Cricket

Harry Singh, the son of former Indian cricketer RP Singh Senior, made history by serving as the 12th man for England in their first Test match against Sri Lanka at Old Trafford in Manchester. This marked a significant moment for the young cricketer, who has strong ties to Indian cricket.RP Singh Senior, Harry's father, played for India in two ODIs against Australia in 1986. As a left-arm fast bowler, he had a successful domestic career, representing India in 59 first-class matches, taking 150 wickets, and scoring 1413 runs. After retiring, he moved to England in the late 1990s and became a coach for Lancashire County Cricket Club and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).Harry Singh has inherited his father's passion for cricket and has been making steady progress in his own career. In July 2023, he made his List A debut for Lancashire in the One-Day Cup. In seven matches, he scored 87 runs and claimed two wickets with his off-breaks.Singh's talent was recognized in 2022 when he was selected to represent England's U19 team for their home series against Sri Lanka. His performance in the series caught the attention of the England selectors, who invited him to join the senior team as the 12th man for the first Test against Sri Lanka.Harry Singh's journey to the England Test team is a testament to his hard work and dedication. He has followed in his father's footsteps and is now making a name for himself in international cricket. As he continues to develop, he has the potential to become a valuable asset to the England team.

England's stand-in Test captain Ollie Pope has signed a deal with the Adelaide Strikers for the upcoming Big Bash League (BBL) season. Pope, who is currently leading England against Sri Lanka in the absence of Ben Stokes, will join the Strikers after the Test tour of New Zealand, which concludes on December 18.Pope, a dynamic batsman and wicketkeeper, will be a valuable addition to the Strikers' squad. He boasts an impressive T20 record, having scored 1295 runs at an average of 28.77 and a strike rate of 132.82. However, he endured a lean spell in the recent Hundred tournament for London Spirit, managing only 35 runs in five innings.The 24-year-old will have the opportunity to team up with Ashes rivals Travis Head and Alex Carey, who recently signed a new four-year deal with the Strikers. Head and Carey will be available for a brief period during the BBL after the India Test series."Ollie Pope is an exceptional talent with a proven track record at the highest level," said Tim Paine, the Strikers' new head coach. "His dynamic batting style and wicket-keeping abilities are a fantastic addition to our squad."The Strikers had previously considered signing allrounder Jamie Overton as their pre-draft signing, but they will now have the option to use their retention option during the draft if they wish to bring back the England player, who made a significant impact last season.Meanwhile, Afghanistan leg-spinner Rashid Khan has not nominated for the BBL draft, meaning he will miss the tournament for the second consecutive season. Khan has international commitments with Afghanistan during the early part of the BBL and has also signed a contract with the SA20 league.The BBL draft will take place on September 1, and the Strikers will be hoping to add further depth to their squad with some astute selections.

Chris Woakes, England's experienced all-rounder, believes he can lead the team's bowling attack on their upcoming tours to Pakistan and New Zealand this winter. Despite his modest overseas Test record, Woakes is confident in his abilities and is eager to contribute to England's success.Woakes has a bowling average of 51.88 in 20 away Tests, compared to 21.88 in 32 at home. However, he insists that he will not shy away from touring this winter and beyond. He last featured in an overseas Test in Grenada in March 2022.This summer, Woakes has taken 14 wickets at 19.07, including 3 for 32 in the first Test against Sri Lanka at Emirates Old Trafford. At 35, he has led England's attack since James Anderson and Stuart Broad retired earlier this summer."As you get older, you pick up new skills and have more experience to fall back on," Woakes said. "I haven't played an away Test for a while, but that might be a good thing. It gives you a fresh look on things."Woakes was not involved in England's only Test tour of the 2023-24 winter, instead playing for Sharjah Warriors at the ILT20. However, he has since insisted that he remains available for selection."I certainly wouldn't shy away from it," Woakes said. "I'll play for England where I'm picked to play. I'm certainly not ruling myself out."England will play six overseas Tests this winter, three each against Pakistan in October and New Zealand in December. Coach Brendon McCullum has said that it would be "hard to rub him out right now" from selection overseas, as he is perhaps England's only seamer capable of contributing regularly with the bat from No. 8.Woakes will bat one spot higher than that in this series, promoted to No. 7 in Ben Stokes' absence. "I've worked hard on my batting in my whole career," he said. "It's an extra string in the bow which allows you to potentially be selected ahead of someone else."Having spent most of his Test career as a change bowler behind Anderson and Broad, Woakes has thrived with the new ball this summer. "It's just a role which I'm taking on this summer as the opening bowler and the oldest to try and give options and communicate with the other bowlers as much as I can."Woakes struck twice in his fourth over on Wednesday, having Nishan Madushka caught at first slip and setting Angelo Mathews up to pin him lbw playing no shot. "It was a big wicket for myself, and it's always nice when you've moved a few away and then you get one to come back like that," Woakes said.In the afternoon session, Woakes had Kamindu Mendis caught behind to leave Sri Lanka 92 for 6. "We're really happy," he said. "To bowl a team out on day one of a Test match and to be none down at the close is a superb day."

Star England batter and former captain Joe Root has paid a heartfelt tribute to late English great Graham Thorpe, acknowledging the profound impact Thorpe had on his career. Thorpe, who passed away at the age of 55, was a mainstay of the English batting lineup throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s.Root, who worked closely with Thorpe during his time with the England Lions and later with the senior team, described Thorpe as a "complete batter" and a "rockstar" who could adapt to any situation. He credited Thorpe with helping him improve his game, particularly in subcontinent conditions."He was one of the players that stood out in that time [for England in the 1990s and early 2000s]. He was one of the guys that consistently performed when things were tough and when results were not always going in our favour, which I think is a great quality to have," said Root.Root also highlighted Thorpe's role in developing the next generation of England batters, including skipper Ben Stokes. "He had a huge influence on my career and arguably without his backing and pushing my case, I may not have had the career I have had," said Root.Thorpe's coaching style was characterized by his attention to fundamentals and his ability to connect with each batter on an individual level. "There were certain fundamentals that he was big on - can you get really close to the ball and far away from it? - but he did not have one way of coaching," said Root.Beyond his technical guidance, Thorpe also provided valuable off-field support to Root. "Some of the best lessons I learned were not necessarily in the nets but over dinner or a few glasses of wine, just talking about the game, about shared experiences people can relate to," said Root.Root concluded his tribute by emphasizing Thorpe's legacy as both a player and a coach. "A lot will and should be talked about how brilliant a player he was for a long period of time, but we should remember the impact he has had on English cricket as a fantastic coach as well," said Root.

England's Test squad for the upcoming series against Sri Lanka has been announced, with several notable changes. Fast bowler Matthew Potts has been recalled to the team, while Ollie Pope will take over as captain in the absence of Ben Stokes.Stokes, who has been a key figure in England's recent resurgence under coach Brendon McCullum, is set to miss the entire series due to a hamstring injury sustained during the Hundred. His absence will be a significant blow to the team, as he has been a driving force behind their aggressive "Bazball" approach.Pope, who has only captained Surrey in one first-class match, will now lead the side. The 25-year-old is a talented batsman who has been in good form for England in recent months. However, he will have a tough task on his hands, as Sri Lanka are a dangerous team, especially in their own conditions.Potts, who has impressed for Durham in the County Championship this season, has been recalled to the Test squad for the first time since making his debut against Australia in 2022. The 24-year-old is a promising young bowler who could add some much-needed pace to England's attack.Other players who have been given a chance to prove themselves in Stokes's absence include batter Harry Brook and all-rounder Jamie Overton. Brook has been in excellent form for Yorkshire in the County Championship, while Overton has impressed for Somerset.England will be hoping to start the series well at Old Trafford, where they have a good record. However, Sri Lanka will be no pushovers, and they will be looking to make a statement against a weakened England side.

England's Test series against Sri Lanka, commencing in Manchester on Wednesday, will be marked by a poignant tribute to the late Graham Thorpe. Thorpe, a legendary English batter and former coach, tragically took his own life at 55 due to severe depression and anxiety.Thorpe's impact on English cricket was profound. With an impressive Test average of 44.66, he was one of England's most accomplished batters. He later served as their batting coach and assistant coach, mentoring many current squad members, including Joe Root and Ben Stokes.Stokes, now England's captain, paid tribute to Thorpe by wearing a shirt bearing his name during his first Test as full-time captain. Ollie Pope, standing in for Stokes, expressed the team's deep sorrow: "He was a great man... He's such a sad loss to everyone."The teams will observe a moment of applause before the national anthems at Emirates Old Trafford, accompanied by a tribute video on the big screens. Sky Sports will also honor Thorpe, who was a close friend and former teammate to many of their commentators.Thorpe's death has been ruled as a result of traumatic injuries sustained after being struck by a train. An inquest into his death is ongoing.In addition to the Thorpe tribute, Lancashire will recognize James Anderson's illustrious career throughout the Test. Anderson will ring the bell before play and be celebrated during the lunch interval. The club has sold a significant number of advance tickets, with Friday's match already sold out.

Ollie Pope, the 82nd captain of England's Test team, will lead the side against Sri Lanka on Wednesday in the absence of injured skipper Ben Stokes. Pope, who has captained only once in first-class cricket, is determined to deliver "the same messages from a different voice" while acknowledging that "it's still Stokesy's team."Despite his limited captaincy experience, Pope has been England's vice-captain since last summer and has led Surrey in eight T20 Blast matches this season. He believes that his appointment as captain is a "great honor" and an opportunity for the team to "take a step forward."Stokes, who is recovering from a hamstring injury, will remain with the squad and provide support to Pope. Pope welcomes Stokes' presence, stating that he can "lean on him" if needed. He also appreciates Stokes' guidance on managing bowlers, an area where he seeks to improve.Pope's recent batting form has been inconsistent, but he is confident that his captaincy responsibilities will not hinder his performance. He emphasizes the importance of compartmentalizing his roles and relying on experienced teammates like Harry Brook and Joe Root for support.England will face a Sri Lankan team that recently defeated India in an ODI series. Pope is wary of Sri Lanka's experience but insists that England's focus is on their own performance. He aims for a 3-0 series whitewash but acknowledges that Sri Lanka poses a significant challenge.

England's Test series against Sri Lanka at Old Trafford, commencing Wednesday, presents an opportunity for several players to prove their worth in the absence of injured captain Ben Stokes. Stokes' hamstring injury has ruled him out of the three-match contest, leaving England without their inspirational leader for the first time since the inception of the dynamic "Bazball" era under Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum.Ollie Pope, England's vice-captain, will assume the captaincy despite having led Surrey in only one first-class match. The team announced on Monday that fast bowler Matthew Potts has been recalled, bolstering their attack to five bowlers.Dan Lawrence, rarely deployed as an opener in county cricket, returns to the England side after a two-and-a-half-year hiatus, filling the vacancy created by Zak Crawley's fractured finger. Crawley sustained the injury during England's 3-0 whitewash of the West Indies last month.England is expected to achieve a similar result against Sri Lanka, who, like the West Indies, have played only one warm-up match before the first Test. However, England's approach under McCullum has often defied conventional cricket wisdom, so it is unsurprising that they have opted against replacing Crawley with a specialist opener.Lawrence himself believes his aggressive style aligns well with the current England setup. "I think that's the style of cricketer that Baz McCullum and Ben Stokes are generally after," Lawrence said. "I'm just going to go out there and try to be as free as possible."Sri Lanka, while lacking the star power of Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene, boasts experienced performers in Angelo Mathews and Dimuth Karunaratne. Dhananjaya de Silva's side will also benefit from the guidance of interim coach Sanath Jayasuriya, a Sri Lankan great, and former England batsman Ian Bell, who provides local knowledge.Sri Lanka's last Test match was in April, but they recently upset India in a three-match one-day international series. Jayasuriya believes the timing of the current campaign could favor Sri Lanka. "The fact that we have got a late-summer tour is great," he said. "It's more similar to our conditions than the early summer tours."

Dan Lawrence, a versatile cricketer who has patiently awaited his opportunity, is set to make his Test debut as an opener for England in the first Test against Sri Lanka. Despite spending years as a drinks carrier and filling various batting positions, Lawrence is eager to seize this chance and prove his worth.Lawrence's journey to the Test team has been marked by both perseverance and adaptability. After initially being groomed as an opener, he transitioned to a middle-order role and even developed his spin bowling skills. His recent stint as captain of London Spirit has honed his leadership abilities.Despite his eagerness to bat at any position, Lawrence acknowledges the challenges of opening the batting. However, he is determined to embrace the opportunity and make a positive impact. His aggressive strokeplay and resilience align well with England's current approach under Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes.Lawrence's selection as an opener has raised some eyebrows, but he remains unfazed. He believes that his experience and versatility make him a suitable candidate for the role. The absence of Ben Stokes and the decision to replace him with Matthew Potts have also contributed to Lawrence's selection.As England prepares for the first Test, Lawrence is focused on enjoying the experience and contributing to the team's success. He is grateful for the opportunity to showcase his abilities and hopes to earn a permanent spot in the Test side.