Cricket

Jofra Archer's resurgence has been a beacon of hope for England's cricket team, as the fast bowler continues to prove his worth after a series of setbacks. In the fourth ODI against Australia at Lord's, Archer claimed two crucial wickets to help England level the series 2-2.Archer's performance was a testament to his enduring talent, which was first showcased in the 2019 ODI World Cup final and his Test debut in the Ashes. Despite suffering stress fractures in his back and elbow, Archer has remained resilient and is now reaping the rewards of his hard work.The 29-year-old has played 24 competitive matches this summer, including the T20 World Cup, and is on track to surpass his previous season's tally of 681 deliveries. This is a significant milestone for Archer, who was sidelined for 14 months before making his return in May.Archer's return has been carefully managed, with a focus on avoiding further injuries. He has been excluded from Test cricket until 2025, but is expected to feature in the limited-overs series in the Caribbean and the Champions Trophy next year.Beyond his on-field contributions, Archer's experience and leadership will be invaluable to England's white-ball team. As one of the senior players and a two-time World Cup winner, Archer will play a key role in mentoring the younger players and fostering a winning culture.

Australian Wicketkeeper Josh Inglis Booed at Lord's for Controversial Catch ClaimDuring the fourth ODI between Australia and England at Lord's, Australian wicketkeeper Josh Inglis faced a chorus of boos from the crowd after claiming a controversial catch. In the 17th over of England's batting, Inglis dived to his left to catch a delivery from Mitchell Starc that England captain Harry Brook appeared to have edged.However, replays showed that the ball had bounced before reaching Inglis' gloves. Despite this, Inglis appealed for the catch, prompting the Lord's crowd to express their disapproval with loud boos. Umpire Joel Wilson initially gave the dismissal before consulting with fellow official Martin Saggers, and the pair referred the decision to the third umpire for confirmation.Third umpire Kumar Dharmasena overturned the decision after replays confirmed that the ball had bounced into Inglis' gloves. The crowd's reaction was swift and vocal, with boos and chants of "Same old Aussies, always cheating" echoing around the ground.The incident brought back memories of a similar controversy 14 months earlier, when Australian wicketkeeper Alex Carey controversially stumped England's Jonny Bairstow during the second Ashes Test at the same venue. That incident led to heated reactions and unsightly scenes in the Lord's Pavilion's Long Room.Earlier in the match, Australia opted to bowl at a cold and cloudy Lord's after the toss was delayed by 90 minutes due to rain. Further showers after the toss reduced the match to 39 overs per side, with no bowler allowed more than eight overs.

England vs Australia 4th ODI Live Updates: England Eye Series Leveler at Lord'sEngland will be aiming to level the ongoing five-match ODI series against Australia at 2-2 when the two teams clash in the fourth ODI at Lord's on Thursday. After suffering comprehensive defeats in the first two ODIs, England's batting finally came to the party in the third ODI, as they secured a rain-hit 46-run victory.The hosts will be buoyed by their performance in the third ODI, where they posted a competitive total of 287/9, thanks to half-centuries from Dawid Malan and Liam Livingstone. Their bowlers then restricted Australia to 241/9, with David Willey and Adil Rashid claiming three wickets each.Australia, on the other hand, will be looking to seal a series win away from home against their arch-rivals. The visitors have been in impressive form throughout the series, with their bowlers, led by Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood, proving to be a handful for the English batsmen.However, the weather could play a significant role in the fourth ODI, with rain forecast for London. If the rain does intervene, it could potentially spoil the contest and force a no-result.Key Players to Watch:* England: Dawid Malan, Liam Livingstone, David Willey* Australia: Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Steve SmithMatch Details:* Date: Thursday, July 14, 2023* Time: 11:00 AM BST* Venue: Lord's, London

Test Cricket's Future in Jeopardy as Ticket Prices SoarFormer England cricketer and commentator David Lloyd has raised concerns about the future of Test cricket, citing the exorbitant ticket prices for the upcoming third Test between England and India at Lord's next July.Ticket prices have skyrocketed, with the most expensive seats reaching an astonishing £175 (Rs 19,557). Even the most affordable seats available for the first three days come at a steep price of £90 (around Rs 10,000), and these seats offer limited visibility of the event.Lloyd expressed his dismay in a Daily Mail article, stating, "Paying that much for a seat where you can't see the entire field is ridiculous. What might you miss? The batsman? A catch down at fine leg?"He emphasized that Test cricket is in danger of becoming an event only for the elite, excluding regular fans who cannot afford such high prices. "Sure, it's fun to spot celebrities in the crowd, but cricket needs to cater to everyone, not just the rich," he said.Lloyd believes that Lord's is setting a trend for other cricket venues. If ticket prices at Lord's range from £120 – £175 (around Rs 13,000 -Rs 19,000), it could lead to similar pricing strategies being adopted by other grounds.He questioned the rationale behind the pricing, asking, "Who sets these prices? Who decides that £175 is fair? I'd love to know the answer."Lloyd highlighted the disparity between the luxurious experience at Lord's and the more affordable atmosphere at other grounds. "At Lord's, stewards collect champagne corks after every over. But, at places like Headingley, try throwing a can of Tetley's over the boundary and see what happens!"He concluded by expressing his concern for the everyday fan, who may be priced out of attending Test matches. "I'm speaking for the everyday fan. The kind who enjoys a football match with a pie and Bovril. For us, paying £120-£175 (for one day of cricket is outrageous. It feels like the MCC knows the price of everything, but the value of nothing. They're risking losing the connection between this great England team and the public."

Gloucestershire's bowlers, led by debutant Archie Bailey, orchestrated a dramatic collapse of Middlesex on day three at Lord's, leaving the visitors needing 234 runs to secure victory.Bailey's 4 for 30 spearheaded the rout, as Middlesex crumbled from a promising 122 for 2 to a dismal 165 all out. Zafar Gohar chipped in with 2 for 22, while wicketkeeper James Bracey claimed an impressive 11 catches and a run out.Earlier, Gohar had anchored Gloucestershire's innings with a stylish 86, helping them rally from 154 for 5 overnight to a respectable 309 for 9 declared. Skipper Toby Roland-Jones led the Middlesex bowling attack with 5 for 79, his fifth five-wicket haul in the last nine innings.Gloucestershire began the day needing 74 to avoid the follow-on and lost Tom Price early to Roland-Jones. However, Zafar and Ollie Price (76) steadied the ship, reducing the deficit. Zafar played with aplomb, mixing defense with aggression, and reached his half-century in 108 balls.After lunch, Roland-Jones returned to remove Zaman Akhter and complete his five-fer. Gohar fell shortly after, but Gloucestershire declared with a 68-run deficit.Robson avoided a king pair but survived a contentious caught-behind appeal on 22. Bailey then made an immediate impact, dismissing Mark Stoneman in his first over.A cloudburst before tea signaled a stormy evening for Middlesex. Robson reached his half-century but was caught behind off Akhter. Max Holden's quickfire 39 ended with a catch in the deep, triggering a collapse.Higgins, Davies, De Caires, Hollman, and Roland-Jones all fell in quick succession, with Bracey involved in several dismissals. Bailey claimed the prized wicket of Leus Du Ploy, while Gohar bowled Brookes for a duck to complete the rout.Gloucestershire will resume day four as favorites to chase down the target and secure a memorable victory.

Navjot Singh Sidhu's unexpected departure from India's tour of England in 1996 had a profound impact on the career of Sourav Ganguly. Sidhu, a senior member and established opening batsman, had a disagreement with then-captain Mohammad Azharuddin, leading to his abrupt exit.This sudden vacancy in the batting lineup forced the Indian team management to reconsider their strategy. Ganguly, who had been selected in the squad but was yet to make his debut, was brought into the playing XI as a replacement.Ganguly seized this opportunity with both hands, making a stunning debut at Lord's by scoring a century (131 runs). He followed it up with another century in the next Test at Trent Bridge, cementing his place in the Indian team.Sidhu's departure indirectly opened the door for Ganguly's Test career, allowing him to showcase his talent on the international stage. This turn of events marked the beginning of a legendary career. Ganguly went on to become one of India's most successful captains, known for his aggressive leadership style and his ability to build a fearless team.Ganguly's debut was a testament to his resilience and determination. Despite not being the first-choice opener, he grabbed the opportunity and made the most of it. His performance at Lord's and Trent Bridge not only earned him a permanent place in the Indian team but also set the stage for his future success as a captain.Sidhu's decision to leave the tour may have been controversial at the time, but it ultimately had a positive impact on Indian cricket. It paved the way for Ganguly's debut and the start of a remarkable career that would inspire generations of cricketers.

England's Gus Atkinson continued his remarkable Lord's legacy, claiming five wickets as the hosts thrashed Sri Lanka by 190 runs in the second Test on Sunday. This emphatic victory secured an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.Sri Lanka faced an insurmountable task of chasing down a record-breaking 483 in the fourth innings. Despite valiant efforts from Dinesh Chandimal (58), Dimuth Karunaratne (55), and captain Dhananjaya de Silva (50), they were dismissed for 292 after tea on the fourth day.Atkinson, who had earlier scored his maiden first-class century in England's first innings, led the bowling attack with an impressive 5-62. His performance earned him a fifth mention on the Lord's dressing room honors boards in just his second Test at the iconic venue.Atkinson's heroics made him only the third England cricketer after Tony Greig and Ian Botham to score a century and take five wickets in an innings of the same Test. He also joined India's Vinoo Mankad and Botham as the only players to achieve this feat at Lord's.The 26-year-old Surrey paceman's latest impressive return helped England seal a seventh successive win over Sri Lanka. This victory followed their five-wicket success in the first Test at Old Trafford."To get on both honors boards is incredible," Atkinson said after the match. "It will take a while to sink in."This game was also a personal triumph for England captain Joe Root. For the first time in his 145 Test matches, Root scored centuries in both innings (143 and 103), setting a new record of 34 Test centuries by an England batsman.Sri Lanka have little time to regroup before the third Test at The Oval, which starts on Friday. De Silva admitted that he had made a mistake in opting to field on a good batting pitch after winning the toss."Definitely. I got it wrong," he told the BBC. "We have got to improve on the first innings whether we bat or bowl first, that's what I will be telling my boys is that we've got to start better."Sri Lanka resumed Sunday on 53-2, with the odds stacked against them. However, Root dropped a tough chance to dismiss Karunaratne, who went on to score a half-century.Olly Stone, in his first Test for three years, dismissed Karunaratne shortly before lunch. Chandimal counter-attacked with a quickfire fifty, but Atkinson had him caught at short leg.Kamindu Mendis, who had scored a century in the first Test, fell for just four on Sunday. De Silva and Milan Rathnayake were also dismissed by Atkinson, who completed his five-wicket haul.Chris Woakes had the final say when Lahiru Kumara holed out to Stone at mid-on.

England's emphatic Test victory over Sri Lanka at Lord's was marred by a disappointing turnout, raising concerns about the affordability and accessibility of the format. Despite the team's impressive performance, thousands of tickets for the fourth day went unsold, leaving swathes of empty seats in the iconic stadium.The low attendance has been attributed to a combination of factors, including the high ticket prices, the accelerated pace of Test matches under the "Bazball" approach, and the heavy schedule of cricket this summer. England's dominant wins have often resulted in matches concluding earlier than expected, leaving fans feeling short-changed.Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), which owns Lord's, has acknowledged the issue and pledged to review fourth-day pricing. However, the club's reluctance to cut prices at short notice has drawn criticism, with some arguing that lower ticket prices could have attracted more fans and ultimately generated more revenue through matchday spending.The empty seats at Lord's stand in stark contrast to the packed crowds that attended the Hundred final at the same venue two weeks earlier. While the Hundred offers a more affordable and accessible alternative to Test cricket, it would be misleading to suggest that the difference in attendance reflects a shift in fan preferences.Despite the low turnout at Lord's, Test cricket remains popular in England. However, the empty seats serve as a reminder that fans are not willing to pay exorbitant prices for a format that is increasingly seen as inaccessible. If administrators want to ensure the long-term health of Test cricket, they must address the issue of affordability and find ways to make the format more appealing to a wider audience.

In 1984, Sri Lanka's debut at Lord's, the "Home of Cricket," marked a pivotal moment in their cricketing history. The young team surprised England with a dominant performance, declaring 491-7 in their opening innings, led by Sidath Wettimuny's outstanding 190.Wettimuny, then 28, recalled the historic event as a defining moment for both his country and himself. "England is the home of cricket," he said. "We were very keen to show up and do something decent so that the world took notice of us."Despite an uncomfortable start with Tamil demonstrators storming the field, Wettimuny remained composed. "That helped me tremendously," he said. "I just forgot about cricket, forgot about batting and I was relaxed for a few minutes."Wettimuny's elegant square-drives punished England's attack, led by Ian Botham. His success was attributed to his English education and his father's influence. "He was a huge cricket enthusiast," said Wettimuny. "He made us read CB Fry's 'On the Art of Batting'."Sri Lanka's captain, Duleep Mendis, was another aggressive batsman, despite England's current "Bazball" strategy. Mendis's 111 included multiple sixes off Botham's bouncers. "He was a phenomenal player when he got going," said Wettimuny.Wettimuny's obedience to Mendis's instructions led him to bat for almost 11 hours, falling 10 runs short of a double century. "I just say I was happy with what I got," he explained.England's Jonathan Agnew, who played in the match, acknowledged Sri Lanka's impressive performance. "Sidath played really, really well," he said. "And Duleep Mendis murdered 'Beefy' (Botham)."Arjuna Ranatunga, then 20, also made a significant contribution with an 84. "They've hardened up a lot," said Agnew. "When they first appeared, they sounded a bit old-fashioned, and played a bit old-fashioned."Sri Lanka's debut at Lord's not only showcased their talent but also marked a turning point in their cricketing journey.