Cricket

South Africa's Test squad for the upcoming series against West Indies has undergone a change, with fast bowler Gerald Coetzee ruled out due to a side strain. Coetzee sustained the injury while playing for Texas Super Kings in the Major League Cricket (MLC) T20 franchise league in the USA.Following assessments by South Africa's medical team, Coetzee was deemed unfit to participate in the Test series, which commences on August 7. In his place, uncapped Test player Migael Pretorius has been called up.Pretorius, 29, has a wealth of experience in first-class cricket, having played 64 matches and claimed 188 wickets at an average of 27.50. He is currently the leading wicket-taker for Somerset in the ongoing English County Championship, with 23 wickets.Pretorius has previously been named in South Africa squads but has yet to make his international debut. He was part of the T20I squad for the series against Pakistan in March 2021 but did not play. He was also called up for the Test series in Sri Lanka in December 2020 but withdrew due to a shoulder injury.South Africa's Test squad for the West Indies series now includes:* Temba Bavuma (capt)* David Bedingham* Matthew Breetzke* Nandre Burger* Tony de Zorzi* Keshav Maharaj* Aiden Markram* Wiaan Mulder* Lungi Ngidi* Dane Paterson* Dane Piedt* Kagiso Rabada* Tristan Stubbs* Ryan Rickelton* Kyle Verreynne* Migael PretoriusThe Test series will begin in Port-of-Spain, followed by the second Test in Providence. Three T20Is will conclude the tour from August 24 to 28.

Amidst the intense battle between England and West Indies in the second Test at Trent Bridge, an unexpected and hilarious incident occurred that brought a moment of levity to the proceedings. As England resumed their second innings on the fourth day, a peculiar sight appeared on the outfield: a unicorn-shaped balloon.The crowd erupted in laughter as the balloon bobbed and weaved across the field, momentarily halting the match. A ground staff member swiftly rushed onto the pitch to remove the inflatable intruder, while the English crowd cheered and chanted "ole" in unison.The incident provided a brief respite from the serious competition, but it also highlighted the growing confidence and camaraderie within the England team. Ollie Pope, Harry Brook, and Joe Root all notched up centuries for the hosts, leading England to a resounding 241-run victory.Pope, who has emerged as a key figure in England's batting lineup, believes that the team has the potential to achieve even greater heights. He pointed to their record-breaking performance against Pakistan in Rawalpindi, where they scored 506-4 on the first day."I think when Baz (England coach Brendon McCullum) and Stokesy took over, we were a batting unit with, not a lack of experience, but a lack of confidence at the time," said Pope. "Now, we have the capacity to surpass that feat and adapt to more bowler-friendly conditions."England's recent success has been built on an aggressive approach known as "Bazball," which emphasizes attacking batting and positive intent. The team has undergone a significant revamp, with several experienced players making way for fresh talent.The newcomers have made an immediate impact, with fast bowler Gus Atkinson taking 12 wickets at Lord's, off-spinner Shoaib Bashir grabbing a five-wicket haul at Trent Bridge, and Jamie Smith shining as wicketkeeper-batsman.As England prepare for the final Test of the series against West Indies at Edgbaston, they will be looking to continue their winning ways and further cement their position as one of the most exciting and dynamic teams in world cricket.

West Indies Lose Jeremiah Louis to Hamstring Injury, Akeem Jordan Called Up for Final TestWest Indies' hopes of salvaging a draw in the ongoing Test series against England have been dealt a blow with the news that fast bowler Jeremiah Louis has been ruled out of the final match due to a hamstring injury.Louis, who did not feature in the first two Tests, sustained the injury during the second Test at Trent Bridge. The 25-year-old will remain with the squad for further treatment, but his absence leaves a significant void in the West Indies bowling attack.To fill the void, West Indies have opted for a like-for-like replacement, bringing in Akeem Jordan. The 23-year-old pacer was playing cricket in the UK at the time of his call-up and has already joined the squad.Jordan, who is yet to make his Test debut, has impressed in first-class cricket, taking 67 wickets in 19 matches since 2022 at an average of 24.10. His performances include two five-wicket hauls, with a best innings haul of 5 for 44.Apart from Jordan, West Indies have Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Jayden Seales, and all-rounder Jason Holder as their seam-bowling options in the squad. However, the visitors face an uphill task in the third Test, trailing 2-0 in the series and having already conceded the Richards-Botham Trophy.West Indies lost the first Test at Lord's by an innings and 114 runs and then suffered a 241-run defeat at Trent Bridge last week. The third and final Test gets underway on Friday, July 26, at Edgbaston.

Viv Richards and Carl Hooper have vehemently denounced claims made by Brian Lara in his autobiography, "Lara: The England Chronicles." Lara alleged that Richards intimidated players on the West Indies cricket team, causing Hooper to cry "once a week."In a joint statement, Richards and Hooper expressed their dismay at the "gross misrepresentations" in Lara's book, which they believe distort their off-field relationship. They categorically deny Lara's assertion that Richards was aggressive towards Hooper, causing him emotional distress."Such descriptions paint Sir Vivian as a perpetrator of emotional abuse – an assertion that is not only baseless but also deeply hurtful to both parties," the statement reads.Richards, Hooper's first captain, has always been a supportive mentor, according to the statement. Their nearly 40-year relationship is built on mutual respect and camaraderie.The statement demands a public retraction and apology from Lara for the harm caused by his false claims. "It is crucial for the integrity of public discourse and their personal and professional lives that the truth is set right," it adds.Lara's allegations have sparked controversy and raised questions about the culture within the West Indies cricket team. Richards and Hooper's response highlights the importance of addressing such issues and ensuring a respectful and supportive environment for all players.

The West Indies fast bowlers have left an indelible mark on the annals of cricket, leaving a trail of broken bones and shattered dreams in their wake. One of the most iconic images in the sport is that of England's Mike Gatting, his nose shattered by a delivery from the legendary Malcolm Marshall.Marshall's pace was so fearsome that he once found a piece of bone embedded in the ball after bowling a delivery. Three days later, another West Indian fast bowler, Patrick Patterson, claimed four wickets on his Test debut, helping his team to a crushing 10-wicket victory. It was the first time in history that a team had lost 5-0 after just one Test.Generations of West Indian fast bowlers have terrorized batters with their raw pace and relentless aggression. Michael Holding's over to England's Geoff Boycott in Barbados in 1981 is widely regarded as the fiercest and finest in Test cricket history. Boycott was beaten by the first five balls, and the sixth prised his off stump out of the ground.In the days when such things were allowed, it was a thrilling spectacle to stand behind the nets and witness the sheer pace of the West Indian bowlers. Andy Roberts, Malcolm Marshall, and Joel Garner were among the most feared bowlers of their era.By far the fastest bowler I ever saw was Patterson, who tore apart the England batting lineup in a 5-0 Test series win. His pace was frightening, and my respect for batters like Sunil Gavaskar and Graham Gooch went up manifold."I knew if I got hit by any of his deliveries, I could die on the spot," said Krishnamahcari Srikkanth, who faced Patterson bravely in Sharjah and in home series. "I survived only because of my reflexes."There are few more thrilling sights on a cricket field than a fast bowler in flow. It appeals to something primal in us, affording us a glimpse of something refined for modern sensibilities. None of us likes fast bowling, said an English batter, but some of us don't let on. Opening batters are natural fits on psychiatrist's couches; to be unaffected requires the kind of mind and skill not available to all.Former England opener Steve James once said, "I was scared of fast bowling. Or to be precise, I was scared of being hurt by fast bowling. I am pretty sure many other batters had similar feelings, but how many admit it?"The death of Australian Phil Hughes from a bouncer in a first-class game has made the reaction to fast bowling more rooted in common sense and openness. In general, as studies have shown, a batter has 0.6 seconds to work out the line of the ball, figure out its likely course, decide on the stroke, and then for the limbs to receive that information from the brain before a stroke is played. Speed often defeats reactions, as fast bowler John Snow said.However you look at it, a West Indies batter reminding an English fast bowler of those waiting at home is simply delightful!

Unicorn Balloon Interrupts England-West Indies Test MatchIn an unusual turn of events, a "unicorn balloon" briefly halted play during the second Test match between England and the West Indies at Trent Bridge, Nottingham. The incident occurred as England's Shoaib Bashir was bowling to West Indies batsman Nkrumah Bonner.As Bashir prepared to deliver the ball, a large, inflatable unicorn balloon drifted onto the field from the crowd. The balloon, which was approximately the size of a small car, caused a moment of confusion and laughter among the players and spectators.Ground staff quickly intervened and removed the balloon from the field, allowing play to resume. The incident was captured on video and shared on social media by England Cricket, sparking amusement among fans.The interruption, though brief, highlighted the unpredictable nature of cricket. Despite the unusual nature of the incident, England went on to secure a convincing victory, defeating the West Indies by 241 runs.Bashir, who made his Test debut for England in the first match of the series, played a pivotal role in the win. The 20-year-old off-spinner claimed 5-41, his third five-wicket haul in just five Tests. His impressive performance helped England bowl out the West Indies for 143 all out, securing a series victory with one match remaining.The third and final Test of the series will begin on Friday at Edgbaston. England will be looking to complete a 3-0 sweep, while the West Indies will be determined to salvage some pride.

Viv Richards and Carl Hooper have vehemently denounced Brian Lara's "gross misrepresentations" in his autobiography, "Lara: The England Chronicles." In a joint statement, the former West Indies captains refuted Lara's claim that Richards made Hooper "cry once a week," labeling it "categorically false."Richards and Hooper expressed deep dismay over the allegations, which they believe distort their relationship and damage their reputations. They emphasized that Richards has always been a supportive mentor to Hooper, providing encouragement and unwavering support throughout their nearly 40-year friendship.Lara's assertion that Richards' words in the dressing room could "intimidate" players was also challenged by Hooper. He stated that Richards' tone of voice was never intended to cause distress and that he always had the best interests of the team at heart.The duo condemned Lara's attempt to profit from "such deceit," considering it "inconceivable" given his stature in cricket. They demanded a public retraction of the false claims and a sincere apology for the harm caused.Richards and Hooper's statement highlights the importance of integrity in public discourse and the need to protect personal and professional reputations. They emphasized that the truth must be set right to ensure the well-being of all parties involved.

England's batsmen put up a strong fightback on the third day of the second Test against West Indies at Trent Bridge, reaching 248-3 and establishing a lead of 207 runs. Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, and Harry Brook all made half-centuries to bolster England's position.Duckett, who scored 76, provided a solid foundation with 11 fours before being trapped lbw by Alzarri Joseph. Pope, who had scored a century in the first innings, contributed 51 before being caught at gully by Kevin Sinclair off Joseph.Brook, however, proved to be the most resilient of the English batsmen, remaining unbeaten on 71. He and Joe Root, who was 37 not out at the close, forged an unbroken stand of 108 to guide England to a commanding position.West Indies had earlier taken a first-innings lead of 41 thanks to an entertaining last-wicket partnership of 71 between Joshua Da Silva and Shamar Joseph. Da Silva finished unbeaten on 82, including three sixes, while Joseph hit two maximums, one smashing tiles on the pavilion roof, in his 33 before being caught by Gus Atkinson off Mark Wood.England's bowlers had picked up four wickets in the morning and looked set to establish a first-innings lead before Da Silva and Shamar Joseph guided West Indies to 457 all out.The match remains finely poised, with England holding a slender advantage heading into the fourth day.

West Indies' resolute batting performance on the third morning of the second Test at Trent Bridge has given them a slender lead of 41 runs over England. Joshua Da Silva's unbeaten half-century and Shamar Joseph's late-innings onslaught proved crucial in extending their advantage.Da Silva, resuming on 32 overnight, remained unbeaten on 82, adding 50 runs to his tally. He shared a crucial 71-run partnership with Joseph, who contributed a quickfire 33 off 27 balls. The pair's efforts helped West Indies reach 457 all out, with Chris Woakes claiming three wickets for England.England's bowling attack, led by Woakes, had made early inroads on the second evening, removing Jason Holder and Kevin Sinclair. However, Alzarri Joseph survived a dropped catch and went on to score 17 before being dismissed by Woakes.Mark Wood, who had been hampered by cramp on the previous day, returned to the field and bowled with pace, but it was Woakes who found himself on a hat-trick after dismissing Alzarri Joseph and Jayden Seales in quick succession. Shamar Joseph survived the hat-trick ball and went on to play a key role in West Indies' lead.Da Silva brought up his fifty with a boundary off Wood, and he continued to score steadily, reaching 82 by the time Shamar Joseph was dismissed. Joseph's aggressive batting, including a six off Atkinson, helped West Indies take the lead.Da Silva then took charge, hitting three consecutive fours and a six off Joe Root's bowling. Wood finally dismissed Joseph, but West Indies had already established a significant advantage.England will need to bat well in their second innings to avoid going 2-0 down in the series. West Indies, on the other hand, will be confident of leveling the series with a strong bowling performance.