July 17, 2025 12:26 PM

Stokes’ long bowling spells vs India a great sign for England, says Root

Ben Stokes' lengthy bowling spells against India in the third test shows the England all-rounder has full confidence in his body after coming through injury layoffs, batter Joe Root said. The England captain bowled 44 overs at Lord's, the most of any bowler in the match, and took five wickets to guide the hosts to a 22-run victory and 2-1 lead in the five-match series. He contributed 44 and 33 runs and was named player of the match. The 34-year-old underwent a successful operation on a torn ha...

July 16, 2025 3:53 PM

Archer keen to play remaining India tests, Ashes; Dawson replaces injured Bashir in England squad for fourth test

After missing four years of test duty due to injury, England speedster Jofra Archer is keen to make up for lost time and says he wants to play the final two tests against India and prove he deserves a place in the squad for the Ashes series in Australia. Archer made his test comeback at Lord's in the third test, bowling at full tilt to claim five wickets, including three in the second innings as England clinched a 22-run victory to go 2-1 up in the five-match series. England management, men's ...

July 15, 2025 12:10 PM

Starc record as Australia bowl out Windies for 27 to win third test

Mitchell Starc delivered the fastest five-wicket haul in test history on Monday as Australia crushed the West Indies by 176 runs in the third test in Kingston, Jamaica to complete a 3-0 series sweep. In his 100th test, Starc took 15 balls to wreck the West Indies top order and leave the home side's run chase in tatters, before returning for his sixth wicket after Scott Boland became Australia's 10th bowler to take a test hat-trick. West Indies were bowled out for 27, the second-lowest total in...

July 13, 2025 2:15 PM

West Indies bowl out Australia for 225 after dramatic collapse

Australia lost seven wickets for 68 runs in a dramatic collapse to be all out for 225 on day one of the third and final test against West Indies at Sabina Park in Kingston, Jamaica. West Indies finished the day on 16 for one — 209 runs behind — after Australia's Mitchell Starc bowled Kevlon Anderson off the inside edge in the pacer's 100th test. Starc, 35, is just the second Australian fast bowler after Glenn McGrath to play 100 tests. Australia won the toss and opted to bat first for the...

July 9, 2025 10:02 AM

Buoyant India unperturbed by prospect of spicy Lord’s pitch

India expect England to roll out a challenging track for the third test at Lord's but are confident their in-form batters can master it, batting coach Sitanshu Kotak said on Tuesday. India levelled the five-test series 1-1 with a thumping 336-run victory at Edgbaston where they racked up 587 in the first innings and declared their second on 427-6. England are pondering overhauling their tired bowling attack and a fit-again Jofra Archer is in line to play his first test in more than four years ...

July 8, 2025 12:01 PM

‘Buzzing’ Archer in the selection frame for third test vs India, says McCullum

Jofra Archer is fit and ready to go if called upon for England's third test against India, coach Brendon McCullum said, as the injury-plagued fast bowler edges closer to a return in the longest format. Archer has taken 42 wickets in 13 tests but has not played in the format since February 2021 after a succession of elbow injuries and back issues sidelined him for long periods. The 30-year-old was added to the squad for the second test at Edgbaston but did not make the starting side as England ...

July 7, 2025 1:15 PM

Australia crush West Indies in Grenada Test to take unassailable 2-0 lead

Australia overwhelmed the West Indies by 133 runs in the second test in Grenada on Sunday to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series with one match remaining. The touring side dominated after a promising morning for the hosts during which Shamar Joseph gave West Indies hope with a superb four-wicket haul to dismiss Australia for 243. Set 277 for victory on a deteriorating track, however, the West Indies slumped to 143 all out. "We never really got those partnerships going," skipper Roston...

July 6, 2025 11:16 AM

Australia seize control vs West Indies as Smith’s masterclass extends lead to 254

Steve Smith's magnificent 71 guided Australia to 221 for seven at stumps on day three of the second test against West Indies in Grenada on Saturday, helping the tourists to build a commanding 254-run lead despite late wickets and persistent rain interruptions. Australia, who began the day two wickets down after losing Sam Konstas and Usman Khawaja on Friday, made it to lunch at 69 for three and appeared vulnerable on a pitch offering variable bounce and seam movement. Nathan Lyon's nightwatchm...

July 2, 2025 4:00 PM

2nd Test: England win toss and opt to bowl against changed India, Bumrah rested

England won the toss and opted to bowl in the second test against India at Edgbaston on Wednesday, with the tourists making three changes and resting pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah as they manage his back for the series. Sai Sudharsan and Shardul Thakur were dropped from the line-up, with Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar and Akash Deep coming into the playing 11 while Bumrah is set to return for the third test at Lord's which begins on July 10. "This is an important match for us but the th...

July 2, 2025 12:35 PM

Australia’s fit-again Steve Smith set to play second test vs West Indies

Australia are set to be reinforced by Steve Smith's return to their top order but may miss his reassuring presence in the slip cordon in the second test against West Indies in Grenada this week. Smith missed Australia's victory in the series opener in Bridgetown with a dislocated finger in his right hand, an injury suffered during the World Test Championship final against South Africa last month. The 36-year-old has reunited with the squad at the National Cricket Stadium and is likely to repla...