Cricket

Josh Hull, the promising Leicestershire left-arm seamer, has been ruled out of England's Test tour of Pakistan due to a persistent quad injury. The 20-year-old sustained the niggle during his debut in the final Test against Sri Lanka at The Oval.Initially, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) believed Hull had sufficient time to recover and withdrew him from the limited-overs series against Australia. However, the injury has lingered, forcing the decision to exclude him from the three-Test series in Pakistan.England will not call up a replacement and will travel to Pakistan with a 16-man squad on October 1. The first Test in Multan commences on October 7.Hull's selection for the tour was intended to accelerate his development as a unique asset for England's bowling attack. Standing at 6ft7in, his left-arm angle and ability to swing the ball into right-handers offer a distinct skillset.After impressing in a tour match against Sri Lanka, Hull was drafted into the squad following Mark Wood's injury in the first Test at Emirates Old Trafford. His strong performances in training caught the attention of head coach Brendon McCullum and bowling consultant James Anderson, leading to his surprise debut at The Oval.Hull displayed glimpses of his potential, taking 3 for 53 in the first innings. However, he failed to claim any wickets in the second innings as Sri Lanka chased down 219 to inflict England's only Test defeat of the summer.The match marked Hull's 11th first-class appearance, a season in which he had managed only two wickets in three Division Two appearances for Leicestershire, at a high average of 182.50.It remains uncertain whether Hull would have featured in Pakistan or if he will be included in the tour to New Zealand. The ECB will monitor his recovery closely.

Matthew Potts, the rising star of English cricket, is on a mission to become an all-formats, all-conditions bowler. Currently halfway through a white-ball series against Australia, Potts is set to embark on a month-long Test tour to Pakistan, a testament to his versatility.Potts' journey to becoming a multi-faceted quick began with a focus on increasing his ball speed. He believes this is crucial for his success not only in England but also on overseas tours. By refining his run-up and using his front arm more efficiently, Potts aims to generate greater pace.Despite his impressive debut season, Potts acknowledges that he may not have been ready for the challenges of Pakistan's pitches two years ago. However, he has since worked tirelessly to improve his game, particularly his ball speed. With James Anderson, Mark Wood, and Ollie Robinson unavailable for the upcoming tour, Potts is determined to step up and fill the void.In the ongoing ODI series, Potts has showcased his dexterity as a new-ball bowler. His control and ability to swing the ball have been impressive, with a standout wicket against Steve Smith in the second ODI. Potts' performance has put him in contention to replace Chris Woakes in England's white-ball plans.Potts' versatility extends beyond his bowling. He is also a capable batsman, as evidenced by his half-century in the first Test against Sri Lanka. This all-round ability makes him a valuable asset to any team.As Potts prepares for the Pakistan tour, he is confident in his ability to contribute to England's success. He is eager to prove that he can be a viable replacement for Woakes and help England rebuild their white-ball dynasty.

England's Ben Stokes Returns for Pakistan Test TourEngland Test captain Ben Stokes will make his long-awaited return to the team for the upcoming tour of Pakistan in October. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed the news on Tuesday, announcing a 17-member squad for the three-match series starting on October 7.Stokes, who missed the recent series against Sri Lanka due to a hamstring injury, is in the process of recovery and is expected to be fit for the Pakistan tour. Zak Crawley, who has been out since July with a fractured finger, is also set to return to the squad.The squad also includes spinner Rehan Ahmed, who made his Test debut in Pakistan last December, and Jack Leach, who last played in the opening Test in India in January. Josh Hull, who made his Test debut against Sri Lanka last week, is included along with uncapped players Brydon Carse and batter Jordan Cox.Eight players from the victorious 2022 squad, including Ahmed, Harry Brook, Crawley, Ben Duckett, Leach, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, and Stokes, are part of the team. The venues for the series are expected to be announced by the Pakistan Cricket Board later this week.England will be looking to build on their recent success in Pakistan, where they won the Test series 3-0 in December 2022. Stokes' return will provide a significant boost to the team, as he is one of the world's leading all-rounders.

James Anderson, the legendary English fast bowler, will continue his role as bowling consultant for the England men's team during their upcoming winter tours of Pakistan and New Zealand. Anderson's initial stint, which began after his retirement from Test cricket in June, has been extended through the end of the year.The 42-year-old Anderson has been working closely with the England team since his retirement, providing guidance and expertise to the bowlers. The ECB is keen to retain his knowledge and experience as they build towards the 2025-26 Ashes series.Anderson's role as bowling consultant has been mutually beneficial. It has allowed him to explore a potential coaching career while also providing valuable support to the England team. The team has benefited from his insights and experience, particularly in the development of young bowlers like Josh Hull.Anderson's presence has also been a positive influence on the team's culture. His knowledge and experience have been invaluable to the younger players, who have been able to learn from one of the greatest bowlers of all time.While Anderson is currently focused on his role as bowling consultant, he has not ruled out the possibility of playing franchise cricket in the future. However, he is aware that he needs to get back to playing white-ball cricket before he can consider that option.The extension of Anderson's role as bowling consultant is a testament to his value to the England team. His knowledge, experience, and positive influence make him an invaluable asset to the team as they prepare for future challenges.

Ben Stokes, England's talismanic all-rounder, is on the mend and on track to make a full recovery from his hamstring injury in time for the upcoming Test series against Pakistan in October. Stokes sustained the injury while playing for Northern Superchargers in the Hundred two-and-a-half weeks ago, ruling him out for the remainder of the English summer.Despite his absence, Stokes has remained with the England squad during their ongoing series against Sri Lanka, batting in the nets at Lord's ahead of Thursday's second Test. England are scheduled to arrive in Pakistan on October 2, with the first Test set to commence five days later in Multan.A return to full fitness for Stokes would be a significant boost to England's chances in Pakistan, where they triumphed 3-0 in their most recent tour in 2022. During that series, Stokes bowled only 35 overs due to a chronic knee injury.Stokes expressed his eagerness to return to action, describing it as "scratching an itch." He emphasized his gradual progress in rehab and his belief that being surrounded by the medical team would expedite his recovery.England's stand-in captain, Ollie Pope, praised Stokes's dedication and believes he will be "as fresh as anyone" heading into the winter tours to Pakistan and New Zealand. Pope highlighted Stokes's ability to improve his game during injury setbacks and his positive impact on the squad.Zak Crawley, who is also missing the Sri Lanka series due to a broken finger, visited Lord's on Tuesday and is targeting a return for the Pakistan tour in October. Mark Wood, another injured player, has been replaced by Olly Stone in England's XI for the second Test at Lord's.Pope expressed his excitement for Stone to showcase his abilities as a high-pace bowler, despite acknowledging that he may not reach Wood's top speeds. Stokes commended Pope's seamless transition into his interim role and enjoyed observing the team's performance from the dressing room in Manchester.

Bangladesh's political turmoil has subsided, with a caretaker government now in charge. However, the unrest has raised concerns about the country's ability to host the Women's T20 World Cup in October.Despite the political upheaval, Bangladesh's men's cricket team is set to embark on a tour of Pakistan, their first fixture in two months. The two Tests form part of the World Test Championship, and captain Najmul Hossain Shanto is determined to put the political turmoil behind them.One of the key players for Bangladesh is Shakib Al Hasan, whose stint as a member of parliament ended with the government's collapse. However, Shakib has remained focused on his cricket, and Shanto expects him to continue to perform at his best."Shakib bhai is in a good shape - in practice and preparation. He has the desire to do well," Shanto said. "He has showed his commitment in every practice session. He is a professional cricketer. We all treat him as a cricketer. He [has] played this game for so long that he knows his role; he knows how to prepare himself."Bangladesh will also rely on Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who is a respectable batter in the lower order. Mehidy is likely to be included in the XI to prevent Bangladesh from having a long tail. Batting him at No. 8 might allow Bangladesh to play three fast bowlers and two spinners, including both Shakib and Mehidy.Shanto hinted that one of those quicks could be Nahid Rana, considered Bangladesh's fastest bowler with speeds up to 150kph."There's a chance of him playing. He is in good shape," Shanto said. "We will have our normal combination, it seems. Pacers will have an extra advantage on this wicket, so we will look at that when thinking about our XI. [Shadman Islam] is batting very well. He is preparing well. He made runs [recently against Pakistan A] in Australia."Bangladesh are in dire need of a batting revival. The understanding that Rawalpindi could be a favourable pitch for batters is giving them encouragement. Shanto said that they have done enough preparation to get better, which also includes his own form, as both Shanto and Litton Das have been in the headlines after playing poorly in the T20 World Cup a few months back."We are not looking to do anything extra, but it is true that we haven't been batting well in the last few months," he said. "We didn't go well in our last Test series [against Sri Lanka, in March-April]. Having said that, I think we are well prepared for this Test series. The players have used the opportunities to prepare properly. They believe that we can do better with the bat.""I have always looked to develop my skills as a batter. Every practice session has been about improving in those areas where I lack. I am hopeful that it will help me in the matches [against Pakistan]."Shanto remained positive that Bangladesh have enough reason to be confident for the series opener in Rawalpindi, especially with their fast-bowling unit."Records can change. It won't be easy [for Pakistan]," he said. "We have a balanced side. We believe we can do special things this time. We are excited to play here. We have developed a good pace-bowling unit, we have four quality spinners, [and] we covered all the bases that will help us make the team tomorrow. The seamers get a bit of benefit here, so they are excited to do well in this condition."

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has requested the government to provide a security consultant for their upcoming tour of Pakistan, scheduled for July and August. This request comes amidst concerns raised by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) regarding the safety of the Indian team during the ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan next year.The BCB's cricket operation chairman, Jalal Yunus, expressed concerns about security but stated that the board had received assurances from Pakistan and had decided to proceed with the tour. He emphasized the importance of a security consultant to maintain constant communication with the government on security matters.Bangladesh is set to play two Tests in Pakistan, with the first match in Rawalpindi from July 21 and the second in Karachi from August 30. Yunus noted that none of the Bangladesh players had expressed reservations about the tour and that recent teams visiting Pakistan had been satisfied with the security arrangements."We agreed to go on this tour because they ensured us of that," Yunus said, referring to the security provided during the Asia Cup in Pakistan. "You might have seen in recent times that some international teams have also visited (Pakistan) and they are quite happy with the security they provided."The BCCI, on the other hand, is still awaiting permission from the Government of India for the Indian team's participation in the Champions Trophy in Pakistan. The BCCI has repeatedly raised concerns about the safety of its players and staff in Pakistan, citing past incidents of violence and terrorism.The security situation in Pakistan has improved in recent years, but concerns remain, particularly in the wake of the 2022 attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore. The BCB's request for a security consultant reflects the ongoing need for vigilance and the importance of ensuring the safety of players and officials during international cricket matches.

On the seam-friendly pitches of the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, Axar Patel's left-arm spin has taken a backseat to the pacers. However, Patel has emerged as a valuable asset with the bat. Promoted to No. 4 in the Pakistan outing on Sunday, he anchored the Indian innings with an 18-ball 20.Patel's primary task was to navigate the PowerPlay safely. By hanging around long enough to neutralize the new ball, he paved the way for the likes of Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, and Shivam Dube to bat with greater ease. "Rohit (Sharma) bhai has made it clear that the only fixed batting positions are those of the openers. Everything below that is flexible," Patel explained. "I got a brief—I don't have to slog wildly. The plan was to bat as long as possible and make the new ball a bit older. This would make it easier for batters coming after me."Patel's 39-run third-wicket partnership with Rishabh Pant proved crucial in the low-scoring affair. "The partnership with Rishabh was crucial. We got to a good position after 10 overs. We knew that batting second on this pitch would not be easy, so we remained positive even though we scored only 119," Patel said.Despite bowling only three overs in India's two matches, the 30-year-old left-arm spinner has made an impact. He trapped Usman Khan leg-before off the first ball he bowled and later tightened the screws on Pakistan by conceding just two runs in the 16th over. Left-hander Imad Wasim, expected to have it easy against a left-arm spinner, was beaten three times in a row. "Some pressure built up because I bowled a tidy over. There is not much in the wicket for the spinners. I did not want to let them free their arms and go for big shots," Patel said.

New Zealand's T20 World Cup preparations have been impacted by the absence of official warm-up matches. However, the team is confident that their recent experiences in the IPL, Pakistan tour, and CPL will provide them with the necessary preparation.Head coach Gary Stead explained that logistical challenges and the staggered arrival of players from the IPL made it impractical to arrange warm-up fixtures. Instead, the team will rely on additional training sessions to fine-tune their game plan.Nine players have gained valuable experience in the IPL, while others participated in the Pakistan tour. However, match time has varied significantly for key players in India. Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, and Kane Williamson have had limited opportunities, while Daryl Mitchell and Rachin Ravindra have featured more prominently.Trent Boult has been a consistent performer for Rajasthan Royals, taking 12 wickets. With the bat, only Mitchell has had a successful tournament, scoring 314 runs at a strike rate of 144.70.First-choice openers Devon Conway and Finn Allen are recovering from injuries and have not played since February. Conway is expected to be assessed upon his return from India, while Allen is still experiencing some discomfort.Tim Southee, who was rested for the Pakistan tour, has not played a game since the New Zealand season ended. Despite these absences, Stead remains confident in the team's preparations."We've only got two players who haven't been to a T20 World Cup that are in this squad," he said. "That shows our group is experienced and they can lean back on those past experiences."The team has been practicing on various surfaces to simulate the conditions they may encounter in Guyana and Trinidad. Stead believes the pitches could initially favor high scores but may deteriorate with repeated use.New Zealand faces a challenging group stage, with Afghanistan, West Indies, Uganda, and Papua New Guinea as their opponents. Stead acknowledges the difficulty of the task but is eager to embrace the challenge.