Cricket

Former England captain Michael Vaughan has launched a scathing attack on the team's performance in the third Test against Sri Lanka, accusing them of disrespecting the game and their opponents.England suffered a stunning eight-wicket defeat at The Oval on Monday, handing Sri Lanka their first Test victory on English soil in over a decade. Vaughan believes the team's over-aggressive approach was a major factor in their downfall."I felt that they disrespected Test cricket and disrespected Sri Lanka in the third Test by being over-aggressive with both bat and in their field placings," Vaughan wrote in his column for The Telegraph."England have made a bit of a habit of becoming a bit complacent after a good period, I think of the start of the Ashes, or earlier this year in Rajkot and I hope it serves as a wake-up call for the tougher Tests that lie in wait in 2025."Vaughan also criticized England's decision to abandon their usual "Bazball" style of play, which had brought them success in the first two Tests of the series."There is no way they will get away with playing like this against India or Australia," Vaughan said.Sri Lanka's victory was inspired by a superb unbeaten century from Pathum Nissanka, who guided his team to their target of 219 with ease. Angelo Mathews also played a key role, contributing an unbeaten 32 in an unbroken stand of 111 with Nissanka.The win gave Sri Lanka just their fourth Test victory in England and first since 2014. England, however, still managed to win the series 2-1 after victories at Old Trafford and Lord's.Despite the series win, Vaughan believes England's performance in the third Test is a cause for concern."This is not the kind of cricket that will help England win matches against tough oppositions like Australia and India," he said.

England and Australia are set to clash in a thrilling series of eight T20Is over the next 18 days, starting with the first match in Southampton. Despite a disappointing T20 World Cup campaign, England boasts a strong squad with a mix of experienced players and rising stars. Australia, too, is looking to make a statement after their early exit from the World Cup.The series marks the beginning of a new era for England's T20 team, with Brendon McCullum taking over as head coach in January. Marcus Trescothick will lead the team for this series and the upcoming tour of the West Indies. Phil Salt will captain the side in the absence of the injured Jos Buttler.Australia, on the other hand, is gradually transitioning its team with an eye towards the 2026 T20 World Cup. While some Test players are missing due to the busy schedule, the squad still features a blend of experience and youth. Josh Inglis and Cameron Green impressed in the recent matches against Scotland, while Josh Hazlewood has joined the squad after recovering from a minor injury.The spotlight will be on England's Jacob Bethell, an all-rounder who has generated buzz with his performances in the T20 Blast. Australia's Jake Fraser-McGurk, who has been given the opportunity to replace David Warner at the top of the order, will be eager to prove his worth.England has confirmed its XI for the first T20I, with Bethell and Jordan Cox making their debuts. Jamie Overton will also make his T20I debut as a batter-only. Australia has not yet named its XI, but Mitchell Marsh has confirmed that Hazlewood will return after his calf niggle.The match will be played on a surface with minimal grass and some of the largest boundaries in the country, which could favor Australia. The weather forecast is fair, although chilly in the evening. The match is a sellout, and Hampshire is installing 1000 solar panels at the Utilita Bowl before the game.

England's Ben Stokes Returns for Pakistan Test TourEngland Test captain Ben Stokes will make his long-awaited return to the team for the upcoming tour of Pakistan in October. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed the news on Tuesday, announcing a 17-member squad for the three-match series starting on October 7.Stokes, who missed the recent series against Sri Lanka due to a hamstring injury, is in the process of recovery and is expected to be fit for the Pakistan tour. Zak Crawley, who has been out since July with a fractured finger, is also set to return to the squad.The squad also includes spinner Rehan Ahmed, who made his Test debut in Pakistan last December, and Jack Leach, who last played in the opening Test in India in January. Josh Hull, who made his Test debut against Sri Lanka last week, is included along with uncapped players Brydon Carse and batter Jordan Cox.Eight players from the victorious 2022 squad, including Ahmed, Harry Brook, Crawley, Ben Duckett, Leach, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, and Stokes, are part of the team. The venues for the series are expected to be announced by the Pakistan Cricket Board later this week.England will be looking to build on their recent success in Pakistan, where they won the Test series 3-0 in December 2022. Stokes' return will provide a significant boost to the team, as he is one of the world's leading all-rounders.

England's Test squad for their upcoming three-match series against Pakistan has been announced, with Brydon Carse and Jack Leach making notable returns.Carse, 29, has been included despite serving a ban for betting irregularities earlier this year. The fast bowler has impressed since his return to action, scoring a century for Durham against Somerset. His inclusion adds another 90mph option to England's bowling attack, alongside Gus Atkinson and Olly Stone.Leach, meanwhile, is back in the squad for the first time since the tour of India in February. The spinner has recovered from a knee injury and has been in good form for Somerset, claiming 12 wickets in his most recent match. He will partner Shoaib Bashir, who has established himself as England's first-choice spinner in home conditions.Chris Woakes has also been recalled for his first overseas engagement since March 2022. Despite concerns about his effectiveness away from home, Woakes has responded well to the responsibility of leading England's bowling attack since James Anderson's retirement.The squad also includes several other notable players, such as Ben Stokes (captain), Harry Brook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Josh Hull, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, and Olly Stone.England will be hoping to build on their recent success against West Indies and Sri Lanka, and will be confident of a strong showing in Pakistan. The series gets underway next month, with the first Test scheduled to begin on December 1.

England's Joe Root, named Player of the Summer after the series win against Sri Lanka, expressed his delight at the team's progress and his own enjoyment of the game. Despite a loss in the third Test, Root praised the team's efforts and the emergence of new talent.Root's impressive performance in the Test summer, with 666 runs in six games, including three centuries and three fifties, earned him the Player of the Series honor. He also surpassed Alastair Cook's record of 33 Test centuries, becoming England's most successful batter in terms of centuries.In the third Test, Sri Lanka's fine century by Pathum Nissanka and inspired bowling effort secured an eight-wicket win. Nissanka's 127* and a 69-run partnership with Kusal Mendis helped Sri Lanka chase down the target of 219.Root acknowledged the challenges faced in the third Test but emphasized the team's commitment to finding ways to improve. He praised the contributions of new faces like Jamie Smith, Gus Atkinson, Olly Stone, and Josh Hull, highlighting the depth of talent in English cricket."It is what you pride yourself on as a senior player and as a batter. Great to see this team constantly finding new ways to look at the game and keep evolving and keep getting better," said Root. "To see some new faces come in and put their best foot forward shows the depth that we've got within this format in English cricket."Root's enthusiasm for the game and his belief in the team's potential are evident in his comments. He expressed his hope that the team's success will continue and that he will continue to enjoy playing for England.

England Women's cricket team secured an emphatic 275-run victory over Ireland in the second ODI at Stormont, taking an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. Tammy Beaumont's unbeaten 150 was the cornerstone of England's dominant performance, while Kate Cross's career-best bowling figures of 3 for 8 dismantled Ireland's batting lineup.Beaumont's century, her 10th in ODIs, propelled her to the top of England's all-time list for most hundreds in the format. She now trails only Meg Lanning (15) and Suzie Bates (13) on the overall list. The 31-year-old opener faced just 139 deliveries, striking 16 fours and a six, as England chased down Ireland's paltry total of 45 with 33.1 overs to spare.Ireland's batting collapse was triggered by Cross, who claimed three wickets in her opening spell. The England captain, who had also starred with both bat and ball in the first ODI, continued her impressive form, bowling with pace and accuracy. Freya Kemp, who is part of England's T20 World Cup squad but was sent to Ireland to regain form, contributed 65 runs to England's total. The 19-year-old all-rounder also chipped in with two wickets.Lauren Filer, who was overlooked for the T20 World Cup, took 3 for 10, while debutant Georgia Davis claimed 2 for 19. Ireland's total of 45 was their lowest-ever in ODIs, highlighting the gulf in class between the two sides.Beaumont, who has been dropped from England's T20I team, emphasized that her performance was not about proving anyone wrong. "I've got nothing left to prove in my game," she said. "I'm playing for me and playing for England and playing for my team-mates."The victory extends England's dominance over Ireland, who have now lost 10 consecutive ODIs against their rivals. The two teams will meet again in the third and final ODI on Wednesday, before England travel to Dublin for three T20Is.

England's stand-in captain, Ollie Pope, expressed frustration at missing out on a historic clean sweep in the final Test against Sri Lanka. However, he denied complacency as the reason for their shock eight-wicket defeat at the Kia Oval.Leading 2-0 in the series and following their 3-0 victory over West Indies, England were poised for their first summer's clean sweep since 2004. Ben Duckett and Pope himself had put on 221 for 3 on the first day.But England's batting collapsed thereafter, with a first-innings collapse of 7 for 64 and a second-innings total of 156 in 34 overs. Only Jamie Smith's counterattacking half-century provided any resistance."We want to be a team that wins every game," Pope said. "But at the start of the summer, we would have taken winning five out of six Test matches."England's aggressive approach, dubbed "Bazball," has been credited with their recent success. However, this defeat resembled other avoidable losses, such as at Wellington and Lord's in 2023.England lost their first 13 wickets to attacking strokes, including Pope for 7 in his second innings. Vishwa Fernando's superb left-arm swing bowling, including consecutive lbws against Joe Root and Harry Brook, proved decisive.Pope defended Brook, who has been criticized for his aggressive batting style. "He will never get bored of batting," Pope said. "It's not a lack of hunger."Pope attributed the defeat to England's batting failure on day three. "We weren't able to capitalize on a decent first-innings lead," he said. "Getting bowled out for 140 on a pitch that gets better was the main reason we lost."Root's dismissal for 12 to an inswinging yorker from Vishwa was a turning point. Sri Lanka's interim coach, Sanath Jayasuriya, said they had planned to bowl short and yorkers at Root."Joe Root is the batter who changes the match," Jayasuriya said. "That was a big wicket."

England's fast-bowling sensation Gus Atkinson has been withdrawn from the 50-over squad for the upcoming series against Australia due to workload management concerns. Atkinson's impressive debut summer, where he claimed 34 wickets in six Tests, has prompted the England management to prioritize his long-term fitness.During the Sri Lanka series, Atkinson's pace noticeably declined, and he experienced a tight quad on day three at The Oval. Despite being deemed fit enough to bowl in the fourth innings, the management has opted to rest him for the ODIs against Australia.Olly Stone has been called up to replace Atkinson in the ODI squad. England's busy schedule, which includes a three-Test tour of Pakistan and a three-Test tour of New Zealand later this year, has necessitated careful player management.England's stand-in Test captain, Ollie Pope, expressed confidence in Atkinson's recovery and emphasized the importance of player management. "He's got a couple weeks off now to refresh and move forward," Pope said. "I think the way he bowled today and just chatting to him, he actually feels like it feels better today than it did when he first felt it."The short turnaround before England's winter touring commitments and the packed schedule of six more Tests before Christmas have made player management a top priority for the ECB. Five players involved against Sri Lanka, including Harry Brook, Ben Duckett, Josh Hull, Matt Potts, and Jamie Smith, have also been included in the ODI squad.Pope expressed confidence in the team's motivation for the Pakistan tour, where Ben Stokes is expected to return as captain. "Pulling an England shirt on is the greatest honor, so I don't think there needs to be much more motivation," Pope said. "We love touring as a team and everything's a new, exciting challenge."

The Duleep Trophy, India's premier domestic First-Class tournament, kicked off with India C and India B securing emphatic victories over India D and India A, respectively. The tournament serves as a crucial platform for India's top stars to gain match practice ahead of the upcoming two-match Test series against Bangladesh.Amidst the ongoing tournament, former England captain Kevin Pietersen reminisced about his experience playing in the Duleep Trophy in 2004. As part of England A, who were invited by the BCCI, Pietersen made a lasting impression on Indian soil.Sharing a nostalgic picture on Instagram, Pietersen expressed his fondness for India and its bowlers. "India 2004! Playing in the Duleep Trophy. This is when I first fell in love with India or should I say, Indian bowlers," he captioned the image.Pietersen's performance in the tournament was remarkable, as he emerged as the highest run-getter with 345 runs. His tally included two centuries and a half-century, but England A narrowly missed out on the semi-finals after defeats to South Zone and East Zone.A year later, Pietersen made his Test debut for England in the Ashes at Lord's. Despite scoring two half-centuries, England lost the match by 239 runs. However, Pietersen's debut Test series proved to be a resounding success, as he finished as the leading run-scorer with 473 runs from five matches.Pietersen's international career spanned 104 Tests, 136 ODIs, and 37 T20Is, during which he amassed 13,779 runs at an average of 44.30. Notably, MS Dhoni, Gautam Gambhir, and Yuvraj Singh also participated in the 2004 Duleep Trophy, with Yuvraj scoring a century in both innings of the final against Dhoni's East Zone.