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England captain Ben Stokes said Tuesday he is "deeply sorry" to learn of the scale of discrimination in the sport after a damning report revealed "widespread" racism, sexism and classism in the game. His comments followed the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket (ICEC), set up by the England and Wales Cricket Board, publishing its much-anticipated report, Holding Up a Mirror to Cricket.
Seamer Josh Tongue has replaced Moeen Ali in England's team for the second Ashes Test against Australia at Lord's. Spinning all-rounder Moeen suffered a burst blister on his right index finger in the narrow two-wicket defeat in the series opener at Edgbaston. Worcestershire paceman Tongue, 25, is preferred to the express pace of Mark Wood -- whose career has been blighted by injuries -- for the match, which starts on Wednesday. Seamer Chris Woakes and leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed were also overlooked in preference of Tongue, who impressed with a maiden five-wicket haul on his debut against Ireland earlier this month.
Marnus Labuschagne said Australia, especially the pacers, did not even bring their "B Game" in the win against England in the Ashes opener, adding that there is plenty of room for the visitors to improve as the series goes on. Australia edged out England to win the opening Test in Birmingham by two wickets to take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series. There were a number of impressive individual performances from the visitors but Labuschagne felt that the formidable Australian pace attack was not at its best.
Lord's will provide a fitting backdrop to this week's Ashes drama as the spiritual 'Home of Cricket' hosts the second Test between England and Australia.
England cricket chiefs have promised to "reset" the game after an independent report on Tuesday said not enough had been done to tackle institutional racism and sexism in the game. The England and Wales Cricket Board set up the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket in 2021 to look at issues of diversity, inclusion and equity following a racism scandal. Pakistan-born bowler Azeem Rafiq went public with allegations of racism and bullying in September 2020, related to his two spells at English county Yorkshire.
Cricket is regarded as the gentlemen's game which has led to many off the field friendships like Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers, Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar, and many more. Apart from forming good bonds, cricket is known for creating some bitter rivalries, not just on-field but also off-field. One such infamous rivalry is between former England all-rounder Ian Botham and former Australia skipper Ian Chappell, who have been not in good terms since 1977. However, even after more than 40 years, things are not in place between them as the two greats have ignited their long feud once again.
India pacer Ishant Sharma feels that Zaheer Khan was a better bowler than James Anderson. He reasoned it by point out that the England pacer plays in a different conditions to that in India. While an average ODI career sees Anderson claiming 269 wickets across 194 games, an illustrious Test career has Anderson scalping 686 wickets from 180 games. He has registered 32 five-wicket hauls in the format with his best bowling figures in a game being 11/71. Ishant feels that Anderson would not have been so successful, had he played majority of his games in Indian conditions.
Former captain Ricky Ponting has offered technical advice to Australia batters Marnus Labuschagne and Travis Head to counter England's bowling attack ahead of the second Ashes Test starting Wednesday at the Lord's. Australia won the opening Test at Edgbaston, Birmingham by two wickets in what was the first match of the new ICC World Test Championship cycle. There were a number of impressive individual performances, but Labuschagne and Head struggled in the Ashes opener.