-scorer. Knight praised her talent and ability to convert it into performances."She's someone you watch and think, 'how does she play that shot?'" Knight said. "She's had a brilliant tour, and now it's about building on that consistency."Edgbaston has already sold over 10,000 tickets for England's opening T20I against Pakistan. Knight believes the joint marketing campaign with the men's series can build on the success of last summer's Ashes."It was an awesome summer to be involved with," Knight said. "We felt the support and momentum for cricket around the country. Hopefully, we can put on a show."

Pat Cummins and Nat Sciver-Brunt have been crowned the Leading Cricketers in the World for 2024 by Wisden Cricketers' Almanack. Cummins, Australia's captain and fast-bowling spearhead, led his team to victories in the ICC World Test Championship and the 50-over World Cup. He also oversaw Australia's successful defense of the Ashes against England. Sciver-Brunt, meanwhile, has been recognized as the pre-eminent women's cricketer, particularly for her starring role in the Women's Ashes, where she produced back-to-back ODI centuries.The thrilling nature of both the Men's and Women's Ashes is reflected in the Anglo-Aussie flavor of Wisden's Five Cricketers of the Year. Three Australians are named among the Five, including Ashleigh Gardner, Usman Khawaja, and Mitchell Starc. England's Harry Brook and Mark Wood also make the list.Travis Head has been awarded the Wisden Trophy for the year's best Test performance for his match-winning innings of 163 in the World Test Championship final. Hayley Matthews becomes the first female to be named the Leading Twenty20 Cricketer.Wisden's editor, Lawrence Booth, highlights the compelling nature of the Ashes battle and the impact of England's ultra-attacking "Bazball" approach. He also appeals for a reappraisal of the Spirit of Cricket and criticizes the game's administrators for undermining the competitive nature of international cricket with an inequitable split of ICC revenues.

Derek Underwood, the legendary English spin bowler, passed away at the age of 78. Known as "Deadly" for his lethal left-arm action, Underwood claimed 297 wickets in 86 Tests between 1966 and 1982.Underwood's career began at Kent, where he made his first-class debut at 17. Over three decades, he played over 900 matches for the county, taking 2,523 wickets at an astonishing average of 19.04. His accuracy and pace made him a formidable opponent, especially on rain-affected wickets.In the 1968 Ashes, Underwood's brilliance was on full display. In the final Test at The Oval, he claimed four wickets in 27 balls to defeat Australia and square the series. His most remarkable performance came in 1973 at Hastings, where he took 8 for 9 to rout Sussex on a rain-soaked pitch.Underwood's adaptability extended to India and Australia, where he adjusted his pace to maximize his impact. He was ranked as the world's No.1 bowler from 1969 to 1973. However, his career was marred by two controversial decisions.In 1977, he joined World Series Cricket, and in 1981-82, he participated in the rebel tour of South Africa. These actions led to a three-year ban from internationals, effectively ending his career.Despite these setbacks, Underwood's legacy remains intact. He won three County Championships, two One-Day Cups, and three Benson & Hedges Cups with Kent. He was awarded an MBE in 1981 and inducted into the ICC's Cricket Hall of Fame in 2009.In 2011, the Annexe Stand at Kent's home ground was renamed the 'Underwood & Knott Stand' in honor of his legendary partnership with wicketkeeper Allan Knott.