Cricket

Joe Root's masterful double century on the fourth day of the opening Test against Pakistan in Multan has etched his name into the annals of cricketing history. Resuming on 176, Root displayed unwavering composure and patience, reaching his double century off 305 deliveries with just 14 boundaries.This remarkable feat marks Root's sixth double century in Test cricket, surpassing the likes of Rahul Dravid, Alastair Cook, and Graeme Smith, who each scored five double centuries. By joining this elite group, Root now stands alongside legends such as Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Ricky Ponting, Marvan Atapattu, Kane Williamson, Javed Miandad, and Younis Khan.Root's double century was a testament to his exceptional technique and unwavering concentration. He played with a calm assurance, unfazed by the pressure of the occasion. His innings was characterized by a combination of elegant drives, deft flicks, and powerful pulls.As Root reached his double century, the Multan Cricket Stadium erupted in applause. The England captain removed his helmet, kissed the badge, and raised his bat in celebration. His teammates rushed onto the field to congratulate him on this historic achievement.Root's double century has not only cemented his status as one of the greatest batsmen of his generation but has also given England a significant advantage in the Test match. With Pakistan still trailing by a substantial margin, Root's innings has put England in a commanding position to secure a victory in Multan.

New Zealand's left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel is determined to make a significant impact in the upcoming three-Test series against India, starting on October 16 in Bengaluru. Patel, who was born in Mumbai and has family ties to the city, recently trained at the MIG Cricket Club to prepare for the series.Patel, 35, has a remarkable connection to Mumbai. In December 2021, he became only the third bowler in Test history to achieve a "perfect 10," taking 10 wickets for 119 runs in India's first innings at the Wankhede Stadium.Ahead of the India tour, Patel reached out to Datta Mithbavkar, the local manager of the Afghanistan team during the washed-out Test against New Zealand in Greater Noida. Patel requested a training facility in Mumbai, where he could practice on a spin-friendly wicket.With the help of Nilesh Bhosle, an Apex Council member of the Mumbai Cricket Association, Patel secured a practice session at the MIG Club. He bowled for approximately 90 minutes, facing former India U-19 allrounder Vaibhav Ankolekar. Patel was impressed with Ankolekar's batting and shared valuable bowling tips with him.Patel also interacted with young local players, including left-arm spinners from Mithbavkar's academy, providing them with guidance and advice.Patel's determination to excel in the India series is evident in his meticulous preparation. He is eager to make a mark on the Indian pitches and contribute to New Zealand's success.

England's Harry Brook Escapes Miraculous Dismissal in Multan TestIn a moment of sheer luck, England's Harry Brook narrowly avoided a game-changing dismissal during the first Test against Pakistan in Multan on Wednesday. During the 75th over, Pakistan's Aamer Jamal bowled a delivery that nipped back in as Brook attempted a late stab. The ball deflected off Brook's body and trickled back towards the stumps, but despite hitting them, the bails remained stubbornly in place.This stroke of fortune for Brook came in stark contrast to the stellar performance of his teammate Joe Root, who stole the show with a majestic hundred. Root broke Alastair Cook's record to become England's highest run-scorer in Test cricket, surpassing Cook's total of 12,472 runs. Root's masterclass innings of 119 not out helped steer England to 351/3 at tea on day three.Unfazed by his near miss, Brook went on to register a gritty half-century, ending the session unbeaten on 64. Together with Root, the pair put on a 102-run stand, frustrating the Pakistani camp on a flat Multan surface.Brook's escape and Root's record-breaking century have put England in a commanding position in the first Test. With two days remaining, England will be looking to build on their advantage and secure a crucial victory in the three-match series.

Joe Root Surpasses Sunil Gavaskar's Test Century RecordFormer England captain Joe Root has etched his name into the annals of cricket history by surpassing Indian batting legend Sunil Gavaskar's record of 34 Test centuries. Root achieved this remarkable feat on the third day of the first Test match against Pakistan in Multan on Wednesday.Root's 35th Test century came in the second session of the day with a single off Abrar Ahmed. The milestone marked a significant moment in the career of the 31-year-old batsman, who has established himself as one of the most prolific run-scorers in modern cricket.Known for his exceptional technique against both spin and pace, Root has been a consistent performer in all conditions. His adaptability and ability to score runs at a high rate have earned him a place among the "Fab Four" (alongside Virat Kohli, Kane Williamson, and Steve Smith).Root's achievement is particularly noteworthy considering the stature of Sunil Gavaskar, who was regarded as one of the greatest openers in cricket history. Gavaskar's record of 34 Test centuries stood for nearly two decades until Sachin Tendulkar surpassed it.By scoring his 35th Test hundred, Root also surpassed Mahela Jayawardene, Brian Lara, and Younis Khan, all of whom had scored 34 Test centuries. This achievement further cements Root's status as one of the most prolific batsmen of his generation.Root's record-breaking century is a testament to his exceptional talent and unwavering determination. It is a fitting tribute to the legacy of Sunil Gavaskar and a reminder of the enduring power of cricket's greatest batsmen.

India's promising pace sensation, Mayank Yadav, has made an impressive debut in the T20 format. However, former left-arm fast bowler RP Singh believes that Yadav should not be rushed into Test cricket as he still has room for development.Singh acknowledges Yadav's pace and control but emphasizes that Test cricket demands a higher level of skill and endurance. He suggests that Akash Deep, who has played more domestic cricket, would be a better choice for the upcoming Test series in Australia."For the Australia tour, Akash Deep should be in the pace bowling attack. His bowling style suits better," Singh said. "Mayank Yadav has pace, which is one aspect of fast bowling, but there are many variations and skills that develop slowly."Singh highlights the importance of managing Yadav's workload, both in terms of bowling and gym sessions. He believes that Yadav needs to improve his skills and develop a roadmap for his progress with the help of the National Cricket Academy (NCA) and BCCI coaches.Despite his reservations about Yadav's readiness for Test cricket, Singh praises his accuracy and control in his maiden international outing. "He started with a maiden as his first over in his first international match, so it tells that he has an idea about the accuracy along with pace," Singh said.Singh's comments underscore the need for a balanced approach in developing young fast bowlers. While Yadav's pace is undeniable, it is crucial to ensure that he has the necessary skills and experience to succeed at the highest level.

Kane Williamson's absence from the opening Test against India in Bengaluru has dealt a significant blow to New Zealand's hopes. The skipper's groin strain, sustained during the Sri Lanka series, has delayed his departure from New Zealand.In Williamson's stead, Tom Latham will lead the Black Caps, who have added Mark Chapman to their squad for the three-Test tour. Chapman, a left-handed batter, has played 78 white-ball matches for New Zealand but is yet to make his Test debut.The rest of the squad remains unchanged from the disappointing Sri Lanka tour, with Michael Bracewell available only for the first Test before departing for the birth of his second child. Ish Sodhi will join the squad as Bracewell's replacement for the second and third Tests.Williamson's injury is a major setback for New Zealand, given his experience in India and the team's struggles for runs in Sri Lanka. The Black Caps selector, Sam Wells, expressed hope that Williamson could play a part later in the series but confirmed his absence from the first Test."The advice we've received is that the best course of action is for Kane to rest and rehabilitate now rather than risk aggravating the injury," Wells said. "We're hopeful that if the rehabilitation goes to plan, Kane will be available for the latter part of the tour."While Williamson's absence is a disappointment, it presents an opportunity for someone else to step up in an important series. Chapman, who has scored a century against India A in 2020, could make his Test debut.Former Sri Lanka spinner Rangana Herath will also travel to India with the Black Caps as part of the coaching staff, continuing his role as a spin-bowling coach.

England's batting maestro Joe Root has taken a significant step towards equaling the legendary Sachin Tendulkar's remarkable record of amassing 1000-plus Test runs in the most calendar years.In the ongoing Test match against Pakistan, Root played a crucial role in stabilizing England's innings after the early dismissal of stand-in skipper Ollie Pope. With Pakistan posting a formidable 556 runs on the back of centuries from Salman Ali Agha, Abdullah Shafique, and Shan Masood, England faced an uphill task.Root approached his innings with caution, ensuring that England did not lose further wickets. He rotated the strike effectively, found the boundary twice, and remained unbeaten on 32 runs from 54 deliveries.This performance marked Root's fifth calendar year in which he has crossed the 1000-run mark in Test cricket. He now stands level with cricket icons Brian Lara, Matthew Hayden, Jacques Kallis, Ricky Ponting, Kumar Sangakkara, and Alastair Cook for achieving this feat.To match Tendulkar's record, Root needs to accumulate 1000 Test runs in one more calendar year. Tendulkar currently holds the record with six calendar years in which he achieved this milestone.Zak Crawley played an aggressive role for England, scoring a brisk 64 runs from 64 deliveries. His innings, which included 11 fours, put pressure on the Pakistan bowlers.The duo of Root and Crawley forged an unbeaten 92-run partnership, guiding England to a score of 96/1 at the end of the day's play. They trail Pakistan by 460 runs, with plenty of work still to do in the remaining days of the Test match.

Cheteshwar Pujara's absence from India's Test squad for their upcoming tour of Australia has sparked discussions about the team's batting dynamics. Former Australian all-rounder Shane Watson believes that India's younger batters, such as Yashasvi Jaiswal, can fill the void left by Pujara and continue to pose a significant threat to the Australian bowling attack.Pujara played a pivotal role in India's historic Test series victories in Australia in 2018-19 and 2020-21. His ability to bat for extended periods and absorb pressure was crucial to India's success. However, Watson believes that Jaiswal, despite his contrasting batting style, can have a similar impact on the Australian bowlers."Jaiswal hasn't given the opposition a chance to get him out," Watson said. "If he and other aggressive batters can put pressure on the Aussie bowlers, they can still have the same effect as Pujara."Watson also highlighted Rishabh Pant as another Indian batter who could pose a serious threat to Australia. Pant has a remarkable record in Australia, having scored 624 runs in 12 innings at a strike rate of 72.13."Pant has great memories from his last tour," Watson said. "He's come through his challenges and is now an even better player. I think he's going to have a big series."In addition to the batting, Watson identified Jasprit Bumrah as a key player for India. Bumrah has 32 wickets at 21.25 from seven Tests in Australia and is considered one of the best fast bowlers in the world."Bumrah is so good in all conditions," Watson said. "He's going to be very effective in Australia. If he has a big series, he can really provide Australia some big challenges."Overall, Watson believes that India's batting lineup, despite the absence of Pujara, has the potential to trouble the Australian bowlers and continue their success in Australia.

England's Test debutant Ben Duckett faces an anxious wait to determine his availability for the remainder of the first Test against Pakistan in Multan. Duckett suffered a suspected dislocation of his left thumb while fielding at slip on the opening day, casting doubt over his ability to bat.The incident occurred when Pakistan's No. 11, Abrar Ahmed, steered a short ball from Joe Root straight into Duckett's thumb. Duckett initially held onto the catch but immediately grimaced in pain and received treatment from England's doctor.Ollie Pope replaced Duckett as opener alongside Zak Crawley, but England remained cautious in their batting approach, reaching 96 for 1 at the close of the 20-over stint. An England spokesperson expressed hope that Duckett's injury would subside overnight, but it remains uncertain whether he will be fit to bat on the third day.Duckett's absence would be a significant blow for England, who have opted to field a six-batter, five-bowler lineup in the absence of Ben Stokes. Duckett was England's second-highest run-scorer in their 3-0 series whitewash in Pakistan two years ago and has emerged as a key player since his recall.Stokes, who is targeting a comeback in the second Test, stepped up his recovery on Tuesday. He took slip catches, ran at high intensity, and bowled three overs at tea, with James Anderson observing.England's resources for the second Test are already stretched, with Olly Stone unlikely to feature after returning home for his wedding. If Duckett is unavailable, he could be replaced by Jordan Cox or Stokes, necessitating a reshuffled batting order.