Cricket

England's Heather Knight once again proved her mettle as she guided her team to a 15-run victory over New Zealand in the second T20I in Nelson. Knight's unbeaten 56* lifted England from a precarious 77 for 6 to a competitive 149 for 7.New Zealand's chase started promisingly with Sophie Devine and Amelia Kerr at the helm. However, the return of England's frontline spinners, Charlie Dean, Linsey Smith, and Sarah Glenn, proved decisive. Dean and Glenn had earlier played crucial roles with the bat, supporting Knight's rescue act.Smith, making her international comeback after nearly five years, made an immediate impact by dismissing Suzie Bates with her first delivery. Dean then removed Devine, while Gibson's dismissal of Kerr proved to be the turning point.As the asking rate climbed, New Zealand's middle and lower order crumbled under the pressure. Maddy Green's struggles continued, and Lauren Bell claimed two wickets in three balls to seal the victory for England.Knight's innings was a masterclass in composure and adaptability. She played alongside Dean and Glenn to stabilize the innings and then accelerated the scoring rate in the final overs. Her ability to adapt to the situation and play according to the team's needs is a testament to her leadership qualities.England's spinners were the stars of the show, with Dean, Smith, and Glenn combining for figures of 12-0-74-4. Their ability to control the run rate and pick up crucial wickets proved to be the difference between the two sides.

Former England cricketer Nasser Hussain has praised India skipper Rohit Sharma for his exceptional performance in the recently concluded Test series against England. Hussain believes that Sharma's calm and composed demeanor on the field belies his immense skill and brilliance as a batsman.Sharma amassed 400 runs in the five-match series, including two centuries, at a strike rate of 64.21. Hussain noted that Sharma's ability to adapt his captaincy style to suit the team's needs was evident throughout the series."I think sometimes people confuse Rohit as a laidback cricketer who just lets the game drift," Hussain said. "There is a lot of skill, thought, and brilliance about his batting. And I thought he had an excellent series as captain."Hussain cautioned against comparing Sharma's captaincy style to that of his predecessor, Virat Kohli. "Don't confuse (Rohit with Virat's captaincy) because he has come off the back of Virat Kohli. In your face, aggressive captain. In the huddle at Lord's, saying let's unleash hell on the England batting lineup. Rohit is not quite the same sort of person. He has that fire burning within."Despite England's early 1-0 lead in the series, India fought back to win four consecutive matches and seal a 4-1 victory. Hussain attributed India's success to their ability to capitalize on England's mistakes and their resilience in the face of adversity."England had their chances, notably in Rajkot and Ranchi, but India came back strong on both occasions to win," Hussain said. "India showed great character and determination to come back from behind and win the series."Hussain concluded by highlighting the importance of Sharma's leadership in India's triumph. "Rohit has been a calming influence on the team," he said. "He has created a positive and supportive environment, which has allowed the players to perform to their full potential."

England's Jonny Bairstow, despite recently returning from a grueling Test tour of India, will be available for the entirety of the Indian Premier League (IPL), which commences on March 22. During the Dharamsala Test, BCCI officials engaged in discussions with their ECB counterparts regarding the availability of English players for the IPL.While Test regulars Ben Stokes, Joe Root, and Mark Wood have opted out of the lucrative T20 league due to ECB's workload management strategy, Bairstow has confirmed his participation. "Bairstow is expected to arrive in India on March 18 or 19 and will be available for the team's first game against Delhi Capitals on March 23," revealed an IPL source.Bairstow, who reached the milestone of 100 Tests in Dharamsala, endured a disappointing batting performance in India. The IPL provides him with an opportunity to regain his form and contribute to his team's success.Meanwhile, Punjab Kings have made significant changes to their coaching staff. Sanjay Bangar, appointed as cricket director ahead of the 2024 edition, will also serve as the batting coach. Bangar's previous experience includes stints with RCB and as India's batting coach.Consequently, Wasim Jaffer, who held the position of batting consultant last season, has been released by the franchise. Punjab Kings, despite reaching the final in 2014, have consistently underperformed in the IPL. Head coach Trevor Bayliss' contract expires after the season, and the team must qualify for the play-offs for him to be considered for an extension.Dharamsala is expected to host Punjab's final two home games, as it did last season. The remaining five home games will be played at the new stadium in Mullanpur, Mohali.

India's resounding 4-1 victory over England in the Test series has sparked a scathing attack from former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar. Despite missing key players and losing the first Test, India's young team led by Rohit Sharma displayed exceptional resilience and dominance.Gavaskar's criticism centers on England's perceived arrogance and condescending attitude towards India. He contrasts this with the more affable and adaptable nature of Australian players, who have embraced the Indian culture and the lucrative opportunities offered by the Indian Premier League (IPL).Gavaskar argues that the Aussies' willingness to integrate and respect Indian culture has fostered a positive relationship between the two teams, despite the intense rivalry on the field. In contrast, he believes England's "supercilious attitude" has created a sense of animosity.Gavaskar's comments come after he expressed disappointment with Sarfaraz Khan's reckless shot selection in the fifth Test. He emphasized the importance of patience and discipline, even for experienced batsmen.India's victory has solidified their position at the top of the World Test Championship points table, while England languishes near the bottom. The series has highlighted the depth and talent of India's young players, who have stepped up in the absence of senior stars.

Legendary Australian cricketer Ian Chappell has launched a scathing attack on Ben Stokes' captaincy following England's 4-1 Test series defeat to India. Chappell believes that Stokes' aggressive approach faltered at crucial moments, particularly in the fourth Test in Ranchi, which India won convincingly.Chappell cited Stokes' decision to open the bowling with part-timer Joe Root instead of experienced seamer Jimmy Anderson on the third evening of the Ranchi Test as a major error. India took full advantage, scoring 40 runs off just eight overs."Stokes missed a trick in Ranchi," Chappell wrote in his column for ESPNCricinfo. "He then compounded his error by allowing too many easy singles on the final day by resorting to some cautious field placings. At a time when Stokes needed to be extremely brave as captain and hope he got lucky, he was abnormally conservative."Chappell believes that Stokes should take inspiration from Pakistan legend Javed Miandad, who was a master of leading teams in demanding chases."India probably would still have won but at least by going on the attack, Stokes would have given England their best chance of an upset victory," Chappell said. "Stokes could improve his captaincy in demanding chases if he took the example of the leadership master in those situations - Pakistan's Javed Miandad."Chappell also praised India captain Rohit Sharma for his astute leadership throughout the series."Rohit proceeded to take full advantage of the tentative field placings with a thoughtful innings and India's solid opening partnership helped seal victory," Chappell concluded.

James Anderson, the legendary English seam bowler, has etched his name into the annals of Test cricket history by becoming the first pacer to reach the milestone of 700 wickets. However, despite this remarkable achievement, Anderson remains unfazed, prioritizing team success over personal accolades.Anderson's historic feat came on the final morning of England's 4-1 series loss in India. With Kuldeep Yadav caught behind, Anderson joined the elite club of bowlers with 700 Test wickets, a feat previously accomplished only by spinners Muthiah Muralidharan and Shane Warne.Despite the magnitude of his achievement, Anderson expressed mixed emotions. "It was a nice moment, but I don't know how I feel," he said. "I would've felt more excited if we'd have won the Test or the series."Anderson's humility stems from his unwavering focus on team performance. "I don't play cricket to get the milestones. I want to win games," he emphasized. "That's why I'm probably a little bit flat now, because we've lost 4-1 in this series."Despite the disappointing result, Anderson remains optimistic about England's future. "We've stuck together really well, we really enjoy being together as a group and there is more to come from this team," he said.At 41 years old, Anderson's longevity and fitness are remarkable. He attributes his success to his unwavering dedication to training and his love for the game. "I'm not getting any worse," he said. "I'm definitely in the best shape I've ever been in."Anderson's 700th wicket is a testament to his skill, determination, and unwavering spirit. While he may not seek personal glory, his achievement will forever be etched in the history of Test cricket.

Ravichandran Ashwin, India's star spinner, has weighed in on England's controversial "Bazball" approach, which has sparked heated debates in the cricketing world. Ashwin, who emerged as the highest wicket-taker in the recently concluded five-match series against England, believes that Bazball is not merely about aggressive batting but also involves a lack of defensive strategy.Ashwin expressed surprise at Joe Root, renowned for his impeccable batting technique, embracing the Bazball approach. "Bazball isn't just aggressive cricket. It is defenseless cricket," Ashwin stated on his YouTube channel. "They aren't going to play a defensive shot at all. They are going to get out if they play defense."Ashwin also criticized England's overconfidence, particularly James Anderson's assertion that they could chase down a target of 600 in the second Test. "James Anderson went into a press conference and told the press that even if the 4th innings target was 500 or 600, we'll finish it in 60 overs," Ashwin said. "It felt like they had gone too far."England's coach, Brendon McCullum, has acknowledged the need for adjustments to the Bazball approach. "Sometimes, you can get away with things," McCullum admitted. "But when you're exposed the way we have been in the back end of this series in particular, it does require some pretty deep thinking and some adjustment."Ashwin's analysis highlights the complexities of the Bazball approach. While it has led to some spectacular victories for England, it has also exposed their vulnerability to disciplined bowling. The debate over Bazball is likely to continue as teams seek to find the right balance between aggression and defense.

Geoffrey Boycott, the legendary England cricketer, has urged selectors to prioritize the future and phase out 41-year-old pace maestro James Anderson. Boycott's plea comes after Anderson's historic achievement of 700 Test wickets against India.While acknowledging Anderson's remarkable longevity and skill, Boycott believes it's time to prepare younger seamers for the upcoming Ashes series in Australia, where Anderson will be 43. He advocates for giving opportunities to emerging talents like Josh Tongue and Matthew Potts."England cannot keep wrapping him in cotton wool and picking him on sentiment forever," Boycott asserted. "In a year-and-a-half, England's next big challenge will be going to Australia to try and win back the Ashes."Boycott also criticized England's current bowling lineup, describing it as lacking potency and intimidation. He singled out inexperienced spinners Tom Hartley and Shoaib Bashir, an "ineffectual" Mark Wood, and an unfit Ben Stokes."It would not frighten anyone: two raw kids in Tom Hartley and Shoaib Bashir with little first-class bowling as spinners, an ineffectual fast bowler in Mark Wood who just bangs the ball into the track with little movement," Boycott criticized.The former cricketer also lamented England's batting struggles against Kuldeep Yadav, expressing surprise at their inability to counter the spinner's deliveries.Boycott concluded by casting doubt on England's ability to learn from their defeat to India, suggesting they might revert to their usual form against weaker opponents."Stokes says they will learn from this tour. I am not convinced. They will go back home and revert to type and beat ordinary West Indies and Sri Lanka teams and India will be forgotten as a distant memory," Boycott remarked.

England's 'Bazball' Approach Faces Scrutiny After India Test Series DefeatEngland's cricket coach Brendon McCullum has acknowledged the need for adjustments to the team's aggressive 'Bazball' approach following their 4-1 Test series defeat against India.McCullum admitted that the team's high-risk strategy, which emphasizes attacking play and scoring runs quickly, requires refinement after being exposed by India's skilled bowling attack. "Sometimes, you can get away with things," McCullum said. "But when you're exposed the way we have been in the back end of this series in particular, it does require some pretty deep thinking and some adjustment to make sure we're staying true to what we believe in."The Indian team's relentless pressure, led by spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Axar Patel, forced England to adopt a more cautious approach as the series progressed. "If anything, we got more timid as the series went on, and that was because of the pressure that was applied to us by the Indian lineup," McCullum noted.The series loss marked the first setback for England under McCullum's leadership, raising questions about the team's one-dimensional approach. "There are some things where you can get a little bit of luck on your side and you paper over a couple of the cracks," McCullum said. "When you are exposed in the way we have been here, you know that you have to get better in some areas."McCullum emphasized the importance of refining England's approach to ensure they are better prepared for future challenges. "The next couple of months will be us working out that and making sure when we come to the summer we are a more refined version of what we are at the minute," he said.The series also highlighted the emergence of promising Indian youngsters, such as Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel, and Sarfaraz Khan, who made significant contributions in the absence of key players like Virat Kohli and Mohammed Shami.