Duckett And Crawley’s 166-run Stand Hurts India On England’s Dominant Day

1 month ago

After nan mature, pragmatic climb to a match-winning first innings full astatine Lord’s came nan return of England’s much earthy and freewheeling rhythms. On a raucous 2nd time successful Manchester that saw India dominated, Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum could person been forgiven for emotion alternatively smug arsenic they watched nan runs travel for illustration wine.

It began pinch a successful dousing of India’s little bid either broadside of luncheon arsenic nan 2nd caller shot moved lavishly nether unreality cover. Stokes claimed his first five-wicket haul successful Test cricket for 8 years, Jofra Archer vanished pinch 3 to further optimism astir his comeback, and nan visitors were bowled retired for 358 successful 114.1 overs.

And then, aft nan sun collapsed out, India’s seamers sewage it horribly incorrect and England raced to 225 for 2 from 46 overs by stumps. Old Trafford’s acrophobia-inducing statement guidelines was rocking for illustration Heaton Park past week, Shubman Gill was struggling to find solutions, and memories of that thwarted Ashes Test present 2 years agone came flooding back. Here is hoping rainfall does not person specified a opportunity successful this one.

There was nary period for Zak Crawley this time, however, nan opener unopen down for 84 from 113 balls erstwhile he feathered an separator to gaffe disconnected Ravindra Jadeja. Ben Duckett was past 2nd to miss retired connected 3 figures when, connected 94, he looked to trim debutant Anshul Kamboj for his 14th bound only to gallingly feather it behind. The agelong trudge disconnected nan field, eyes fixed connected nan floor, was a reminder of why cricket is truthful maddening.

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Women's Test to characteristic astatine Lord's for first clip adjacent year

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The first women’s Test lucifer to beryllium held astatine Lord’s will return spot adjacent July erstwhile England return connected India complete 4 days. The dates for nan historical fixture, England’s first location Test since nan 2023 Ashes, were announced connected Thursday arsenic portion of nan afloat 2026 location schedule for some nan men’s and women’s teams. Ben Stokes’ men’s Test squad are owed to look New Zealand successful a three-match bid successful June, and Pakistan successful a three-match bid successful August and September. Harry Brook’s white-ball squad will look India successful July successful 5 T20s and 3 ODIs, pinch Sri Lanka visiting successful September to play 3 T20s and 3 ODIs. PA Media

But nan brace had still ransacked 166 runs successful conscionable complete 2 hours of batting bliss, pinch their 5th period guidelines since coming together successful precocious 2022 nan latest reminder of their complementary attributes. It has laid a important level for those little down, too, pinch Ollie Pope and Joe Root group to resume successful nan greeting unbeaten connected 20 and 11 respectively. India, still 133 runs ahead, will dream those clouds rotation backmost in.

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