Cricket

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.

In a thrilling encounter at Chester-le-Street, England's captain Harry Brook led his team to a 46-run victory against the world champions Australia, keeping their hopes alive in the five-match ODI series. Despite a shaky start, losing openers Phil Salt and Ben Duckett to Mitchell Starc's bowling, England fought back through a remarkable 156-run partnership between Will Jacks (84) and Brook (110 not out) in a rain-hit chase after Australia put up an impressive 304 for 7 on the board.Rain interrupted play with England at 254 for 4 off 37.4 overs, but they were comfortably ahead of the required target under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method, securing the victory and ending Australia's 14-match winning streak in ODIs.Earlier in the day, Alex Carey's unbeaten 77 and Steven Smith's 60 led the visitors' batting card. England paceman Jofra Archer claimed 2 for 67. Despite losing wickets at crucial moments, Australia's middle-order partnerships, particularly between Carey and Glenn Maxwell (30), and later with Aaron Hardie (44), helped them reach a challenging total.England's bowlers made early inroads, but Smith's half-century and Carey's aggressive batting kept Australia in the game. Cameron Green, who replaced the injured Travis Head, was dismissed for 42. In the following over, Australia's score of 131 for 3 quickly became 132 for 4 when Labuschagne fell for a duck, mistiming a paddle-sweep off spinner Jacks that was easily caught by wicketkeeper Jamie Smith.Smith reached his half-century by pulling a short ball from Jacks for his fifth boundary, having faced 71 deliveries. However, he was dismissed when Brydon Carse made a spectacular diving catch on the boundary off a forceful pull shot from Archer.Carey, on the other hand, struck Carse through midwicket for one of his four boundaries in a 48-ball fifty that also included a straight six off Jacob Bethell.The series, now standing at 2-1 in Australia's favour, will continue at Lord's on Friday, with both teams eager to secure a victory in the remaining two matches.Initially in the home team's run-chase, their supporters might have been concerned when Salt clipped Starc's delivery straight to midwicket, and Duckett, attempting to play across the line, edged the left-arm fast bowler to backward point.However, Jacks and Brook managed to turn the game around against an Australian bowling attack that was missing their key leg-spinner, Adam Zampa, due to illness.Jacks, made a fourth fifty in 10 ODIs but missed out on a maiden century when he uppercut a bouncer from Cameron Green to backward point to end an 82-ball innings featuring nine fours and a six.Jamie Smith's hook shot off a Green found the deep square leg fielder, leaving England at 197 for 4 in the 32nd over.An edgy four to fine third-man brought up Brooks' maiden ODI century in his 18th match, scored off 87 deliveries with 12 fours and two sixes. His second fifty came off just 33 balls.

England, trailing 2-0 in the ODI series against Australia, opted to bowl first in the third match at Chester-le-Street under overcast conditions. Captain Harry Brook, who has won all three tosses in the series, made the decision to utilize the favorable bowling conditions.England brought back Jofra Archer into their attack, replacing Olly Stone. Despite their batting struggles in the previous matches, Brook expressed confidence in his inexperienced side. "We've picked guys because of their capabilities," he said. "We don't want to change that. Want them to go out there and do what they've done for their counties."Australia, plagued by injuries and illness, was forced to make two changes. Travis Head and Adam Zampa were ruled out, with Cameron Green and Sean Abbott taking their places. Mitchell Marsh, Australia's captain, remained optimistic. "We've got a real good side out today, and a chance of winning the series," he said.

Harry Brook's meteoric rise in international cricket has been met with scrutiny after a series win against Sri Lanka where he averaged 30. However, Brook remains unfazed, acknowledging that he has been trying to avoid overanalyzing his approach.Brook's scores in the final Test against Sri Lanka (19 and 3) were underwhelming, but it was his manner at the crease that drew attention. He appeared frustrated when Sri Lanka bowled wide outside his off stump, leading to criticism from former England captain Michael Vaughan.Despite a long season that included the T20 World Cup, six home Tests, and the Hundred, Brook remains relaxed ahead of his England captaincy debut at Trent Bridge. He admits that his Test summer did not go as planned but dismisses suggestions of mental fatigue."I probably was [feeling] a little bit [tired]," Brook said. "But if I'd have gone out and got two hundreds against Sri Lanka then I'd have been like, 'I'll just carry on'. But no, not really. I love playing cricket: I want to play as much as I possibly can."Brook's captaincy experience is limited to England Under-19s and sporadic 50-over cricket. However, he aims to keep things simple against Australia, batting at No. 4. "I'm just going to go out there and watch the ball as closely as possible," he said.Brook is standing in as captain for Jos Buttler, who is recovering from a calf injury. Buttler has encouraged Brook to identify game-changing moments in the field, something he has struggled with in ODIs.This ODI series is one of only three for England before the Champions Trophy in February. It also marks the beginning of a "strategic restructure" under new limited-overs coach Brendon McCullum. Brook believes this will lead to greater convergence between formats."We want to go out there and entertain the crowd, take the game on, try to take wickets and put the pressure on their bowlers," Brook said.After a disappointing end to the Test summer, Brook hopes that this new challenge will reinvigorate him. "The way the lads have gone about their business in training just seems so chilled at the minute," he said. "We're all looking forward to going out there and having some fun."

Harry Brook, the rising star of English cricket, has been handed the captaincy reins for the upcoming five-match ODI series against Australia. This appointment marks a significant milestone in Brook's career and underscores his growing stature within the England setup.Brook's elevation to the captaincy comes amidst the unfortunate absence of Jos Buttler, who has been ruled out for the remainder of the summer due to a persistent calf injury. Buttler's injury has also paved the way for the recall of Liam Livingstone, who has impressed with his all-round abilities in the ongoing T20I series against Australia.Brook has long been earmarked as a future England captain, having captained the Under-19 World Cup team in 2018. He has also gained valuable leadership experience as vice-captain to Ollie Pope in the recent Test series victory over Sri Lanka.The 23-year-old Brook has demonstrated his leadership qualities in various domestic competitions, including the T20 Blast and the Hundred. His ability to inspire and motivate his teammates, coupled with his tactical acumen, makes him an ideal candidate for the captaincy role.However, Buttler's prolonged absence raises concerns about his fitness, given his history of calf issues. The England management will be keen to manage his workload carefully to prevent further setbacks.Livingstone's return to the ODI squad is a testament to his impressive performances in the T20I series. His leg-spin bowling and explosive batting have been instrumental in England's success.The ODI series against Australia will provide Brook with an opportunity to showcase his leadership skills and further enhance his reputation as a future star of English cricket. The series begins at Trent Bridge on Thursday and runs until September 29.

Sri Lanka's interim head coach, Sanath Jayasuriya, hailed his team's ability to frustrate Harry Brook as a key factor in their fightback on the second day of the Kia Oval Test. England, who had dominated the first day, lost their last seven wickets for 104 runs, with Brook's careless batting setting the tone.Brook, who had been given out to his third ball of the day but successfully overturned the decision, was dropped on 12 and then mocked the Sri Lankan bowlers by taking guard outside off stump. However, his frustration boiled over when he flashed a drive to short cover, triggering a collapse that saw England lose seven wickets for 64 runs."He was frustrated because we bowled well, with the right line and length," Jayasuriya said. "We know their strong areas, and we kept them tight and frustrated."Michael Vaughan, commentating for the BBC, criticized England's unfocused performance, particularly Brook's lack of discipline. "He is a brilliant player, but he needs to be careful," Vaughan said. "There are tougher challenges ahead, and he can't take the mick out of the game."Jayasuriya, who was one of the most attacking batters in Test history, advised Brook to manage his tempo better. "You can't go in top gear all the time," he said. "You need to take less risk and fight hard."Sri Lanka reached the close on 211 for 5, trailing by just 114 runs. Jayasuriya praised his team's resilience and determination. "We go through each and every batsman, like they go through our batsmen," he said. "We know their very strong areas, and where we can keep them tight and frustrated."

England's Harry Brook has ascended to the fourth position in the ICC Test batting rankings, a testament to his impressive performances in the ongoing series against Sri Lanka. Brook's contributions of 56 and 32 at Old Trafford have propelled him up three spots, surpassing the likes of Babar Azam, Steven Smith, and Rohit Sharma.Joe Root remains the undisputed leader in the Test batting rankings, followed by Kane Williamson and Daryl Mitchell. Babar Azam's recent struggles have seen him drop six places to ninth, while Mohammad Rizwan's heroics in Pakistan's loss to Bangladesh have earned him a seven-spot jump to joint 10th with Usman Khawaja.Bangladesh's Mushfiqur Rahim has achieved a career-high rating after his match-winning 191 against Pakistan, moving up seven spots to 17th. Sri Lanka's Prabath Jayasuriya has also made strides, climbing one place to ninth among Test bowlers after his five-wicket haul in Manchester.In the T20I rankings, West Indies' Nicholas Pooran has risen three places to ninth among batters following their 3-0 sweep of South Africa. Akeal Hosein and Gudakesh Motie have also made significant gains, moving up to second and third spots respectively among bowlers, behind only England's Adil Rashid.These rankings reflect the dynamic nature of international cricket, with players constantly vying for supremacy. Brook's rise and Babar Azam's decline serve as reminders that form and consistency are crucial factors in determining the best players in the world.

On the hallowed turf of Old Trafford, where Shane Warne's "Ball of the Century" became etched in cricketing history, Sri Lankan spinner Prabath Jayasuriya conjured a delivery of similar brilliance to dismiss England's Harry Brook on the second day of the first Test.Brook, who had reached a half-century and appeared poised for a substantial score, fell victim to Jayasuriya's guile shortly after tea. The left-arm spinner delivered a ball that landed on a perfect length, tempting Brook forward. The delivery then spun sharply, deceiving Brook's defensive prod and clipping the top of off stump.The dismissal, reminiscent of Warne's magical delivery to Mike Gatting at the same ground three decades prior, shifted the momentum back to Sri Lanka. Brook, who had been a thorn in the visitors' side with his fluent strokeplay, departed for 56, leaving England at 187-5, still trailing Sri Lanka's first innings total of 236 by 49 runs.The significance of the wicket, taken on the same ground where Warne etched his name into cricketing folklore, was not lost on those present. Just as Warne's delivery had left Gatting bewildered, Jayasuriya's left Brook equally stunned, highlighting the enduring magic of leg-spin bowling.Jayasuriya's delivery, while inevitably drawing comparisons to Warne's "Ball of the Century," stands on its own merit. The combination of flight, turn, and bounce showcased the spinner's skill and game awareness. The dismissal also served as a reminder of the crucial role spinners can play in Test cricket, particularly on surfaces that offer assistance.With England seemingly in control and Brook looking comfortable at the crease, the wicket provided Sri Lanka with a much-needed breakthrough. It remains to be seen whether this moment of brilliance will prove decisive in the context of the match, but it undoubtedly added another chapter to the rich history of spin bowling at Old Trafford.

Matthew Potts has been named as Ben Stokes' replacement in the XI for England's first Test against Sri Lanka, with Harry Brook stepping into the vice-captaincy role for the series to assist stand-in captain Ollie Pope.Potts, who earned the last of his six Test caps in the one-off Test against Ireland last summer, has been given the nod ahead of fellow quick Olly Stone and uncapped batter Jordan Cox after Stokes was ruled out of the rest of the summer with a hamstring injury sustained during the Men's Hundred.The 25-year-old Potts is a team-mate of Stokes for both Durham and Northern Superchargers, and will slot in at No.9 for the fixture at Emirates Old Trafford, which begins on Wednesday. That means promotions up the order for Jamie Smith, Chris Woakes, and Gus Atkinson, who will occupy six, seven, and eight, respectively.While not quite an allrounder, Potts is a handy lower-order batter, as showcased by an unbeaten 149 against Warwickshire earlier this season, which was his maiden first-class century. Nevertheless, the selection adds to the peculiar nature of the XI, which also features Dan Lawrence as opener following Zak Crawley's finger injury sustained during the last Test against West Indies.The England team for the first Test against Sri Lanka is as follows:1. Dan Lawrence2. Ben Duckett3. Ollie Pope (capt)4. Joe Root5. Harry Brook6. Jamie Smith (wk)7. Chris Woakes8. Gus Atkinson9. Matthew Potts10. Mark Wood11. Shoaib Bashir