Cricket News: Twitter reactions to famous India win vs England at Lord’s | Twitter erupts as India script famous win over England at Lord’s
Much like the first Test that was ruined by classic English weather, opinion was split as to who would claim a 1-0 series lead heading into the final day of a riveting Lord’s Test.
Most believed that India’s chances depended a lot on the talented and dangerous Rishabh Pant. And rightly so, given that he was the only recognised batsman left among out-of-form tailenders.
However, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami, who played key roles with the ball, produced an extraordinary partnership to completely sap England’s chances of victory. In addition, they shifted momentum their team’s way, with England looking mentally shot by the time they came to bat.
For the first time in England’s Test history, both their openers were dismissed for a duck in the same innings of a home Test. Despite fight from the likes of Jos Buttler, Joe Root’s wicket before tea put England right up against it.
India’s magnificent attack was too good for England’s brittle batting. Mohammed Siraj scriped another chapter in a beautiful story that is his cricketing rise, taking four wickets with shouts and screams that could be heard from Mumbai.
Skipper Virat Kohli put his batting worries aside to lead his team via fire and fight that England simply couldn’t cope with. “Super proud of the whole team, the way we stuck to our plans, being put in our performance with the bat was outstanding. Pitch didn’t offer much on first three days. But the way we played in the second innings, under pressure, from Jasprit and Shami was outstanding. We thought with 60 overs to go we could have a crack, and they were outstanding. A bit of tension on the field really motivated us to finish the game,” said Virat in the post-match presentation.
On the other side, Joe Root remained as positive as he could be, and recognised the errors in tactics during the crucial 9th wicket partnership. “You’re always trying to find ways to deal with things like that [dressing room nerves], we couldn’t see out the day which was frustrating but a lot of cricket to play and we’ll come back hard.A lot on my shoulders, as captain you take responsibility, tactically we could have done things differently – we went from a position where we could win to being behind,” said Root.
Twitter reactions as India script famous win vs England at Lord’sthanks to super efforts by Bumrah, Shami and Siraj
These are the days for which I rally behind this team in times when they are down and out. Those who were calling this team what not a couple of months ago, please keep your voices down tonight when you celebrate. What a performance Team India. #ENGvsIND
— RandomCricketPhotos&Videos (@RandomCricketP1) August 16, 2021
Sydney, Brisbane and Lord's are indeed special. And I'm going to add Chennai to it as well. To be there and the whole of Chepauk cheering every run that Ashwin scored on Day 3 was some experience.
Nothing like a bowled to finish a Test. The moment is so photogenic. Stumps knocked back. Bowler's expression. Fielders ecstatic. Batsman beaten. It captures the emotion unlike many other dismissals.
There is something quite special about Mohammed Siraj, the son of a Hyderabad auto-rickshaw driver, bowling his side to victory amongst the popping champagne corks of Lord's. What. A. Game. #ENGvIND
India have beaten Australia at Gabba and England at Lord's in 2021 in Test cricket. Both are the fortress of Australia and England, but India got better of them in both occasions.
What a test match at Lords. Great pitch, great cricket & great character shown by India. Remember they lost the toss, got sent in, gave up a 1st inn lead & today everyone thought Pant out & Eng win ! India fought hard & deserved the win. India should be 2-0 up. ❤️test cricket !!
Cricket News: Pick a spinner no matter the conditions – Shane Warne | Shane Warne says it is vital to pick a spinner no matter the conditions
Leg-spinning great Shane Warne has once again reiterated the importance of playing a spinner in a Test match regardless of the conditions. Warne, who boasts an incredible 708 Test wickets and is the greatest spinner ever in the eyes of many, took to Twitter to express his view after Moeen Ali dismissed Ravindra Jadeja with a peach of a delivery.
Such a tweet increases attention on India’s decision to leave the great Ravichandran Ashwin out of their side for the Lord’s Test. Hindsight is a wonderful thing, but with dry conditions forecast throughout the Test, and a pitch devoid of a lot of grass, Ashwin would have been tough to handle.
This is especially the case considering how good Ashwin was on less spin-friendly wickets in Australia, even in the first Test where India lost handsomely.
Warne loves to see spin dominate, and he was quick to pounce after Moeen dismissed Jadeja with a beauty. With uneven bounce and turn on offer ahead of the final day, an extra spinner in both sides may be just what the doctor ordered.
It’s certainly what Warne wishes to see.
Warne tweeted, “A spinner turning the game !!!! Surprise surprise, this is why you always play a spinner no matter what the conditions ! Remember you don’t pick a team just for the first innings. Spin to win.”
A spinner turning the game !!!! Surprise surprise, this is why you always play a spinner no matter what the conditions ! Remember you don’t pick a team just for the first innings. Spin to win @SkyCricket ??????
“Defies belief. Incredible bad omission by India (Ashwin)”
With Ashwin sitting on the sidelines, questions were always going to be ask why a great bowler is left out given the conditions. Some of the responses include “England must have been laughing,” “rubbish decision” and “did not pick their best spinner”.
England must have been laughing when they see Indias starting line up that does not include Ashwin! Defies belief. Incredible bad omission from India.
Yes nothing happened with spinner(Jadeja)not spinners. Ashwin bowled beautiful he picked us first wicket,WTC should be drawn instead we played with aggression and the bowler (Ash)defended mere 139 in 2nd ins and lost it. pls take a look at the wkts & econ of Ashwin in both inns pic.twitter.com/UoaQgFusnx
True … sad thing… with for non cricketing reasons and personal egos cricketing selections being done even in this day and age … no reason for not playing @ashwinravi99 in this test match. Absolute rubbish from @imVkohli
I hope this sheds some light into the super brains of Indian captain and coach who despite knowing the wickets is brown and weather prediction being warm did not pick their best spinner!
Cricket News: Twitter reactions as West Indies beat Pakistan in all-time thriller | Twitter reactions to West Indies beating Pakistan by 1 wicket
What a Test match. A low-scoring thriller. A terrific advertisement for the longest, most pure form of the game.
West Indies beat Pakistan by one wicket in a classic. Kemar Roach and player of the match Jayden Seales held their nerve to nail a 17-run partnership to see the home side over the line. Roach in particular was outstanding in the second innings of the game, taking 3/30 with the ball before scoring a memorable 30 not out to send the Windies camp into delirium.
Skipper Kraigg Brathwaite was full of praise for his team, speaking about their never-say-die attitude. He pointed to how hard the Windies batsmen have been working, and this came to fruition in pressure moments in both innings.
“Remarkable Test. We never lost hope. It was truly amazing. I thought Pakistan bowled really well. It is about patience – who has more patience will come out on top. It will be a different pitch [for the second Test]. The bowlers did a fantastic job. They were a little tired at times too. We have been working hard as a batting group. Blackwood has been hungry for runs, especially at his home ground [here]. It was a good cricket pitch, and had something for the pacers and value for runs,” said the West Indies captain.
At 16/3 and then 114/7, Pakistan looked good to claim victory. After Mohammad Rizwan’s amazing catch to reduce the home side to 151/9, Pakistan were favourites again. However, they were left to rue key missed chances, leaving Pakistani players, staff and fans heartbroken.
Skipper Babar Azam spoke about those missed chances in the post-match interview. This is yet another loss from Pakistan in a winning position overseas, after losing to England and New Zealand over the past year. He praised his batsmen for their fight and patience, but admitted the dropped catches were costly.
“This is the beauty of Test cricket. We put in a good effort with the bat. The bowlers then restricted them before our bowlers took the wickets. Again, in the second innings, we fought with the bat and the bowlers hit back. It was swinging and seaming throughout in the second innings. But we were patient, and our attempt to stitch together partnerships. Our bowlers were really good, especially Abbas and Shaheen. Had we taken those dropped catches, the result could have been different,” said Babar.
Twitter reactions as West Indies beat Pakistan in all-time thrilling Test
KEMAR ROACH HAS DONE IT. Windies beat Pakistan by 1 wicket. Absolute scenes at Jamaica. Whataa thrilling end this match has produced. Ian Bishop's commentary to just make it better.#WIvsPAKpic.twitter.com/DxTk6ar2vf
West Indies beat Pakistan by 1 wicket and take a 1-0 lead in the Test series, we have seen one of the greatest Test matches ever in cricket history. #WIvPAK
Great test match but this one’s going to hurt. Dropped catches have cost Pakistan the game,defending 168,can’t expect to win without taking the half chances. #WIvPAK
The reality of the cricket landscape is this: if this wasn't a #WIvPAK Test and instead the Ashes, or an India-Australia match, people would be calling it one of the 'greatest Tests ever.'
Instead, this game will probably be forgotten in 24 months.
I swear some of the best test matches if the past five years have been between non-big three teams. Their cricket is just as good. INVEST in other nations. Congrats West Indies
Four years ago, Pakistan travelled to these shores and clinched a thriller in Dominica. Today, they were at the receiving end. This is the beauty of sport – win some, lose some. Credit to West Indies for holding their nerves. Pakistan will, and should, regret not taking catches.
19-year-old Jayden Seales won the man of the match, he was calm, composed, left the ball when West Indies needing 17 runs to win with one wicket in hand. Earlier, he took 8 wickets as well. Last year, he was playing the U-19 World Cup in South Africa.
#PAKvWI What a game of test cricket with West Indies winning with 1 wicket to spare in the 1st test v Pakistan with the help of tailenders on a tricky pitch. 19 years old young pacer Jayden Seales becoming the youngest Windies bowler to take a maiden 5 wicket haul in tests.
Cricket News: Australia and England cricketers cleared to play in the second half of IPL 2021 ahead of the T20 World Cup in UAE | Australia & England cricketers have been cleared to play in IPL 2021 before T20 World Cup
Australia and England cricketers are set to be available for the second half of IPL 2021. Cricket Australia (CA) and England Cricket Board (ECB) this weekend paved the way for its IPL contingent to be available for the second half of the tournament, set to restart on September 19.
According to The Telegraph UK and Cricbuzz, the ECB granted a no objection certificate (NOC) to pave the way for the English players to be available for the tournament. This comes after previous doubts regarding the participation of the English contingent given their international schedule. However, England’s tour of Bangladesh has been postponed and a second-string squad is expected to travel to Pakistan.
Australia will be desperate for their experienced cricketers to hit form ahead of the showpiece tournament. The eight players who made themselves unavailable for the West Indies and Bangladesh tours, including David Warner, Steve Smith and Glenn Maxwell, had to watch on as Australia were humbled 4-1 in both countries. This included a record-low of 62 all-out against Bangladesh.
“No doubt it’s their best preparation to be in those exact conditions, playing in probably the strongest domestic T20 tournament in the world,” said Delhi Capitals coach Ricky Ponting.
However, Pat Cummins won’t be available for phase two of the tournament due to the impending birth of his first child.
Australia & England cricketers cleared to play 2nd half of IPL: Pat Cummins will miss IPL 2021 phase 2
CSK CEO states availability of Australia and England cricketers in IPL 2021 phase 2
In a recent interview, Chennai Super Kings CEO Kasi Vishwanathan confirmed that neither CA or ECB had any objections to their players’ participation in the tournament.
We have got a call from the IPL office and have been informed that the boards have no objection to their players’ participation. It is now up to the players. Our Australian and English players (Jason Behrendorff, Sam Curran, Moeen Ali) are available,”said Vishwanathan.
Franchises and squads begin to arrive in the UAE for IPL 2021 phase 2 preparation
The second phase of IPL 2021 is all set to resume in the UAE on September 19, with the final scheduled for October 15. The BCCI worked round the clock to reschedule the tournament after the raging COVID-19 surge in India forced its postponement in April. Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians, two of the most successful IPL teams, have reached the UAE to begin their preparations.
Twitter reactions to glorious Joe Root 180 vs India | Twitter reacts to outstanding Joe Root 180 vs India in the Lord’s Test
Like last week, Joe Root headlined a riveting day of Test cricket. As has been the case in 2021, Root struck another glorious century that put England in the lead in the Lord’s Test against India.
On a Saturday of a Lord’s Test – one of the great days on the England cricketing calendar – Root produced a masterclass fitting of his ability. His footwork was as sublime as it is light, pressing both forward and back in a nonchalant manner. India’s margin of error was so small, with any width dealt with through the offside, and the legside boundary in action whenever the Indians strayed even just a little too straight.
Indeed, this was a special innings for Joe Root. He went past 9,000 Test runs – the second youngest to do so behind fellow Englishman Alastair Cook. No other England player has made more 150+ scores than Root’s 11. Also, Root’s Test average is now back over 50 in a year where he has struck 1,244 runs in 10 Tests at an average of 69.11.
The absence of Ben Stokes left a hole in England’s middle order that Root has filled well past its brim. Root in this form gives England a genuine shot at overturning their 3-1 defeat to India earlier in the year, with another beautifully poised Test match for fans to enjoy.
Here are some of the Twitter reactions to another masterful Joe Root innings.
Joe Root brings up a masterfully crafted 150, we are witnessing greatness before our very eyes ??#ENGvIND
— The County Cricket Podcast (@TheCountyCrick2) August 14, 2021
#JoeRoot is a ONE MAN ARMY at the moment for England.. Even in India he stood heads and shoulders above every from the English team and as a person has remained the same down to earth individual who played against us 11 years ago.. Amazing player #INDvENG
Joe Root peaking,the only box he had failed to tick for 2-3 years was batting in challenging England conditions, now it’s been exceptional the way he is playing so beautifully.His spin game was already best in the world, with this form vs pace ,he is going to be treat to watch.
Analysing the technical issues of Zak Crawley | Looking at why Zak Crawley has struggled at Test level: an analysis of his technique
Regarded as one of England’s very promising talents, Zak Crawley came to the English Test side along with other young players during their transition period. He was initially tried as an opener and eventually went on to impress everyone by playing a marathon knock of 267 batting at number three against Pakistan in the summer of 2020.
But, things have gone horribly wrong for the youngster since. The left arm orthodox spinners bossed him in the twin tours of Sri Lanka and India in the subcontinent. Further, he was found to be clueless against the potent fast bowling attacks of New Zealand and India recently at home. As a result, Haseeb Hameed replaced him in the second Test against India.
There are certain technical issues with Crawley that have been central to his struggles. In this article, I am going to mention the reasons why he has found the going difficult against the fast bowlers, with analysis of his footwork both before the delivery is delivered and at point of impact. Here we go.
Lack of forward stride
Zak Crawley does not have a proper forward stride. Instead, he has a gentle trigger movement of the front foot. The trigger movement starts mostly when the bowler is about to deliver or just after it (image 1) and ends abruptly with the front foot facing cover/extra cover when the ball has travelled a certain distance (image 2).
Image 1 – lack of forward stride
Image 2 – front foot facing cover/extra cover
In addition, and crucially, his back foot does not move at all (images 3 and 4). So, when he finishes his trigger movement, he comes into a certain position from where he can’t move either his front foot or back foot. Therefore, his feet are planted.
Image 3 – back footy doesn’t move at all
Image 4 – back foot stuck
In such a position, if he gets a much fuller ball on the stumps, he just brings his bat down and makes connection with it (image 5). But, if he gets a delivery in the ideal length pitched on or around the off stump, he can’t cover the movement as his feet are already stuck. So, there exists a gap between his bat and pad. As a result, the ball finds the outside edge if it leaves him (image 6) and takes the inside edge (image 7) or traps him in front of the stumps if it nips back into him (image 8).
Image 5 – playing the straight half-volley with ease.
Image 6 – outside edge exposed
Image 7 – inside edge exposed
Image 8 – LBW candidate
Similarly, if the bowler bowls a full delivery much outside the off stump inviting him for a drive, he accepts it by playing with hard hands away from his body as he can’t go towards the pitch of the ball and gets caught behind (images 9 and 10).
Image 9 – wide slash outside off-stump
Image 10 – wide slash outside off-stump
Crawley’s dismissals
In England’s series defeat against New Zealand in June 2021, Neil Wagner and Tim Southee made Crawley drive away from his body. He was dismissed thrice in this manner as his feet were planted, which prevented him to reach the pitch of the ball (images 4, 9 and 10).
In the second Test, Matt Henry was able to bring the ball back into him from a good length and trapped him in front of the stumps (image 8). In the first innings of the first Test against India, Siraj brought the ball back in and found his inside edge (image 7), while in the second innings Bumrah found the outside edge of his bat by taking the ball away from him (image 6).
Why is Crawley vulnerable against short balls coming at high pace?
As I have already mentioned, he doesn’t move his back foot. Ideally, the front foot should press the body backwards while playing a rising short ball. But, in Crawley’s case, his front foot doesn’t press his body backwards and he uses only his height while playing these types of deliveries.
So, if the bowler doesn’t have great pace and doesn’t get enough bounce, he manages to pull the ball off the front foot (image 11). But in the opposite case, he doesn’t get enough time to react as his weight doesn’t get transferred to his back foot and finds himself in a very awkward position (image 12). Sometimes, his back foot completely leaves the ground while defending the short balls (image 13).
Image 11 – pulling the ball off the front foot
Image 12 – getting into awkward position vs pace
His only advantage is his height, but I don’t think he can survive only on the basis of that against the quick bumpers on tracks having pace and bounce. So his body will definitely be targeted by the bowlers sooner or later. That’s an additional disadvantage on his side.
These are the technical shortcomings I have found in Zak Crawley’s batting. He has age on his side and he definitely can work on these areas. I hope he makes a grand comeback with a more compact technique.
Twitter reactions to brilliant KL Rahul century at Lord’s | Fans react to superb KL Rahul century on day one of second Test vs England
KL Rahul, the red-ball batsman, is well and truly back. Brought back into the India side because of injuries to Shubman Gill and Mayank Agarwal, Rahul has made the opening position his own with fantastic performances across the first two Tests against a capable England attack.
His 127* on the first day of the Lord’s Test was particularly impressive. Sent into bat in overcast conditions and on a pitch that offered movement for the bowlers, Rahul displayed terrific technique and patience to bat through the entire 90 overs. His approach of playing the line and playing the ball late was a batting masterclass, and his ability to accelerate his scoring in the final session is a sign of a special talent.
India finished day one in a strong position courtesy of Rahul, Rohit Sharma and important runs from Virat Kohli. India’s 276/3 is a fantastic result after losing the toss in circumstances where the expected score was 244/9. With Rahul in fine touch, and the likes of Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja to come, India will be aiming for a score of 450+ in the first innings.
Here are some of the Twitter reactions to KL Rahul’s fine knock.
KL Rahul now becomes the third Indian to score a Test 100 at the Oval and also at Lord's (both in London) after Ravi Shastri and Rahul Dravid.#ENGvIND#ENGvsIND
This probably sums up day one of the Lord’s test. All smiles from @DineshKarthik and concerned from @BumbleCricket. At least DK is rubbing off on Bumbles fashion sense? Sharma and Rahul brilliant. Huge first session tomorrow. #ENGvINDpic.twitter.com/XwBlDp1LcY
Batted, KL Rahul. It was a tough time for KL, but he has made a strong statement through the series so far by fifty in first Test and Hundred in second Test.
KL Rahul is the first Indian opener in 31 years to score a century at Lord's. The last man to do it is India's Head Coach now. This is some comeback by KL to Red Ball team.
For all the talk over the years about the IPL’s negative impact on Test cricket in India, here we’ve had two IPL stars, captains to boot in Rohit Sharma & KL Rahul, producing a combined masterclass on Test batting in very difficult conditions at Lord’s #ENGvIND
WI vs PAK 1st Test Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | WI vs PAK 1st Test Dream11 Prediction Today | West Indies vs Pakistan 1st Test Key Players | Kingston Pitch Report
So, after the T20I series between West Indies and Pakistan ended in a damp squib with three out of four matches ending in a no result due to persistent rain in Guyana, the focus of the Asian sides’ tour of the Caribbean shifts to the longest format of the game with the first Test starting at Kingston, Jamaica from Thursday, August 12.
The two-match Test series is a part of the second cycle of the ICC World Test Championship and both sides will be looking to gain crucial two-match rubber.
Pakistan Cricket Team come into this series on the back of consecutive Test series wins against South Africa (at home) and Zimbabwe (away). The Babar Azam-led unit will be looking to continue with its good form in the longest form and claim their second Test series win in the Caribbean.
This will also be Babar Azam’s first major Test assignment as a skipper away from the safe comforts of home. The charismatic cricketer did not feature in Pakistan’s last away Test series against a full-member nation- vs New Zealand in the winter of 2020- which the Asian side lost 0-2 under Mohammad Rizwan.
As for the West Indies, the Caribbean side is yet to win a Test match since its historic series win in Bangladesh earlier this year. While they drew 0-0 on benign tracks against Sri Lanka, they were blown away by South African pacers earlier this summer as they lost the 1st Test by 158 runs and the second by an innings & 63 runs.
Can the hosts shrug off their poor Test form or will Pakistan do an encore of their 2017 triumph in the Caribbean islands?
Key Players to Watch/Key Stats
West Indies:
Kraig Brathwaite: Skipper Kraig Brathwaite is the 2nd leading run-getter for the West Indies this calendar year. In 12 innings, the gritty opener has scored 414 runs at an average of 34.50 with a couple of half-centuries and one hundred. The onus will be on the skipper to spearhead the batting unit.
Kyle Mayers: Kyle Mayers has been the find of the year for the West Indies as far as Test cricket is concerned. Mayers is leading the charts as far as most runs scored by a West Indian in 2021 and he will once again be the key to the home sides’ fortunes. In 12 innings, Mayers has racked up 521 runs at an average of 47.36 with two half-centuries and one hundred.
Nkrumah Bonner: Bonner has the highest average among all West Indian batters this year. In 8 innings, he has scored 385 runs which include 2 half-centuries and one ton.
Kemar Roach: Roach was the leading wicket-taker for the West Indies against South Africa earlier in the summer. In 2 matches, Roach claimed 9 wickets at an average of 17.89. Roach is the joint second-highest wicket-taker for the West Indies this year- 19 wickets in 9 innings at an average of 23.68.
Jason Holder: Jason Holder may have had an average time with the bat this year- 172 runs in 5 innings at an average of 24- but he has been good enough with the ball, having claimed 13 wickets in 7 innings at an average of 21.23. The West Indies will hope that the former skipper and champion all-rounder shrugs off his indifferent year with the bat in the Test series against Pakistan.
Pakistan:
Azhar Ali: Former skipper Azhar Ali has been in sensational form this year. He is Pakistan’s leading run-scorer, having racked up 407 runs in 8 innings at 58.14 with a couple of half-centuries and a hundred. Ali loves batting against the West Indies. In 16 innings against the ‘Men in Maroon’, the former skipper has racked up 889 runs at an average of 59.26 with four half-centuries and three tons and he will be looking to emulate the same this summer.
Babar Azam: Skipper Babar Azam has had a poor time in Test cricket this year. In 6 innings, Azam has managed just 124 runs at an average of 20.66 with just one 50+ score. But Azam is too good a player to remain out of form for an extended duration of time and one can expect the charismatic batter to script a turnaround in this series.
Abid Ali: Abid Ali, just like Azhar Ali, has been brilliant with the bat this year. In 8 innings, he has managed 359 runs at 51.28 with one half-century and one hundred. But, his real challenge will come against the hostile pace of Kemar Roach, Alzarri Joseph and Jayden Seales. Can he rise to the challenge?
Fawad Alam: Alam has been in sensational form ever since he earned a recall to the Pakistani side after a decade-long wait. In 8 innings this year, the southpaw has racked up 333 runs at an average of 47.57 with a couple of classy tons. His next challenge will be against the pace of Roach, Seales, Joseph and the accuracy of Holder. Can he turn it on again?
Mohammad Rizwan: Irrespective of formats, Mohammad Rizwan has proved to be an absolute run-machine for Pakistan across all formats in the past 12-15 months and he will once again hold the key to visitors fortunes in this series. In 7 innings, the stumper has racked up 303 runs at 50.50 with one half-century and one ton.
Hasan Ali: Ali has been the leading wicket-taker for Pakistan this year. In 8 innings, he has claimed 26 wickets at an average of 13.88 which includes 4 five-wicket-hauls and one ten for.
Shaheen Shah Afridi: Afridi will once again be the one to watch out for in the Test series. He is the second highest wicket-taker for the visitors this year, having claimed 19 wickets in 9 innings at 24.36.
Stats and Facts
Head-to-head: Matches 52, West Indies 17, Pakistan 20, Draw 15.
Since 2010, Matches 8, West Indies 3, Pakistan 5.
Pakistan won their first-ever Test series in the Caribbean during their last visit in 2017. They won the three-match rubber 2-1.
Pakistan’s record at Kingston: Matches 4, Won 2, Lost 2.
Possible Playing XI
West Indies
The home side have named a 17-man squad for the two-match series. While pacer Chemar Holder and middle-order batter Shamarh Brooks have been recalled, the veteran duo of Shannon Gabriel and Darren Bravo are missing.
Possible Playing XI: 1. Kraigg Brathwaite (c), 2. Shai Hope, 3. Nkrumah Bonner, 4. Roston Chase, 5. Kyle Mayers, 6. Jermaine Blackwood, 7. Joshua de Silva (wk), 8. Jason Holder, 9. Kemar Roach, 10. Jayden Seales, 11. Alzarri Joseph
Pakistan
Pakistan is likely to feature the same playing XI that won 2-0 against Zimbabwe earlier this year. The likes of Abid Ali, Imran Butt, Azhar Ali, skipper Babar Azam and Fawad Alam will form the top five with Mohmmad Rizwan slotting in as the wicketkeeper.
Hasan Ali and Faheem Ashraf will likely take up the all-rounder spots while Mohammad Abbas and Shaheen Shah Afridi will be the pace-bowling spearheads. It will be interesting to see whether Pakistan go with the experience of Yasir Shah or will they opt for Nauman Ali.
Possible Playing XI: 1. Imran Butt, 2. Abid Ali, 3. Azhar Ali, 4. Babar Azam (c), 5. Fawad Alam, 6. Mohammad Rizwan (wk), 7. Faheem Ashraf, 8. Hasan Ali, 9. Yasir Shah, 10. Mohammad Abbas, 11. Shaheen Shah Afridi
Kingston Jamaica Pitch Report and Weather
Once revered for its pace and bounce, the pitch at Sabina Park in Jamaica has become flatter in the past decade or so.
That said, it still offers enough pace and bounce to keep the fast bowlers interested. In 8 Tests since the start of 2011, pacers have claimed 163 wickets in 1362.1 overs at an average of 23.77 as compared to spinners, who have managed 107 wickets in 1036 overs at 31.11.
The average 1st innings score in 52 games played at the venue is 321 which increases to 339 for the second innings and 239 and 146 for third and fourth innings respectively.
Teams’ batting first have won on 17 occasions in 52 Tests as compared to 21 won by the side bowling first.
However, just like the T20I series, poor weather can once again play spoilsport if the forecast over the next few days in Jamaica is to be believed.
According to Accuweather, there are significant chances of rain on each of the five days and overhead skies are likely to be the norm.
Dream11 Prediction
Note: Teams below are not based on the final playing XIs. We may not be able to update these teams in time after the final playing XIs have been announced.
Option 1:
WI vs PAK 1st Test Dream11 Prediction
Option 2:
WI vs PAK 1st Test Dream11 Prediction
Match Prediction
Both West Indies and Pakistan are extremely unpredictable in how they go about their business. However, with Pakistan having more potency and experience in their batting line-up, they should start as favorites.
Are England getting the best out of Sam Curran? | Looking at how England can maximise the potential of Sam Curran in Test cricket
The first Test match of the second World Test Championship ended in a draw thanks to the cruel English weather. Now, England and India will have a face off in the 2nd Test at the “Home Of Cricket”, Lord’s.
There are several points to talk about in this series; a major one among them is the way England see Sam Curran in their Test set up. Sam Curran is inarguably one of the finest young talents in world cricket right now. He is a very passionate cricketer and does have great potential to become the poster boy of English cricket.
But, England don’t maximise his potential and they can use him in a more appropriate manner. In this article, I am going to reveal why I feel this way and how they can use him in the best possible way. Here we go.
Current role of Sam Curran in the Test side
In his 3-year old Test career, Sam has batted at numbers 8 or 9 in 88.57% of his total innings. Further, England decided to go with 7 pure batting options and 4 bowling options including Sam in the first Test at Nottingham. These facts clearly indicate that they see him as a bowling all rounder, i.e. a bowler who can contribute some runs with the bat.
But does he bowl as many overs as the other pure bowlers do? The answer is no. I have plotted a graph below which shows the number of occasions he has bowled certain percentages of the total overs.
It is pretty clear from the graph that Sam has bowled less than 10 percent of the total number of overs on most of the occasions in his brief career so far. This signifies that although England see him primarily as a bowler who can bat, they have not used him with the ball in the most convincing manner.
So, there exists some lack of clarity practically regarding his role as a bowling all rounder in the English Test side.
Is Sam Curran really a bowling all rounder?
Sam Curran, the bowler, operates at a pace mostly ranging between 125-135 kph. Added to that, his short stature doesn’t allow him to cause trouble for the batters via extra bounce off the surface.
So, his strengths with the ball are limited to swing and seam. Whenever he bowls, he mostly tries to pitch the ball up and get some movement in the air as well as off the surface. Due to these limitations, he doesn’t seem to be a bowler suited for all conditions in the longest format of the game. He can mostly be threatening in favourable conditions for fast bowlers. These kinds of “condition-oriented” bowlers can only be supportive and give some good overs when the ball does something.
But when Sam Curran bats, we don’t see a typical tail-ender slogging in the middle. His head stays still and he plays with a straight bat face, much like a proper batsman. He has mostly been given the job to score quick runs batting at 8, yet averages 32.72 in 21 innings including 3 fifties in that particular position (just 3 not outs). This definitely indicates his immense potential with the bat and therefore I feel he is better as a batsman than a bowler. So, he should play the role of a batting all rounder in the side in my opinion.
He has the capability to bat a bit up the order and also he can provide a really decent fifth bowling option to his team. Particularly in the current scenario where England don’t have their premier batting all-rounder Ben Stokes, they should at least give Sam Curran a try as his alternative. Obviously, I don’t mean he can turn out to be as impactful as Stokes all of a sudden, but it’s the only way England can get the most out of him.
This is my take on the way England should see him as a prospect in Tests from now onwards.
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The first Test between England and India was shaping up for a classic finish but the persistent rain in Nottingham led to an anti-climax as the final day was abandoned without a single ball being bowled.
So, the caravan of the five-match series now moved to the ‘Home of Cricket’ Lord’s with the series still locked 0-0.
India would be the happier of the two sides going into the Lord’s Test as they dominated a major portion of the first game. Jasprit Bumrah’s return to form after an indifferent outing in the WTC Final and successful Test comeback of KL Rahul were the biggest positives for Team India from the Nottingham Test while the poor form of the trio of Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane remains a big concern.
England, on the other hand, have several problems of their own. Their batting-unit barring Joe Root was once again exposed to the hilt in the last Test.
The likes of Rory Burns and Zak Crawley had a poor outing and while Dom Sibley did spend a lot of time on the crease, he did not score enough runs.
With Ben Stokes and Chris Woakes not available, England struggled for balance in the last Test as they played with just four genuine bowling options out of which Stuart Broad and Sam Curran had a poor game.
England have drafted Moeen Ali in their squad for the second Test while Saqib Mahmood has been added as a cover for Stuart Broad and James Anderson. While Broad sprained his ankle while jogging during the warm-ups, Anderson is suspected to be suffering from a tight quad.
Key Players to watch/Key Stats
England:
Joe Root: The England captain was adjudged ‘Player of the Match’ for his stupendous knocks of 64 & 109 in Nottingham and he is the prime reason why England aren’t 0-1 down going into the Lord’s Test. Root has the fifth-most runs of any England player in history at Lord’s, with 1,271 at an average of 47.07.
Ollie Robinson: Robinson is enhancing his reputation with every outing. The tall seamer once again impressed with the disconcerting bounce he generates besides moving the ball both ways.
Robinson claimed 7 wickets on his Test debut at Lord’s against New Zealand earlier this summer and he backed it up with a five-for in the last Test against India.
Rory Burns: Rory Burns had a forgettable outing against India in Nottingham. But the southpaw loves batting at Lord’s. He scored a brilliant 132 earlier in the summer against the Kiwis and England will hope that the left-hander can do an encore of it in the 2nd Test.
Moeen Ali: Moeen Ali has been drafted in the England side to lend better balance to the team in the absence of Ben Stokes and Chris Woakes. Ali loves bowling against India on home soil. In 7 home Tests against India, Ali has claimed 31 wickets at an average of 22.22. Can he do an encore at Lord’s?
James Anderson: The champion seamer was once again in his elements in the first Test as he claimed crucial wickets of Pujara, KL Rahul and Virat Kohli. Anderson is the leading wicket-taker for England against India at Lord’s- 28 wickets in 8 innings at 16.32- and if he is deemed available for the second Test then he will pose the biggest threat to Team India.
India
KL Rahul: KL Rahul made a brilliant comeback to Test cricket in Nottingham as he scored a disciplined 214-ball 84 in the first innings to help India take a significant lead. Rahul looked at ease against the moving ball and India will hope that the Karnataka opener continues his good form at Lord’s.
Rohit Sharma: Sharma was once again guilty of throwing it away in the last Test after having done all the hard work. Nevertheless, he once again looked extremely assured at the crease in challenging conditions and India will hope that the ‘Hitman’ finally converts his start into a big knock at the ‘Home of Cricket’
Virat Kohli: Virat Kohli endured a golden duck in Nottingham as he nicked off against James Anderson. Kohli is undergoing a lean patch in Test cricket. He is averaging 23 in his last 15 Test innings and his record at Lord’s doesn’t inspire confidence. The Indian skipper has managed just 65 runs in four outings at Lord’s which also includes a golden duck in 2014. Can the Indian captain shrug off his poor form and end his century drought in international cricket?
Ajinkya Rahane: Rahane smashed a brilliant match-winning 103 at Lord’s in 2014 and the Indian vice-captain will be hoping to take motivation from his past exploits at the venue as he aims to shrug off his recent lean patch.
Jasprit Bumrah- Bumrah once again displayed just why he is one of the best bowlers of the modern-era as he claimed a total of 9 wickets in Nottingham after an indifferent outing in the WTC final. This will be Bumrah’s maiden Test at Lord’s and he’ll be gunning to get his name on the honour’s board.
Stats and Facts
India have lost 3 of their last 5 Tests at Lord’s. While they drew in 2007 and won in 2014, they went down by comprehensive margins in 2002, 2011 and 2018.
India have won just two Tests at Lord’s. They have played a total of 18 matches at the venue, losing 12 while four have ended in a draw.
Ajinkya Rahane (139 runs in 4 innings) is the leading run-scorer at Lord’s among current Indian batters.
James Anderson has claimed the most number of wickets for England against India at Lord’s – 28 wickets in 8 innings at 16.32 with three five-wicket hauls.
Possible Playing XI
England
With Stuart Broad and James Anderson having injury issues ahead of the second Test, England could well be forced to pick their second string pace bowling arsenal.
Mark Wood should replace the injured Broad while either of Saqib Mahmood or Craig Overton could replace James Anderson if the champion seamer is ruled out.
Moeen Ali is likely to slot into the playing XI as a spin-bowling all-rounder.
Zak Crawley, who is averaging 11 this year, could make way for Haseeb Hameed.
Virat Kohli said in the post-match presentation that the team is likely to stick with the 4+1 template but with Shardul Thakur set to miss the Lord’s Test due to hamstring injury, the team-management could be in for some selection headaches.
With Lord’s expected to be dry during the Test match, India have the option of picking R. Ashwin as their second spinner which will also bolster their bowling-unit.
However, if they want to stick with the same 4+1 template then Ishant Sharma can make a return to the playing XI.
With the conditions in London expected to be dry, spin could come into play during the later stages of the match.
However, with a tinge of grass on the surface and the famous Lord’s slope helping the seamers, the fast bowlers could once again rule the roost, especially during the first couple of days.
Since the start of 2011, pacers have accounted for 532 wickets at Lord’s in 4765.1 overs at an average of 27.56 while the spinners have managed 113 wickets in 1434.1 overs at 41.06.
The average 1st innings score at Lord’s is 312 which drops to 298, 257 and 155 in the succeeding innings.
In 140 Tests played at the venue, the team batting first has won on 50 occasions while the team fielding first has won on 39 instances.
As far as the weather in London is concerned, unlike Nottingham, it is expected to be warm and dry with the temperatures hovering between 13-23 degree Celsius.
Dream11 Prediction
Note: Teams below are not based on the final playing XIs. We may not be able to update these teams in time after the final playing XIs have been announced.
Option 1:
ENG vs IND 2nd Test Dream11 Prediction
Option 2:
ENG vs IND 2nd Test Dream11 Prediction
Match Prediction
History is against Team India as far as their performances at Lord’s are concerned, but with their batting in seemingly good shape as compared to the hosts coupled with the whole host of injury issues that England are suffering from in their pace bowling department, India should start as slight favorites.
