Cricket

Australian Wicketkeeper Josh Inglis Booed at Lord's for Controversial Catch ClaimDuring the fourth ODI between Australia and England at Lord's, Australian wicketkeeper Josh Inglis faced a chorus of boos from the crowd after claiming a controversial catch. In the 17th over of England's batting, Inglis dived to his left to catch a delivery from Mitchell Starc that England captain Harry Brook appeared to have edged.However, replays showed that the ball had bounced before reaching Inglis' gloves. Despite this, Inglis appealed for the catch, prompting the Lord's crowd to express their disapproval with loud boos. Umpire Joel Wilson initially gave the dismissal before consulting with fellow official Martin Saggers, and the pair referred the decision to the third umpire for confirmation.Third umpire Kumar Dharmasena overturned the decision after replays confirmed that the ball had bounced into Inglis' gloves. The crowd's reaction was swift and vocal, with boos and chants of "Same old Aussies, always cheating" echoing around the ground.The incident brought back memories of a similar controversy 14 months earlier, when Australian wicketkeeper Alex Carey controversially stumped England's Jonny Bairstow during the second Ashes Test at the same venue. That incident led to heated reactions and unsightly scenes in the Lord's Pavilion's Long Room.Earlier in the match, Australia opted to bowl at a cold and cloudy Lord's after the toss was delayed by 90 minutes due to rain. Further showers after the toss reduced the match to 39 overs per side, with no bowler allowed more than eight overs.

Five-time Women's T20 World Cup champion Jess Jonassen believes India is the frontrunner for the upcoming tournament due to their depth, versatility, and familiarity with the spin-friendly UAE pitches. Jonassen, who missed out on Australia's squad for this edition, also highlighted England and Sri Lanka as favorites to make the top four.Despite Australia's dominance in the tournament, Jonassen acknowledges the challenges they face in defending their title due to their lack of experience in UAE conditions. However, she emphasizes that Australia's big-tournament experience and adaptability should not be underestimated.Jonassen also addressed concerns about India's bowling depth, stating that the team has versatile players like Jemimah Rodrigues who can contribute with the ball. She believes that spin will play a crucial role in the tournament, and teams that adapt best to the conditions will have an advantage.Despite her disappointment at missing out on the squad, Jonassen expressed pride in her efforts and acknowledged that she gave her all to earn selection. She will be watching the tournament closely and supporting her teammates from afar.

Legendary Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has launched a scathing attack on a section of the English media for their persistent criticism of Indian pitches prior to a Test series. Gavaskar, while commentating on the first day of the second Test between India and Bangladesh in Kanpur, labeled the English media as "moaners" and "crybabies" for their incessant complaints about Indian pitches that provide spin.Gavaskar's outburst came in the wake of the English media's criticism of the Chepauk pitch during the first Test between India and England earlier this year. The English media had labeled the pitch as "unfair" and "unplayable," despite India's victory in the match.Gavaskar, however, defended the Chepauk pitch, saying that it was a "good cricket pitch" that provided a fair contest between bat and ball. He also pointed out that Indian batsmen had scored runs on the pitch, including Ashwin's century in the first Test."He (Ashwin) actually said in the press conference that you can get a hundred if you apply yourself. So he walked the talk when the moaners were going on saying 'you can't bat here'. Saying and doing all the things like crybabies, typical English media stuff, where they only talk about Indian pitches," Gavaskar said.Gavaskar's comments have sparked a debate on the role of the media in cricket. Some have argued that the media has a right to criticize pitches that they believe are unfair, while others have accused the media of bias against India.The debate is likely to continue in the lead-up to the upcoming Test series between India and England. The English media has already begun to criticize the pitches that have been prepared for the series, but Gavaskar has warned them that they should be prepared for a backlash from the Indian team.

England's hopes of an Ashes-style comeback in the ODI series against Australia received a boost with their victory at Chester-le-Street. After losing the first two matches, Harry Brook's team secured a crucial win, setting the stage for a potential turnaround.Brook, the stand-in skipper, led the charge with a maiden ODI century, guiding England to a comfortable chase of 305. His 156-run partnership with Will Jacks showcased their ability to adapt to the format's demands.Despite missing key players like Travis Head and Adam Zampa, Australia remained competitive. Steven Smith's half-century and Aaron Hardie's late cameo highlighted the depth of their squad. However, the end of their 14-game winning streak will not be a major concern.Will Jacks and Alex Carey emerged as key performers for their respective teams. Jacks' 84 from 82 balls was his best international performance to date, while Carey's consistent batting and assured presence behind the stumps have created a "good problem" for Australia.England are expected to field an unchanged team for the third ODI at Lord's, with Jofra Archer set to play back-to-back games. Australia, on the other hand, have a clean bill of health, including Zampa, who was absent in Durham.The pitch at Lord's is not known for its high-scoring nature, but recent rain could make it seamer-friendly. The weather forecast, however, remains a concern, with showers predicted for the morning and early afternoon.Statistically, Mitchell Starc overtook Mitchell Johnson as Australia's fourth-highest ODI wicket-taker, while Brook's century was only his second in the format. Australia have a strong record at Lord's, winning six of their last seven ODIs against England at the ground.

Joe Root, England's batting maestro, is poised to etch his name as the greatest Test batsman in the country's history, according to his former teammate Ian Bell. Even if Root falls short of breaking Sachin Tendulkar's colossal record of 15,921 runs, Bell believes his legacy is secure.Root recently surpassed Sri Lankan legend Kumar Sangakkara to move into sixth place on the all-time list of Test run-getters. His remarkable consistency and ability to adapt to different conditions have earned him widespread admiration."He's played incredibly well in the last 12 months. I don't think he's overthinking too much what's ahead. He's just sort of living in the moment as we are," Bell said in an exclusive interview.Bell acknowledged the daunting task of matching Tendulkar's record, but he emphasized that Root's achievements are already extraordinary. "To think that he can even get close to someone like Sachin, a real great of the game, someone that we've all admired growing up, as a hero to not just people and fans in India, but around the world," Bell said. "To think that Joe could get close is an amazing achievement on his behalf."England's recent adoption of the "Bazball" approach, characterized by aggressive batting and a fearless mindset, has unlocked the potential of the current players, according to Bell. "From a fan point of view, you have to look at the results. Since Brendon (McCullum) has come into this England side and (Ben) Stokes has took over, the results have been absolutely fantastic," he said.However, Bell stressed the importance of winning away from home in the next cycle of the World Test Championship. "I'm sure they've got one eye on the next 12 months, which has five Test matches (against) India at home, which will be a huge challenge," he said. "India are probably the best team in the world at the moment, and then, Australia away. Those 10 Test matches on the road will be hugely important for that group of players and something they're gearing themselves up for."Bell also highlighted the consistency shown by the Indian team, which has won 17 series in a row at home and its last two series in Australia. "That's what we've seen with India at the moment. They've managed to be able to win away from home as much as anyone and that's the reason why they are the No 1 team in the world at the moment."While acknowledging that England's white-ball revolution has led to diminishing batting averages in Tests, Bell believes the next generation of players is adapting to the demands of modern cricket. "You could definitely have that argument. The next generation of players are growing up with a big diet of T20 cricket in early age and have a look at cricket in England at the moment, there’s a lot of short format cricket in the early age group," he said.Bell singled out Virat Kohli as the player who plays his favorite shot, the cover drive, the best among his peers. "It's very hard to look past Virat Kohli, that is for sure. Not just his cover drive, but the way he plays, his desire for batting, his desire actually in competition and how he goes about his cricket," Bell said. "When he plays his cover drive, whatever format of the game, it's a good one to watch."

Lord's Test Ticket Prices Soar Again, Sparking CriticismDespite facing backlash for exorbitant ticket prices during the recent Sri Lanka Test, the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) has announced another price hike for next year's Lord's Test against India.For the first three days of the India Test, starting July 10, 2024, the cheapest adult tickets are restricted-view seats priced at £90 each, while under-16s can purchase them for £20. Tickets with a clear line of sight range from £120 to £175 for adults and £40 to £50 for under-16s.These prices are significantly higher than those for the Sri Lanka Test in August 2023, where unrestricted views cost between £115 and £140 for adults and £15 to £40 for concessions.The Sri Lanka Test concluded on the fourth day, with only 9,000 tickets sold, approximately one-third of the stadium's capacity. This was partly attributed to England's fast-paced approach to Test cricket, resulting in several recent matches ending well before the final day.MCC faced further criticism for not offering reduced-entry options until after tea on the fourth day, when prices dropped to £15 for adults and £5 for under-16s. However, by that time, only three Sri Lanka wickets remained, and the lack of advance notice prevented a significant increase in attendance.England's stand-in captain, Ollie Pope, expressed disappointment over the subdued atmosphere during the Sri Lanka Test. "It was just like 'jeez, it seems quiet today'," he said. "It's a shame it wasn't a full house because it was obviously a good day's play."Despite MCC's announcement of a review into its fourth-day pricing policy, there is little concession for fans hoping to attend on that day for the India Test. Under-16s will be admitted for £25, half the cost of the first three days, but tickets with a full view will still cost £90 to £150.MCC's rationale is that India is now the second-biggest draw in the English Test calendar, behind Australia, and the prices reflect the expected demand. This policy is in line with other sports, where ticket prices are adjusted based on the popularity of the event.Lord's is also set to host the World Test Championship final in June 2025, which is likely to feature India and Australia, a rematch of the 2023 final. Tickets for that match are priced between £70 and £130 for adults and £20 to £50 for under-16s.England and India will also play a women's ODI at Lord's in 2025, with adult tickets ranging from £25 to £45. In contrast, the men's ODI against South Africa will cost between £75 and £150.

England and Australia faced off in the third ODI at the Old Trafford Cricket Ground, with England winning the toss and electing to bowl first. Australia, seeking a win to clinch the five-match series, sent Matthew Short and Mitchell Marsh to open the batting.Jofra Archer, recalled to the English side, opened the bowling and immediately made an impact. His short-ball strategy paid off as he dismissed Short for 21, caught by Adil Rashid at deep backward square leg. Archer continued to trouble the Australian batsmen, hitting Marsh on the thigh pad and getting the ball to nip back into Steven Smith's pads.Matthew Potts, bowling from the other end, also impressed. He beat Marsh's outside edge with a delivery that nipped away and forced Smith to fend off an awkward bouncer. Potts also conceded a boundary to Short, who cracked a drive through point.Marsh, who had been promoted to open in the absence of Travis Head, looked solid and scored a single off Potts. Cameron Green, who came in at number three, also got off the mark with a single.As the innings progressed, Australia began to build a partnership. Marsh and Green played cautiously, rotating the strike and avoiding any unnecessary risks. They managed to take Australia to 21/1 after the first four overs.However, the match was interrupted by rain, forcing the players off the field. The rain delay lasted for over an hour, and when play resumed, England had a new bowler in Brydon Carse.Carse continued to put pressure on the Australian batsmen, hitting Marsh on the chest with a shorter delivery and getting the ball to seam away from Smith. Marsh and Green remained resolute, though, and managed to keep the scoreboard ticking over.

Australia's dominance over England in the ongoing ODI series has highlighted the stark contrast between the two teams' current form and aspirations. While Australia has played with the poise and confidence of world champions, England has struggled to find their footing as they embark on a rebuilding phase.In both matches, England has squandered promising starts. At Trent Bridge, they collapsed from 213 for 2 to 280 all out, while at Headingley, they were on the verge of victory at 221 for 9 before Alex Carey's blistering 74 turned the tide.Australia's success has been built on key contributions from unexpected sources. Marnus Labuschagne's three wickets in the first match and Carey's match-winning innings in the second have been crucial. With Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Glenn Maxwell returning to the lineup at Headingley, Australia's bowling attack has also been formidable.England, on the other hand, has shown glimpses of potential but lacks consistency. Ben Duckett and Jamie Smith have been in good form, while Brydon Carse has impressed with his pace. However, their batting has been fragile, with Harry Brook's aggressive approach yet to yield the desired results.The series has also highlighted the challenges facing England as they attempt to rebuild their team. They have some talented players, but they need to find a way to combine their individual strengths into a cohesive unit. The return of Jofra Archer could provide a boost, but it remains to be seen how he will fit into the team's plans.Australia, meanwhile, is looking ahead to the upcoming Test series against India. Steven Smith's batting position is a key topic of debate, with the veteran batsman likely to play a crucial role in the Ashes.The third ODI at Chester-le-Street will be a crucial test for both teams. England needs to find a way to break Australia's winning streak and keep the series alive, while Australia will be looking to secure a clean sweep and further cement their status as the world's top ODI team.

Australia's dominance in the ongoing ODI series against England continued as they secured a comprehensive 68-run victory in the second match at Headingley. The world champions, despite facing a precarious situation at 221-9, were propelled to a competitive total of 270 all out thanks to a valiant 74 from wicketkeeper Alex Carey.Carey's blistering knock, which included eight boundaries and three towering sixes, formed a crucial 49-run partnership with Josh Hazlewood for the last wicket. This proved to be the difference as England's inexperienced batting lineup crumbled under pressure, dismissed for a mere 202 with nearly 10 overs remaining.The Australian bowling attack, led by Mitchell Starc and Hazlewood, played a pivotal role in England's downfall. Starc, returning from illness, struck early, removing Will Jacks for a golden duck and trapping England captain Harry Brook lbw for just four. Hazlewood also made an impact, dismissing opener Phil Salt and Jamie Smith, who top-scored for England with 49.Paceman Aaron Hardie further dented England's hopes, claiming two wickets in two balls to leave the hosts reeling at 65-5. Ben Duckett and Liam Livingstone both fell victim to Hardie's variations, while Carey's diving catch sent Livingstone back to the pavilion for another golden duck.Earlier, Australia's top order struggled to make significant contributions, with Mitchell Marsh (60) being the only batsman to surpass 29. However, Carey's heroics ensured that Australia posted a challenging target.The series now moves to Chester-le-Street for the third ODI on Tuesday, with Australia aiming to extend their winning streak and England desperate to salvage some pride.