Cricket

In a recent discussion, former England captain Michael Vaughan and former Australia wicketkeeper-batter Adam Gilchrist engaged in a lively debate over who they considered the best Test batter in the world. While both agreed that India's Virat Kohli reigns supreme in limited overs cricket, their opinions diverged when it came to the longest format of the game.Vaughan staunchly backed his compatriot Joe Root, citing his exceptional recent form in Test cricket. Root's remarkable achievement of scoring centuries in both innings of the second Test against Sri Lanka at Lord's last month propelled him past Alastair Cook as England's player with the most Test centuries.However, Gilchrist countered Vaughan's argument by highlighting Root's lack of a Test century in Australia. He also lauded Kohli's unforgettable 123 against Australia at Perth in 2018, describing it as one of the finest knocks he had ever witnessed."In the last short while, over a long period, Joe Root's stats are...well, he is the best England ever had," Gilchrist said on the Club Prairie Fire podcast. "Virat scored one of the best tons I've seen at the Perth stadium in the first Test match ever played there, that was probably different gravy. I'd probably say Virat."Vaughan conceded that Kohli was the superior batter in Australia but maintained that Root was his choice elsewhere. "I wouldn't argue with that in Australia. I would say Virat in Australia against the Aussies, anywhere else I'm going Joe Root," Vaughan responded.Root's current form is undeniable. His 33rd and 34th Test centuries at Lord's showcased his exceptional batting prowess. Kohli, on the other hand, has endured a lean patch since his last century against West Indies in July 2023.Statistically, Kohli holds a slight edge over Root in Test cricket. He has amassed 8,848 runs from 113 Tests, with 29 hundreds to his name. Root, meanwhile, has accumulated 12,377 runs from 145 Tests, boasting a stunning average of 50.93.Ultimately, the debate over who is the best Test batter in the world remains subjective. Both Root and Kohli possess exceptional skills and have achieved remarkable feats in the longest format of the game. Their rivalry promises to continue captivating cricket fans for years to come.

The appointment of Gautam Gambhir as the head coach of the Indian cricket team has sparked a new era in Indian cricket. After a successful T20I series win against Sri Lanka, the team suffered a setback in the ODI series. However, the upcoming Test series against Bangladesh will be a true test for Gambhir's leadership.Rishabh Pant, a crucial player in India's future plans, has shared his insights on the changes under Gambhir's guidance. Pant believes that Gambhir's aggressive approach and focus on winning will bring a positive change to the team. However, he emphasizes the need for balance and improvement.Pant also warns against underestimating Bangladesh in the upcoming series. He highlights their recent victory over Pakistan and stresses the importance of India maintaining their high standards. With 10 Tests scheduled within the next five months, including series against New Zealand and Australia, India must continue to improve to stay ahead of the competition.Pant emphasizes the significance of the Duleep Trophy in providing quality match practice for players ahead of the Test season. He also believes that the presence of international stars in the tournament will benefit young domestic cricketers.

Ben Stokes, England's Test captain, has expressed his disappointment with the "culture" of English sport, which he believes has led to excessive criticism of stand-in captain Ollie Pope. Pope has taken over the captaincy in Stokes' absence due to a hamstring injury and has led England to two comprehensive victories in the ongoing Sri Lanka series. However, his batting has suffered, leading to criticism from former England captain Michael Vaughan.Stokes defended Pope, stating that he has done "fantastically well" in leading the team and that his batting struggles are due to the added responsibility of captaincy. He also criticized the media for being too quick to criticize Pope, saying that it is "just English culture towards sport."Stokes has a history of defending his teammates and believes that athletes should support each other. He also spoke about his interest in business and his belief in the power of teamwork, which he sees as a key factor in his success on and off the field.

England and Sri Lanka will face off in the final Test of the summer at The Oval, the traditional venue for the season's finale. Despite the limited challenge posed by Sri Lanka, England has dominated the series, aiming to complete a first summer sweep since 2004.Gus Atkinson has emerged as a star for England, taking 33 wickets in five appearances, while Jamie Smith has solidified his position as wicketkeeper. The hosts have also handed a debut to 6ft 7in left-armer Josh Hull, who impressed in the series warm-up.Sri Lanka, on the other hand, has struggled to live up to expectations. Despite flashes of resistance from Asitha Fernando and Kamindu Mendis, two first-innings collapses have left them with too much to do. Dhananjaya de Silva's decision to bowl at Lord's also backfired, putting an inexperienced bowling attack under pressure.The Oval Test will be a chance for Ollie Pope to improve his average as Test captain, while Sri Lanka will be determined to avoid a whitewash. The pitch is expected to favor pace, with Sri Lanka opting for a four-man pace attack.

New Zealand's formidable Test squad, led by veteran pacer Tim Southee, has arrived in India for their historic one-off Test against Afghanistan. The match, scheduled for September 9 at the Greater Noida Sports Complex Ground, marks the first red-ball encounter between the two nations.The BlackCaps boast a star-studded lineup, including former skipper Kane Williamson, who recently opted out of a central contract. Devon Conway, Glenn Phillips, and Rachin Ravindra add depth to the batting order, while Tom Latham remains the vice-captain.Recognizing the importance of spin bowling in Indian conditions, New Zealand has included five spin options in Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner, Ajaz Patel, and part-timers Phillips and Ravindra. They will hold their first practice session on Friday.This Test serves as a crucial preparation for New Zealand's upcoming two-match series against Sri Lanka, which is part of the World Test Championship (WTC). After Sri Lanka, the BlackCaps will return to India for a three-match Test series against Rohit Sharma's men, also part of the WTC calendar.The three games against India will be played in Bengaluru, Pune, and Mumbai in October and November. New Zealand currently sits third in the ICC WTC points table, behind India and Australia.This historic Test against Afghanistan provides a valuable opportunity for both teams to showcase their skills and gain valuable experience ahead of the upcoming WTC challenges.

England's Test captain, Ben Stokes, has hailed the remarkable impact made by Gus Atkinson in his debut Test summer. Atkinson, a fast bowler, has taken 30 wickets and scored a maiden Test century at Lord's, earning him the Player of the Series award against West Indies.Stokes believes Atkinson's success is a testament to his talent and the team's belief in him. "I earmarked him as someone I thought could be successful at Test cricket on the India tour even though he didn't play a game," Stokes said. "I watched him train for basically two months, and he bowls at a high pace and is a very skillful bowler."Atkinson's batting ability has also impressed Stokes. "Seeing him bat before, I knew he had potential, and that 100 he got at Lord's, to say I wasn't surprised is a bit of an overstatement, but I have always known he has talent with the bat," Stokes said.Stokes believes Atkinson's success is a result of the team's encouragement to express himself. "If you see someone with a bit of talent, with the skillset and armoury he has as a player, and tell them to go out and express themselves and be who they want to be, it is amazing what results you can get from that," Stokes said.England are looking to complete a clean sweep of their Test matches this summer when they face Sri Lanka in the final match of their series starting at The Oval on Friday. Stokes, who is recuperating from a hamstring injury, believes the side has it in them to complete a winning clean sweep."It would be great to finish off the summer with another win and say we have won all six games we have had this summer," Stokes said. "A summer of Test cricket is hard, six games is a lot. We feel like we have been pretty compact and there hasn't been too much break between the games.""Winning six Test matches in one summer is no mean feat, so it would be great to finish off the summer in the last match against Sri Lanka with a win," Stokes concluded.

Team India is poised to embark on a highly anticipated five-match Test series against Australia later this year. The upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy holds immense significance, as Australia has historically held an edge over India in Test bilaterals. However, India has emerged victorious in the last four Test series between the two nations, including back-to-back wins on Australian soil.Former Team India chief selector Chetan Sharma believes that the Rohit Sharma-led side has the potential to dominate Australia in their own backyard. Sharma, who was the chief selector during India's last tour of Australia, feels that the visitors will have the upper hand, having consistently outplayed the Pat Cummins-led side in recent times."We have built a reputation as the No.1-ranked team in the world," Sharma said. "We will not only give them a tough fight but we will make them run in their own backyard. I have a lot of confidence in the players."Sharma also highlighted the strength of India's bowling attack, led by Jasprit Bumrah. "Bowlers will win you Test matches," he said. "Right now, Team India has the best bowling attack in the world. We have seen it in recent times that we have bowlers to bowl the opposition out for even 150. Our bowlers are our trump card."This will be the first time since the early 1990s that India will play a five-match Test series in Australia. India won the last two tours of Australia with an identical scoreline of 2-1. In 2018-19, the Virat Kohli-led side won the final and decisive Test in Sydney. On the other hand, Kohli only played one match of the last tour as Ajinkya Rahane guided the team to victory in his absence.

Pakistan's recent Test series defeat to Bangladesh has sparked widespread criticism, with captain Babar Azam facing the brunt of the backlash. The team's poor performance has raised questions about Azam's leadership, temperament, and ability to deliver under pressure.Azam's struggles have been particularly evident in recent months, including the T20 World Cup 2024 and the Bangladesh Test series. His inability to meet expectations has led to doubts about his suitability as captain and his overall skill level.The criticism has extended beyond the field, with Pakistani YouTubers mocking Azam's performance. Some have even suggested that he would not be worth a bid of Rs 130 in the Indian Premier League (IPL), where Pakistani players are not allowed to participate.Meanwhile, Pakistan Test skipper Shan Masood has acknowledged the team's shortcomings and apologized to the nation. He admitted that the team was not prepared for the rigors of red-ball cricket and that they need to improve their fast bowling stocks.Masood emphasized the need to develop a pool of fast bowlers who regularly play red-ball cricket. He also acknowledged the absence of Shaheen Afridi in the second Test and the failure of the team's new faces to step up.Going forward, Masood believes the team must focus on improving their Test cricket performance. He stressed the importance of tolerating failures and giving consistent chances to players who are committed to the red-ball format.

Pakistan's Test cricket woes reached a new low on Tuesday as they suffered a humiliating 2-0 series defeat at the hands of Bangladesh. It was the first time the Tigers had ever triumphed in a Test series against Pakistan, marking a historic low for the once-formidable side.The series loss has sparked widespread criticism, with former batter Salman Butt emerging as a vocal critic. However, Butt has taken aim at those who have called for Pakistan's batters to increase their strike rate in Test cricket."The strike rate mafia and intent mafia are basically illiterates of cricket," Butt said in a video on his YouTube channel. "They have no idea about the format they are talking about."Butt argued that Test cricket is about patience and building partnerships, not about scoring runs quickly. "You lose within four days and come back, what are you going to do by playing fast? You played just 46 overs. What hurry do you have? Why don't you understand that your job is to bat long?"Butt also questioned the logic of comparing Pakistan's batters to the likes of Joe Root, Virat Kohli, and Rohit Sharma, who are known for their aggressive approach in limited-overs cricket. "Do the greats of the game play like highlights? Do they score runs in this fashion?" he asked.Pakistan's Test ranking has plummeted to eighth, their lowest since 1965. The series loss to Bangladesh is the latest in a string of setbacks for the side, which has also suffered a historic whitewash in their two-match home Test series against England.The defeat has had a significant impact on the ICC World Test Championship standings. Bangladesh's 2-0 series win has seen them leapfrog England to number four, while Pakistan has dropped to eighth position.