A shorter ball from India’s Prasidh Krishna is nicked behind and caught to end Ollie Pope’s “wonderful” innings, leaving England on 225-4 on day three of the first Test at Headingley. FOLLOW LIVE: England v India first Test – day three Available to UK users only. Read full article at source...
Former England captain Alastair Cook believes Ollie Pope showed admirable control in the century that helped guide his side to 209-3 – trailing India by 262 runs – at the end of the second day of the first Test at Headingley. MATCH REPORT: England v India first Test – day two Available to UK users...
Saturday at Headingley. Fancy dress. A group of clergymen took their place on the Western Terrace. Maybe there was a universe where Ollie Pope joined them in watching from the sidelines. Maybe his place was never under any serious threat from Jacob Bethell. If it had taken a leap of faith from Ben Stokes to...
Ollie Pope’s gutsy century led England’s resurgence only for Jasprit Bumrah to give India the crucial wicket of Joe Root late on day two of the first Test. Pope, preferred to rising star Jacob Bethell at number three, repaid England’s faith with 100 not out at Headingley. The ball after Pope completed his century, Bumrah...
With an Ashes series in Australia to follow in the winter, the start of the much-anticipated five-match series against India signals the beginning of a run of 10 Tests which will define Stokes’ reign as captain. Stokes, though, was keen to refute any suggestion England would have an eye on Australia while playing India. “We...
Speaking of Bumrah, there is perhaps no man on either side more capable of winning the series single-handedly than the India paceman. Pound for pound, Bumrah is the best cricketer in the world and compiling a career that will put him among the greatest fast bowlers. How England play, or survive, Bumrah may well determine...
Woakes, who has missed England’s past two Tests, has recovered from an ankle injury, while Carse will play his first home Test after overcoming a foot problem. Carse could be in line to share the new ball with Woakes, despite usually operating as a change bowler. The Durham man has opened the bowling on 16...
Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins has withdrawn from the England squad with a minor injury. The 29-year-old will now miss the World Cup qualifying match in Andorra on Saturday (17:00 BST) and the friendly with Senegal next week. There are currently no plans to call up a replacement and England will prepare for both games...
Bethell could pressure opener Zak Crawley or frontline spinner Shoaib Bashir for a place in the XI but realistically it is a choice between the Warwickshire man and Pope. Former England all-rounder Wright rejected the suggestion that the lack of clarity around Bethell’s position could unsettle the established members of the squad. “Everyone knows before...
Though his versatility is an asset, the 27-year-old’s primary role is to score runs at number three. He averages 43 in that position since being given the job by captain Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum in 2022. Still, he endured a mixed time last year with the bat. Although he made three hundreds, he...
Centuries from Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope and Ben Duckett highlight a dominant batting display as England wrap up day one on 498-3 in the first innings of their single Test match against Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge. MATCH REPORT: Pope, Crawley and Duckett tons flatten Zimbabwe Available to UK users only. Read full article at source...
Pope, therefore, is vulnerable, despite again being confirmed as England’s vice-captain by Stokes on Wednesday. If he does lose his place, it would be unfortunate given his willingness to adapt for England over the past year. At various times he has been captain, wicketkeeper, opener, number three and number six. Indeed, he slipped down the...
Bukayo Saka, Arsenal, £10.3m – Newcastle (h) Saka has not delivered a return since week 30 but since then, in five games, he has an expected goal involvement (xGI) of 3.1. In comparison, team-mate Leandro Trossard has an xGI of 2.9 but has managed five goal involvements in the same period. So Saka is playing...
On Saturday at a sun-kissed Bournemouth, Watkins guided Morgan Rogers’ low cross into the bottom corner with a delicate, deft touch. It was his 16th Premier League goal of the season – no other Englishman has more. Longevity is key. Watkins has scored at least 10 league goals in all of his five seasons at...
Ollie Price scored a career-best 253 not out and became only the third Gloucestershire batsman in history to score a double-century against Lancashire to help his side take a 139-run first-innings lead in the County Championship match at Old Trafford. Replying to the home side’s 450, the visitors were 589-8 at the close and their...