Cricket

Ravichandran Ashwin's exceptional bowling prowess has left an indelible mark on the cricketing world, earning him accolades from renowned batters like Joe Root. The veteran Indian off-spinner's relentless pursuit of wickets and aggressive mindset have made him a constant threat to opposition batsmen.Ashwin's versatility is a key factor in his success. Unlike traditional off-spinners, he employs a wide range of deliveries, including over-spin, side-spin, and the deceptive carrom ball. This unpredictability keeps batters guessing and forces them to adapt constantly.Root, who has faced Ashwin on numerous occasions, highlighted the off-spinner's ability to bowl six different deliveries in an over. Ashwin's clever use of the crease and seam position allows him to exploit different angles and create wicket-taking opportunities.In contrast to Nathan Lyon, another premier off-spinner, Ashwin focuses on getting batters out rather than wearing them down. He uses his variations to disrupt the batter's rhythm and force them into mistakes.Despite England's struggles in the ongoing Test series against India, Root remains optimistic about the team's approach. He believes that the top order has shown consistency, and the team is committed to finding the best balance between attacking and pragmatic batting.Jonny Bairstow, who is set to play his 100th Test in Dharamsala, has faced some challenges with the bat. However, Root expressed confidence in his fellow Yorkshireman's ability to overcome these setbacks and make a significant contribution to the team.

Michael Vaughan, the former England captain, has hailed Pep Guardiola as the most exceptional sporting leader of the past 15 years. Vaughan believes that England's Ben Stokes should adopt Guardiola's approach of never allowing players to become complacent about their place in the side.Vaughan's comments come in the context of England's Bazball approach, under coach Brendon McCullum, which has backfired during the ongoing tour of India. England have already conceded the series 3-1 after initially winning the first Test in Hyderabad.Vaughan questioned the approach of England batters and demanded greater accountability from them. He cited Guardiola's approach at Manchester City as an example of how to keep players on their toes."In my eyes he's the best sporting leader of this generation, say the last 15 years. He never allows his players to get comfortable. He always keeps them guessing, and they all know they are guaranteed nothing," Vaughan wrote in a column for Daily Telegraph.Vaughan questioned England's selection policy and said despite losing the series the visitors have a lot at stake to play for in the final Test in Dharamsla beginning March 7."Consistency of selection is such a fine balance in team sports. Making people comfortable is right, and England have generally batted well over the last two years," he wrote."There comes a point, though, where when it's your batting that is costing you the biggest series you can't keep sending the same guys out there every week."Vaughan said a loss in Dharamsala would be a demoralising result for England. He once again criticised England's batters approach."India haven't lost two matches in a series at home since 2012, on their run of 17 series wins in a row. 4-1 would be a very disappointing end to a disappointing winter, with the World Cup debacle, both white-ball series lost in the Caribbean and even a poor World Cup for the Under 19s," he wrote."It's a huge week for a number of England's batsmen. When we think of this England team, we think of their wonderfully dynamic batting. But when you look at why they haven't won any of their last three series, it's down to the batting."Vaughan feels when it comes to team selection there should be consistency in the batting order."Complacency can be damaging. As a management team, how you approach selection of batsmen and bowlers is obviously different. Fast bowlers, especially, sit out games and are rightly rotated to preserve their bodies," he wrote."With batsmen you want consistency. When you play like England do, backing is important. Aggressive, expansive cricket means mistakes will be made. Players need to have the confidence to take on risky shots without fear that they will be dropped immediately. That is good, and as captain I always preferred to give a player one game too many than one too few."In hindsight he also took a took a dig at McCullum and Stokes for their approach."I do wonder, though, if this England setup takes backing a bit too far. Since Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum took over, only one batsman has been dropped, and even that was the tamest dropping you will ever see. "England inherited Alex Lees from the previous regime and gave him a crack, but always had their eye on Ben Duckett to open with Zak Crawley so simply moved Lees on at the end of their first summer," he wrote."Ultimately, on any sporting team's road to greatness, you need a moment, a rod, where every player realises 'wow, maybe I'm not part of the furniture'. As soon as people think they are part of the furniture it creates a bit of comfortable complacency, which can be damaging."

The absence of Virat Kohli has cast a long shadow over the India-England Test series, with legendary England pacer James Anderson expressing his disappointment at missing out on a chance to face the Indian batting maestro.Kohli opted out of the series citing personal reasons, having recently welcomed his second child with wife Anushka Sharma. Anderson, who has engaged in several memorable on-field battles with Kohli, lamented the star batter's absence."Yeah, you always want to play against the best players. And it's been a shame that he's not been a part of the series. We have had some great battles over the years," Anderson said on JioCinema.Anderson acknowledged that Kohli's absence may have been a relief for England fans, but he emphasized the importance of facing the world's best players."I guess English fans will be thankful he's not playing because he's such a quality player. But from our point of view you want to test yourself, you want to come up against the best and he's been someone who I've found really challenging to bowl at over the years and it's a shame he's not been playing," Anderson added.India have already secured an unassailable 3-1 lead in the series, with the fifth and final Test set to be played in Edgbaston. India's pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah will return for the final Test, while batter KL Rahul will miss out again due to a quad injury.Despite Kohli's absence, the series has been marked by intense competition and high-quality cricket. England will be looking to salvage some pride in the final Test, while India will aim to complete a memorable series victory.

The inaugural Women's Premier League (WPL) auction brought forth a unique set of challenges for England's star all-rounder, Nat Sciver-Brunt. While she secured a whopping £320,000 contract with Mumbai Indians, she had to balance her excitement with the reality of missing out on a T20 World Cup match and the potential impact on her England teammates.The scheduling conflict between the WPL and England's tour of New Zealand further complicated matters. Sciver-Brunt faced a difficult choice between financial gain and national duty. She ultimately decided to prioritize the WPL, acknowledging the financial implications and the opportunity to support her Mumbai team.England Women's head coach, Jon Lewis, also faced a dilemma as he had to manage the team's participation in the WPL while ensuring their preparation for the New Zealand tour. The situation highlighted the need for national boards to create a window for the WPL to avoid such clashes in the future.Sciver-Brunt's decision to join the WPL meant that she would miss the first three T20Is against New Zealand. However, she expressed confidence that this would provide an opportunity for other players to gain experience and showcase their skills. She also emphasized the importance of maintaining the focus on international cricket.The WPL auction also brought to light the issue of the terminology used to describe the process of acquiring players. Sciver-Brunt expressed discomfort with the term "being sold," highlighting the need for more appropriate language in the context of women's cricket.Sciver-Brunt's experience in subcontinental conditions, gained through her recent tours to India, is expected to benefit England in the upcoming T20 World Cup in Bangladesh and the 2025 World Cup in India. She also expressed her commitment to supporting her Mumbai team and skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, drawing on her experience as a senior player in the England side.

The recent defeat of England in Rajkot against India has sparked discussions about the effectiveness of their aggressive approach, known as "Bazball." While some critics attribute the loss to this strategy, a closer examination reveals that there are other factors at play.Firstly, it is important to recognize that a single defeat, no matter how crushing, cannot overshadow the remarkable success England has achieved under the leadership of Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes. In 21 matches, they have secured 14 victories, a significant improvement over their previous record of 11 defeats in 17 Tests.Moreover, it is crucial to acknowledge the strength of the Indian team, which has demonstrated exceptional resilience and a well-developed supply chain management system. India's ability to field a competitive team despite the absence of key players like Virat Kohli, K.L. Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Mohammed Shami, and Ravichandran Ashwin is a testament to their depth and talent.The concept of Bazball, often misunderstood, is not about reckless batting or winning every match. It is a mindset that emphasizes putting pressure on the opposition through positive cricket while also recognizing the importance of absorbing pressure when necessary. This approach has allowed England to play attractive and entertaining cricket, which has captured the imagination of fans worldwide.However, the defeat in Rajkot has exposed some areas where Bazball needs refinement. One notable issue is the discomfort displayed by Joe Root, England's most experienced batter, with certain aspects of the approach. Root's dismissals in both innings suggest that he may not be fully comfortable with the aggressive style of play that Bazball demands.This lack of clarity and decisiveness in England's approach during the chase in Rajkot highlighted cracks in the Bazball philosophy, which prides itself on clear messaging and a unified vision.While Bazball has been praised for its attacking style, it is important to remember that sometimes playing for a draw can be a positive response, especially in a five-Test series. Joe Root, with his experience and ability to anchor the innings, could play a crucial role in leading such an approach.In contrast to England's Bazball approach, India has shown a remarkable ability to adapt and overcome challenges. Their resilience and willingness to "run into the danger," as Stokes described his team's approach, were evident in their victory in the Brisbane Test during their last tour of Australia.India's current team, featuring several young and talented players, has the potential to dominate world cricket in the coming years. The emergence of players like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubhman Gill, Dhruv Jurel, and Sarfaraz Khan is a testament to the strength of India's cricketing pipeline.While a 4-1 series victory for India seems likely at this stage, it is important to remember that anything can happen in cricket. If India decides to rest Jasprit Bumrah for the final Test, it could be seen as a sign of Bazball-like arrogance.Ultimately, there is much to be said for traditional strategies like retaining a winning combination, employing defense as a form of offense, and playing session by session. These approaches have stood the test of time and can be just as effective as the more aggressive Bazball style.