Cricket

England's return to Test cricket against West Indies marked a momentous occasion as legendary fast bowler James Anderson bid farewell to international cricket. Despite England's recent 1-4 defeat to India, former pacer Steve Harmison believes the team played well and gave India a "real headache" during the series.Harmison praised England's "Bazball" approach, which involves aggressive batting and a positive mindset. He believes that while India played better cricket in their home conditions, England's style of play still caused problems for the hosts."I thought they (England) played excellent cricket in India. They gave India some real headaches," Harmison said. "But then, all of a sudden, when you get to a point that you go, 'oh no, they've done it again'. How many times you see a crash of wickets? That's the problem, where you need to read a room."Harmison emphasized that England's red-ball cricket has improved significantly under the current regime. "The way these red ball players play now, it's far better than what it was in the previous regime," he said.Meanwhile, England captain Ben Stokes' decision to bowl first was met with cheers from the crowd, eager to witness Anderson's final Test appearance. Anderson, who has taken a record 700 Test wickets, received a standing ovation as he led England onto the field.Before the match, Anderson presented 26-year-old debutant Jamie Atkinson with his England cap, while his daughters rang the five-minute bell in the Pavilion.

The West Indies' plan to honor England's legendary fast bowler James Anderson with a guard of honor was disrupted by an unexpected moment of jubilation on day two of the first Test at Lord's.Anderson, who has taken a record-breaking 703 Test wickets, was playing his 188th and final Test for England. It is customary for the fielding team to form a guard of honor when a prominent opposition player is batting for the last time in a Test match.However, just before the 41-year-old Anderson walked out to a standing ovation from the packed crowd at Lord's, Mikyle Louis executed a brilliant run out to dismiss Shoaib Bashir, triggering exuberant celebrations among the West Indies players.As a result, when Anderson emerged from the pavilion, only former West Indies skipper Jason Holder was present to greet him with a handshake."We spoke about it before he came out to bat, that we were going to give him a guard of honor," West Indies fast bowler Jayden Seales said. "Obviously the run out took us all the way down to Swiss Cottage, so it was pretty hard to do the guard of honor for the great man. Luckily, Jason caught up with him."However, Anderson had to return to the dressing room without even facing a ball as debutant Jamie Smith (70) was dismissed as the last England wicket to fall."I think the biggest missed opportunity was not seeing Jimmy face one off their left-arm spinner," Smith said. "That's the one regret about my innings. I'm a bit disappointed I couldn't hit one more six to allow him his moment. It's been an honor to play alongside him in my first game. Everyone will miss him when he goes."Anderson, England captain Ben Stokes, and newcomer Gus Atkinson each claimed two wickets as the West Indies crumbled to 79 for 6 by the end of play on Thursday. This followed their dismal first-innings total of 121 in the opening match of the three-Test series.

Ben Stokes, the enigmatic English all-rounder, has etched his name into the annals of cricket history by becoming the third player globally and the first from England to achieve the remarkable feat of amassing over 6,000 runs and taking more than 200 wickets in Test cricket. This extraordinary milestone was reached during the first Test of a three-match series against West Indies at Lord's, where Stokes secured his 200th Test wicket by dismissing Kirk McKenzie.Stokes' journey to this historic achievement has been marked by unwavering determination and exceptional skill. In 103 Tests, he has amassed 6,320 runs at an average of 35.30, including 13 centuries and 31 half-centuries. His highest score of 258 stands as a testament to his ability to dominate the crease. With the ball, Stokes has proven equally formidable, taking 200 wickets at an average of 30.43. His ability to swing the ball both ways and generate pace has made him a potent weapon for England.The elite company that Stokes now joins is a testament to his all-round brilliance. Garry Sobers, the legendary West Indian, holds the record with 8,032 runs and 235 wickets in 93 Tests, while Jacques Kallis, the South African great, boasts 13,289 runs and 292 wickets in 166 Tests. Stokes' achievement places him among the pantheon of the greatest all-rounders the game has ever seen.Beyond his Test exploits, Stokes has also established himself as a world-class performer across all formats of international cricket. He has scored over 10,000 runs and taken more than 300 wickets in international cricket, becoming only the sixth player worldwide and the first from England to achieve this remarkable double.Stokes' all-round prowess has been instrumental in England's recent resurgence in Test cricket. Under his captaincy, England has won 10 of their last 12 Tests, including a memorable 3-0 series victory over New Zealand in 2022. His ability to inspire his team and lead from the front has made him a true icon of the sport.As Stokes continues his illustrious career, he will undoubtedly add to his already impressive tally of runs and wickets. His unwavering determination and exceptional talent make him a formidable opponent and a true ambassador for the game of cricket.

Jamie Smith's fluent 70 on debut propelled England to a commanding 371 all out and a 250-run lead over West Indies at tea on the second day of the first Test at Lord's.Smith, the 23-year-old opener, shared a 52-run partnership with Chris Woakes, who was caught at square leg for 23. Fast bowler Gus Atkinson, who took seven West Indies first-innings wickets on his debut, fell first ball to Jason Holder.Smith, undeterred, launched into an attacking display, hitting two big sixes and eight fours in the sunshine. He was eventually dismissed for 70, caught by Kirk McKenzie at mid-wicket off Jayden Seales.Joe Root scored a composed 68, while Harry Brook contributed a breezy 50. Ben Stokes was bowled by Gudakesh Motie for four, while Shoaib Bashir was run out by a brilliant throw from Mikyle Louis.James Anderson, in his 188th and final Test, did not face a ball as he received another warm ovation from the crowd.England had dismissed West Indies for 121 on the first day, with Atkinson taking 7/28. The hosts will be looking to extend their lead and put themselves in a strong position to win the match.

James Anderson, England's legendary fast bowler, is set to bid farewell to international cricket in the first Test against the West Indies at Lord's, starting on Wednesday. The match will mark Anderson's 188th and final Test, after which he will transition into England's fast-bowling mentor.Anderson's retirement comes after a distinguished 21-year Test career, during which he has taken 700 wickets, making him the first seamer in history to reach this milestone. Despite being 42 years old, Anderson remains one of the most potent bowlers in the world, as evidenced by his impressive performance in India earlier this year, where he took 10 wickets at an average of 33.50.However, England's managing director Rob Key, coach Brendon McCullum, and captain Ben Stokes decided to pension off Anderson, believing that it was time for a new generation of fast bowlers to take over. Anderson was informed of their decision in April, a month after his return from India.Despite the disappointment of being forced into retirement, Anderson has accepted the decision with grace. He understands the need for England to plan for the future, especially with the 2025-26 Ashes in Australia on the horizon.Anderson warmed up for his final Test with a brilliant performance for Lancashire in the English County Championship last week, taking 7-35. He will be hoping to end his Test career on a high note at Lord's, where he made his Test debut in 2003 against Zimbabwe.The first Test against the West Indies will also see the debuts of Surrey seamer Gus Atkinson and wicketkeeper Jamie Smith. Both players have represented England in white-ball cricket, with Atkinson playing in the ODI World Cup last year. Smith replaces Jonny Bairstow, who has been dropped after 100 Tests.Spinner Jack Leach has also made way for Shoaib Bashir to make his home Test debut after taking 17 wickets in India. Chris Woakes returns for his first Test since he was the player of the series in the Ashes last summer.The West Indies, meanwhile, will be looking to bounce back from their 10-wicket thrashing in Adelaide in their last Test against Australia. They have recalled all-rounder Jason Holder and fast bowler Jayden Seales, while opening batter Mikyle Louis will become the first man from St. Kitts and Nevis to play a Test.In the absence of the injured Kemar Roach, Alzarri Joseph will lead the pace attack with Seales and Shamar Joseph, who played a pivotal role in the West Indies' extraordinary eight-run victory over Australia in Brisbane in January.Anderson, who has been described as "perfect" as a Test player by Shamar Joseph, is determined to make his last Test a memorable one. However, he is also aware of the emotions that will be swirling around him during the match."I'm sure the emotions during the week will change, but right now that's what I’m trying to focus on to stop myself crying," Anderson said.

West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite is drawing inspiration from his team's stunning victory over Australia in Brisbane as they prepare for the first Test against England at Lord's. Despite their inexperience, Brathwaite believes his team can overcome the odds once again.In January, West Indies defied all expectations by defeating Australia in Brisbane, a venue where the hosts had lost only once in 34 Tests. Key contributions from Kavem Hodge, Joshua da Silva, Kevin Sinclair, Alick Athanaze, and Kirk McKenzie, along with Shamar Joseph's match-winning bowling performance, secured the historic eight-run win.Now, West Indies face another tough challenge in England, where they haven't won a series since 1988. Only three players in their squad - Brathwaite, Jason Holder, and Alzarri Joseph - have prior experience at Lord's. However, Brathwaite is confident that his team can replicate their Brisbane success."It was a big positive for us to get a win, because it shows that we could we could get the job done," Brathwaite said. "We could take a lot of stuff from that game as batsmen, because we had some important partnerships. Then the bowlers were outstanding."Brathwaite confirmed his XI on the eve of the Test, with Mikyle Louis set to make history as the first player from St Kitts to represent West Indies. The middle-order is also relatively inexperienced, but Brathwaite believes they are ready for the challenge."I think they're young and exciting," he said. "They have a lot of talent and we are fully 100% behind them."Brathwaite's experience will be crucial, especially against England's aggressive "Bazball" approach. However, he insists that he will not be rushed into changing his style."My general style is taking my time, and that's me," he said. "All the batters must bat their game, and back their plan. That's what we will do, we focus on ourselves. Making sure we fight is very important."Brathwaite also acknowledged the skills of James Anderson, who will be playing his final Test at Lord's."Obviously he's a legend of the game, he's very consistent," Brathwaite said. "Facing him in England is a good challenge, you've really got to be on it."Brathwaite's advice to his teammates is to trust their plans and enjoy the experience."Don't just expect to play for West Indies, expect to be the first to score 30 hundreds," he said. "You got to think big, you know. Don't think too small."

The T20 World Cup 2024 has been plagued by logistical challenges, and the final between South Africa and the West Indies is no exception. A landing failure of a small private aircraft at the Grantley Adams airport in Barbados has stranded the South African team, their families, commentators, match officials, and ICC officials at the Trinidad airport.The Barbados airport was closed for inspections by the Civil Aviation Authority and the Barbados Police Service after the incident. Moments before the South African contingent was set to take off from Trinidad, the pilots received information about the runway closure in Bridgetown."It appeared that the landing gear of the private aircraft did not deploy, but it is currently on the runway at GAIA [Grantley Adams International Airport] safely," said Sharleen Brown, Corporate Communication Specialist with GAIA. She confirmed that all three individuals on board - two passengers and a pilot - were unharmed.Passengers on the flight from Trinidad to Barbados were told the tentative rescheduled time was 4.30pm, which would amount to nearly six hours of delay. All the boarded passengers had to return to the terminal, adding to the many delays endured by teams at the tournament.Sri Lanka had to spend a whole night at the airport when traveling from Florida to New York. Afghanistan, who finished their last Super Eight match in the wee hours of Tuesday, also had their flight delayed before playing their first T20 World Cup semi-final on Wednesday night.This is the first time South Africa has made a final of a men's World Cup. The final will be played on Saturday morning, as opposed to the usual tradition of playing on Sundays. That change meant the second semi-final, currently delayed because of inclement weather in Guyana, could not have a reserve day.Despite giving the two semi-finals the same amount of extra time to get a game in, the ICC has used different playing conditions if the matches needed to be shortened.

Kemar Roach, the veteran West Indies fast bowler, has been ruled out of the upcoming Test tour of England due to a knee injury. Roach, who turns 36 on Sunday, sustained the injury while playing for Surrey in the County Championship.Roach has been a key member of the West Indies Test team for over a decade, taking 270 wickets in 72 matches. He has been particularly effective in England, claiming 61 wickets in 16 Tests.Roach's absence is a blow to the West Indies, who are already without injured all-rounder Jason Holder. However, the team has called up uncapped fast bowler Jeremiah Louis as a replacement.Louis, 24, has impressed for St Kitts and Nevis in recent years. He has taken 50 wickets in 12 first-class matches, including 18 wickets in the ongoing West Indies Championship.West Indies lead selector Desmond Haynes said: "Kemar's skill and experience in English conditions will be missed. However, this opportunity has been long in the making for Jeremiah Louis. He certainly has the skill and experience to make an impact in England."The West Indies are scheduled to play three Tests against England, starting at Lord's on July 10. They will also play a warm-up match against a County Select XI in Beckenham from July 3-6.

West Indies' Stafanie Taylor and Afy Fletcher played pivotal roles in securing a six-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the second T20I in Hambantota, leveling the three-match series 1-1.Chasing a DLS-adjusted target of 99 in 15 overs, Taylor's unbeaten 28 off 26 balls and Fletcher's four-wicket haul proved decisive. Taylor and captain Hayley Matthews provided a solid start with a 44-run partnership, keeping West Indies ahead of the DLS-par score.After Matthews' dismissal, Taylor anchored the chase, partnering with Shemaine Campbelle for 24 runs. Despite losing Campbelle, Qiana Joseph, and Chedean Nation, West Indies maintained a comfortable run rate. Aaliyah Alleyne sealed the victory with three boundaries in the penultimate over.Sri Lanka's innings was characterized by a slow start, with Vishmi Gunaratne and Chamari Athapaththu scoring 44 runs in 6.5 overs. Fletcher's spin proved effective, dismissing Athapaththu and Harshitha Samarawickrama. Gunaratne's 24 off 35 was ended by a Fletcher googly.Dilhari's late cameo of 14 not out off six balls hinted at a potential counterattack, but rain intervened, ending the innings after 15.2 overs.West Indies' victory marks their first of the tour and sets up an intriguing decider in the final T20I.