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England captain Ben Stokes on Tuesday rated Mark Wood as an "impact builder" with high pace after they decided to enter the first Test against India, starting in Hyderabad from Thursday, with a solitary fast bowler and three spinners. Wood was preferred over veteran James Anderson for this match, and Stokes said the Durham man's ability to touch 150 clicks tilted the scales in his favour.
The England cricket team received a big blow ahead of the first Test against India as young spinner Shoaib Bashir had to return home because of an unresolved visa issue. Bashir was to join the rest of his teammates in Hyderabad but the player with his roots in Pakistan couldn't find a resolution in time for the series opener. England skipper Ben Stokes admitted being frustrated because of the issue, saying he feels for the player who was in the running for a spot in the playing XI for the first Test.
Pitching full length deliveries, attacking the stumps and setting straighter field placements should be the mantra for England pacers when they counter a star-studded Indian batting line-up during the upcoming Test series, says South Africa great Allan Donald. Donald had toured India in 1996 and in 1999-00. On the second occasion, South Africa managed to blank India 2-0 with four pronged pace attack comprising Donald himself, Shaun Pollock, Nantie Hayward and Jacques Kallis making life miserable for Indian batters. Donald, in fact, had dismissed Rahul Dravid at Wankhede stadium and Sachin Tendulkar at Chinnaswamy stadium during that series.
Former England cricket team spinner Monty Panesar believes that England cricketers should sledge Virat Kohli and try to 'mentally pinch' him in the upcoming Test series in India starting January 25. India and England will play five Test matches and Kohli is expected to play a huge role in determining the result of the series. In a recent interaction, Panesar said that England bowlers need to play with Kohli's ego and sledge him on the lines of India being 'chokers' when it comes to international competitions.
Veteran English seamer James Anderson says his team might be compelled to open with two spinners in the upcoming five-Test series against India as it looks for ways to counter the traditionally spin-friendly conditions in the host country. The Three Lions have moved in with four specialist spinners in their squad -- Jack Leach, Rehan Ahmed, Tom Hartley and Shoaib Bashir. Leach is the only one to have experienced playing the longest format in India. The series begins January 25 in Hyderabad and the English team is undergoing a training camp in Abu Dhabi. The spin department will receive guidance from Anderson, Ollie Robinson and Mark Wood, who too have Test-playing experience in the country.
Just before the start of the second Test in Cape Town, Shreyas Iyer straightaway walked outside the Newlands Stadium for throwdowns after arriving for an optional training session. The two throwdown experts Nuwan Senaviratne -- the southpaw side-armer -- and Raghavendra, along with batting coach Vikram Rathour, were letting it rip from 18 yards. The idea was to get the flashy Mumbaikar match-ready for short balls which has been his problem across formats from the time he made his debut. Few minutes into the session, he got one throwdown from 18 yards, short and mean into the body that kicked up from length. It was more than 150 clicks due to the shorter distance traversed. The bat didn't come down in time and he was hit on the fleshy area between upper and lower abdomen.
Iconic Australian spinner Nathan Lyon achieved the significant milestone of 500 wickets in Test cricket during the first Test between Australia and Pakistan in Perth on Sunday. Lyon became the eighth bowler to reach this elite feat, joining the distinguished company of legendary players in the long-format cricket. During the match, Lyon claimed his 500th wicket by dismissing Faheem Ashraf leg-before-wicket for a mere five runs while Australia defended a target of 450. This accomplishment places Lyon alongside his compatriots, the late spin maestro Shane Warne and pace legend Glenn McGrath, who have also achieved the milestone of 500 Test wickets. Australia emerged victorious in the match by 360 runs, and Lyon concluded with combined bowling figures of 5/80 across both innings.
Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon has become the eighth man to take 500 Test wickets after reaching the major milestone against Pakistan.