Cricket

England's dominance over the West Indies continued in the second Test at Trent Bridge, as they secured an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series with a resounding 241-run victory.The West Indies, chasing a daunting target of 385, crumbled under the pressure of England's relentless bowling attack. Off-spinner Shoaib Bashir emerged as the star performer, claiming Test-best figures of 5-41 as the tourists lost all 10 wickets in just 23 overs on the fourth day.Earlier, England had set a formidable target thanks to centuries from Joe Root (122) and Harry Brook (109) in their second innings of 425. Despite trailing by 41 runs on first innings, the West Indies had shown promise by posting 457 in response to England's 416.However, England's paceman Chris Woakes triggered the West Indies' collapse on Sunday, and Bashir proved unstoppable thereafter. The 20-year-old off-spinner bamboozled the tourists' batsmen with his accuracy and guile, leaving them helpless.Ollie Pope, who scored 172 runs in total, including a first-innings 121, was named player of the match for his outstanding contribution.The third and final Test of the series will commence at Edgbaston on Friday, with England aiming to complete a clean sweep and the West Indies desperate to salvage some pride.

England's Test players are set to make a significant impact on the upcoming seasons of the ILT20 and SA20 leagues. After missing the second seasons of both tournaments due to their tour of India, several Test stars are now being targeted by franchises.Joe Root has already been unveiled as a new signing by Paarl Royals in the SA20, and ESPNcricinfo reports that other Test players have also attracted interest. The Telegraph claims that Ben Stokes, who has not played limited-overs cricket since the 2019 World Cup, has been offered a lucrative contract by MI Cape Town.England's managing director, Rob Key, has acknowledged that lucrative offers from franchise leagues have influenced the decision to award multi-year central contracts to players. With Stokes' England contract expiring in September, he could use similar offers as leverage.While England will play T20I and ODI series in India early next year, their winter Test tours to Pakistan and New Zealand will conclude before Christmas. This means that players not involved in those limited-overs squads will be available for the full seasons of the ILT20 or SA20.Root's availability for the SA20 is uncertain, as his England future in white-ball cricket remains unclear. However, he should be available for the majority of the tournament even if selected for the ODI series in India.The ILT20 and SA20 leagues, backed by Indian investors, have transformed the franchise landscape by offering substantial salaries to overseas players during the southern-hemisphere summer. Both leagues will run from mid-January to early February in 2025.Jamie Smith, who made his Test debut recently, has been retained by Gulf Giants in the ILT20 and was also targeted by Pretoria Capitals in the SA20. Like other young players such as Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, and Ollie Pope, Smith has aspirations to break into England's white-ball team but can rely on franchise cricket as a fallback option.Root's experience and versatility will be valuable for Paarl Royals, according to their global director of cricket, Kumar Sangakkara. Sangakkara praised Root's all-around abilities, including his bowling and fielding.

Joe Root, England's Test captain, has expressed mixed emotions following the retirement of legendary fast bowler James Anderson. While acknowledging the need for England to plan for the future, Root admitted he will miss Anderson's presence on the field.Anderson, 41, bid farewell to international cricket at Lord's on Friday, finishing his illustrious career with 704 Test wickets. Despite being forced into retirement, Anderson appeared content with his decision and will now serve as a bowling mentor for the team.Root, who has played alongside Anderson for 12 years, praised his former teammate's contributions to English cricket. "For me, all I've ever known for England is playing alongside Jimmy," Root said. "I'll terribly miss playing alongside him, but the fact that he'll be around for the summer will be great for the young bowlers coming through."However, Root also acknowledged the need for England to move on and plan for the future. The team is currently at the bottom of the World Test Championship standings and is looking ahead to the 2024-25 Ashes series."We've not seen what they're capable of with the bat yet, and we won't be taking that for granted," Root said of West Indies, who drew 1-1 in Australia earlier this year. "And then when it came to the ball, they've got some very skillful bowlers."Despite the retirements of Anderson and Stuart Broad, Root remains committed to playing for England for the foreseeable future. "I'd like to think I'll be playing for a good while yet," he said. "And when that day comes, I'm sure I'll figure something out."

England Dominate Day 2 of 1st Test Against West Indies, Extend LeadEngland continued their dominance on Day 2 of the first Test against West Indies at Lord's, extending their lead to 244 runs by stumps. Resuming on 189/3, England's Joe Root and Harry Brook put on a solid partnership, adding 102 runs for the fourth wicket.Root, the former England captain, played a patient and composed innings, scoring 56 runs off 123 deliveries. Brook, on the other hand, was more aggressive, hitting 50 runs off just 67 balls. Their partnership helped England consolidate their position and put pressure on the West Indies bowlers.After Root's dismissal, Brook continued to lead the charge, adding another 30 runs before being caught behind off the bowling of Alzarri Joseph. Ben Stokes, the England captain, then joined Jonny Bairstow at the crease and the pair put on a quickfire 40-run partnership.Bairstow was eventually dismissed for 24, but Stokes remained unbeaten on 33, guiding England to a commanding total of 333/6 at the close of play. For West Indies, Joseph was the pick of the bowlers, taking 3/64, while Jayden Seales and Kemar Roach claimed two wickets each.Earlier in the day, West Indies resumed their innings on 113/9, with Gus Atkinson needing just one more wicket to complete a seven-wicket haul. Atkinson duly delivered, dismissing Kemar Roach to end the West Indies innings on 121.England's bowlers were in impressive form throughout the first innings, with Atkinson leading the way with his seven-wicket haul. James Anderson and Stuart Broad also chipped in with two wickets each.With a substantial lead in hand, England will be looking to press home their advantage on Day 3 and secure a victory in the first Test. West Indies, on the other hand, will need to find a way to break through England's batting lineup and get back into the match.

Jonny Bairstow's Controversial Dismissal: Joe Root's PerspectiveIn the 2023 Ashes series, Jonny Bairstow's unique dismissal sparked a heated debate about the "Spirit of Cricket." England batter and former skipper Joe Root has now shared his candid take on the incident, highlighting the need for players to be more aware while acknowledging the legality of the dismissal.During the second Test at Lord's, Bairstow was dismissed for 10 runs after stepping outside his crease while assuming the ball was dead. Australian wicketkeeper Alex Carey swiftly stumped him, leaving England in a precarious position.The dismissal drew mixed reactions. Some argued that Bairstow should have been warned, while others maintained that it was within the laws of the game. In the ECB's documentary, "The Ashes 2023 Our Take," Root reflects on the incident with honesty."Initially, I was quite angry," Root admitted. "But when you're involved in the game, it's difficult to see the other side. I would like to say I would have dealt with it differently, but I could easily have done the same thing."Root emphasized the importance of player awareness. "Jonny will hate me saying this, but if you stay in your crease, you can't get given out," he said. "It's within the laws of the game. You should be aware as a player."Root also praised the leadership of Ben Stokes, who rallied the team after the controversial dismissal. Stokes' resilience and strategic acumen led England to a 2-2 draw in the series, a remarkable comeback after the setback at Lord's."It deserved more than for us to come out on the wrong end of that result," Root said. "For Ben to show us this is how we play our cricket, regardless of the situation, was a powerful moment for us as a team."While Australia retained the Ashes urn, they failed to win a series in England for the first time since 2001. The incident involving Bairstow's dismissal served as a reminder of the importance of sportsmanship and the need for players to be aware of the rules and their responsibilities on the field.

Sussex Fight Back After Yorkshire's First-Day LeadSeventeen wickets fell on a dramatic first day at Hove as Sussex fought back after being bowled out for 150 by Yorkshire in the Vitality County Championship.Yorkshire, led by England captain Joe Root, had earlier posted a respectable 176 for 7, with Root contributing a classy 67. However, Sussex's bowlers, led by Sean Hunt (3-61), made early inroads into the Yorkshire batting lineup.Root, who has been in impressive form in the Championship this season, shared crucial partnerships with James Wharton (42) and Jonathan Tattersall (58). However, a misjudgment saw him dismissed for 67, leaving Yorkshire with a lead of just 26 runs.For Sussex, George Hill was the standout performer with the ball, claiming 4 for 22, including two wickets in his opening spell. Ben Coad also chipped in with 3 for 47, while Dom Leech made a timely return to the side, claiming the crucial wicket of Cheteshwar Pujara.Sussex's batting had earlier struggled against Yorkshire's disciplined bowling attack. James Coles top-scored with 38, while Pujara contributed 30. However, the Yorkshire bowlers, led by Hill, kept the Sussex batsmen in check, dismissing them for 150 in just 44.1 overs.In response, Yorkshire's batting also faced challenges. Hunt struck early, removing Finlay Bean, while Adam Lyth and Shan Masood also fell cheaply. Root and Wharton steadied the ship, but wickets continued to fall at regular intervals.By stumps, Yorkshire had reached 176 for 7, with Root's dismissal proving a significant blow. The match is evenly poised heading into day two, with Yorkshire holding a slender lead but Sussex's bowlers in the ascendancy.

Joe Root, England's Test captain, has endorsed the use of the Kookaburra ball in the County Championship, arguing that it can enhance the skills of domestic cricketers and narrow the gap between domestic and international cricket.The Kookaburra ball, typically used in Australia, was introduced in the first two rounds of the County Championship season. While the initial results showed a high number of draws, Root believes that the ball's flatter seam and quicker loss of shape can challenge bowlers and force them to develop new strategies.Root, who has extensive experience with the Kookaburra ball overseas, sees its use in England as an opportunity for bowlers to improve their wicket-taking abilities in challenging conditions. He emphasizes that the transition to the Kookaburra ball may involve some initial difficulties, but it can ultimately lead to a higher standard of cricket.Root draws parallels to England's success in limited-overs cricket, which he attributes to a mindset shift and the development of a pool of talented white-ball players. He believes that a similar approach can be applied to red-ball cricket, with the Kookaburra ball serving as a catalyst for improvement.The Kookaburra ball trial is part of a wider effort to enhance the quality of domestic cricket and prepare players for the rigors of Test cricket. Root's support for the initiative highlights the importance of embracing innovation and challenging the status quo to elevate the standard of the game.

Yorkshire continued their dominance over Glamorgan on day three of their Vitality County Championship clash at Headingley, extending their lead to 127 runs. Joe Root, who resumed on 92 overnight, completed a superb 156, while Fin Bean's 173 helped Yorkshire post an imposing 519 for seven declared.Glamorgan's depleted bowling attack struggled to contain Yorkshire's batsmen, with Root and Bean sharing a 265-run partnership for the third wicket. Harry Brook added 65, including two sixes, before Mason Crane sparked the declaration with a five-wicket haul.Despite batting on a deteriorating pitch, Glamorgan's openers Eddie Byrom and Joe Root started their second innings brightly, sharing 56 inside 18 overs. However, both fell either side of tea, and Kiran Carlson was unfortunate to be run out.Sam Northeast and Colin Ingram steadied the ship for Glamorgan, reaching 46 and 43 respectively at the close of play. However, they will need to significantly build on their 78-run partnership to give Glamorgan a chance of avoiding defeat.

Glamorgan's Billy Root, the younger brother of England Test captain Joe Root, made a half-century against his sibling's Yorkshire side on the rain-affected opening day of their Vitality County Championship clash at Headingley.Billy Root, a left-handed opener, scored a measured 51 off 95 balls before lunch, helping Glamorgan reach 109 for four from 41 overs after electing to bat first. However, rain forced a three-and-a-half-hour delay from 1.45pm, and Yorkshire struck twice quickly in the delayed evening session. Bad light then meant no play beyond 6pm.Yorkshire, desperate for their first win in five matches, opted to play two frontline spinners in Dan Moriarty and Dom Bess on the pitch used for last weekend's draw against Derbyshire. Both bowlers claimed a wicket apiece in the morning session, with Moriarty dismissing Billy Root caught at short-leg just before lunch.Earlier, Yorkshire seamer Matthew Coad trapped Eddie Byrom lbw for 18, leaving Glamorgan 18 for one. Billy Root and captain Sam Northeast then put on a 74-run stand, with Root driving nicely against seam and sweeping and reverse sweeping against spin. Northeast went on to make 29 before being run out in the evening.The Root brothers have faced each other three times previously in county cricket, with Billy playing for either Nottinghamshire or Glamorgan. In the build-up to this game, Joe Root described the experience as a "horrible situation." However, both have performed well against each other in the past.In the two Championship matches they played in early 2021, Billy scored a century at Headingley and Joe a 99 at Cardiff. In this fixture, Joe Root dropped a tough first slip catch off Coad with Billy on six.When play resumed at 5.30pm following afternoon rain, Northeast was run out backing up two balls into the delayed evening, leaving Glamorgan at 96 for three in the 34th over. Matthew Fisher got a hand on a crisp Kiran Carlson drive and deflected it onto the stumps.Bess then had Carlson caught and bowled off an inside-edge with the first ball of his second over, his first of the session - 97 for four. Moriarty finished with one for 29 from 15 overs and Bess one for 14 from four.Both sides are searching for their first win of 2024. While Yorkshire have drawn three and lost one, Glamorgan have drawn all three and came into this fixture bottom of the embryonic Division Two table.The day's play was preceded by a minute's silence in memory of Worcestershire spinner Josh Baker, whose death at the age of 20 was announced on Thursday.