In the ongoing first test between Pakistan and England in Multan, the visitors suffered another injury setback as opener Ben Duckett dislocated his thumb while taking a catch on the field. With several key players already dealing with injuries, England faced a tough challenge as they struggled to contain the Pakistani batting line-up, which put up a mammoth total of 556 runs in their first innings. Despite some brilliant fielding efforts, including a one-handed stunner by Aamer Jamal to dismiss Ollie Pope, England was unable to turn things around and were under pressure at the end of day two.
Ben Duckett Injured, England Face Challenges in Pakistan
In the ongoing first Test between Pakistan and England in Multan, England suffered a significant injury setback as opener Ben Duckett dislocated his thumb while taking a catch on the field. This latest injury has compounded England's woes, as they are already missing several key players due to injuries.
Duckett's injury occurred on the second day of the Test, when he attempted to catch a pull shot off the bowling of Haris Rauf. He landed awkwardly and immediately fell in pain, with medical staff rushing to his aid. The injury forced Duckett to leave the field and he did not return for the rest of the day's play.
With Duckett out of the match, England faced an even greater challenge against a strong Pakistani batting lineup. Pakistan had already amassed a mammoth 556 runs in their first innings, thanks to centuries from Babar Azam and Agha Salman.
Despite some outstanding fielding efforts, including a one-handed stunner by Aamer Jamal to dismiss Ollie Pope, England struggled to contain the Pakistani batsmen. They finished the day in a difficult position, trailing Pakistan by 302 runs and with just seven wickets in hand.
Background on Ben Duckett
Ben Duckett is a 28-year-old left-handed batsman who has played 11 Tests and three One Day Internationals for England. He made his Test debut against Bangladesh in 2016 and has scored a total of 553 runs at an average of 29.10.
Duckett has had a somewhat stop-start career for England, with injuries and loss of form affecting his progress. However, he has shown glimpses of his talent, including a century against South Africa in 2019.
FAQs
What is the extent of Ben Duckett's injury? Duckett has dislocated his thumb and is expected to miss the remainder of the first Test. The extent of the injury is not yet known, but it is feared that he could be out of action for several weeks.
Who will replace Ben Duckett in the England team? England have not yet confirmed who will replace Duckett in the team, but Keaton Jennings is the most likely candidate. Jennings has played 17 Tests for England and has been in good form for Lancashire in the County Championship this season.
How will England's batting lineup be affected by Duckett's absence? Duckett's absence will weaken England's batting lineup, as he is one of their most experienced and reliable players. It will put more pressure on the other batsmen to perform, particularly the top order.
What are England's chances of winning the first Test? England face a tough challenge to win the first Test, even before Duckett's injury. They are up against a strong Pakistani team and are already trailing by a large margin. However, they have shown some resilience in the past and will be hoping to fight back in the remaining days of the Test.
What is the status of England's other injured players? England are also without several other key players due to injuries, including Jonny Bairstow, Jofra Archer, and Stuart Broad. Bairstow is expected to miss the rest of the series, while Archer and Broad are unlikely to be fit for the first Test.
In a dominant performance, the Indian women's cricket team defeated Ireland by six wickets in the first match of the three-match series in Rajkot. Despite being without captain Harmanpreet Kaur and bowler Renuka Singh Thakur, India showed no signs of struggle as they dismissed Ireland for just 56 runs. Medium pacer Titas Sadhu and spinner Priya Mishra were the stars of the show, taking three wickets each.
La Liga team Atletico Madrid has criticized the Spanish National Sports Council's decision to allow Barcelona midfielder Dani Olmo to play on a temporary basis after his license had expired. According to the club, this government intervention sets a dangerous precedent and calls into question the rules of the game. Other clubs, including Las Palmas, have also expressed concern about how this decision could impact the integrity of the competition and destabilize professional football in Spain.
After repeated rejections by La Liga and the Spanish Football Federation, Barcelona successfully appealed to the Higher Sports Council to register Dani Olmo and Pau Victor for the remainder of the 2024-25 season. However, their registration is only valid until the CSD reaches a final decision in April, leaving the team with a limited timeline to utilize their talents in crucial matches. The stakes are high as Barcelona must secure favorable results in La Liga, the Copa del Rey, and the Champions League during this period, making the CSD's decision a crucial factor in their success.
The Indian women's cricket team, led by Smriti Mandhana, takes on Ireland in the first ODI of a three-match series. With the hosts coming off a series sweep against the West Indies, Mandhana and her team will look to continue their dominant form. However, Ireland's Prendergast brings valuable experience from playing in Australia and could prove to be a key player for the visitors in this highly-anticipated match.
In a thrilling match at the Kotambi Stadium, Rajasthan's opener Abhijeet Tomar's brilliant century and a five-wicket haul from Tamil Nadu's Varun Chakaravarthy made for an exciting game. Tomar's partnership with skipper Mahipal Lomror set the foundation for Rajasthan's first-ever victory over Tamil Nadu in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. They will now face Vidarbha in the quarterfinals on Sunday. Additionally, Haryana dominated Bengal with all-round performances from Parth Vats and Nishant Sandhu, securing a 72-run win.
In a thrilling match in the 2024-25 Saudi Pro League, Cristiano Ronaldo and Sadio Mane led Al Nassr to a 3-1 victory over Al Okhdoud at the Awwal Park in Riyadh. The two star players each scored a goal, with Mane scoring a brace and Ronaldo scoring his first goal of 2025. The win propelled Al Nassr to third place in the league table with 28 points from 14 matches. Don't miss out on the excitement, subscribe now to catch all the action.
Real Madrid secured their spot in the Supercopa final after a thrilling match against Mallorca. They will now face off against their arch-rivals Barcelona in a highly anticipated final in Jeddah. Stay tuned for updates and post-match reactions.
In a thrilling match between Real Madrid and Valencia, Vinicius Junior's red card became the main talking point. After pushing Valencia's goalkeeper and receiving a straight red, the Brazilian forward's hopes of celebrating a victory seemed dashed. However, thanks to late goals from Luka Modric and Jude Bellingham, Madrid secured a 2-1 win. Vinicius later took to social media to apologize to his teammates, while manager Carlo Ancelotti confirmed that the club will appeal the red card. According to MARCA, the Spanish Football Federation is considering a two-game ban for Vinicius instead of the customary four-match suspension for violent conduct, as they acknowledge that he was provoked by the opposing player.
In a recent conversation with The Athletic, Mallorca right-back Pablo Maffeo opened up about an old compliment he received from Lionel Messi. The Argentinian superstar had labeled Maffeo as the "toughest defender he's faced" after a game in 2017. The 20-year-old defender sees this as a trophy and is now set to face off against another superstar, Vinicius Junior, in the upcoming Supercopa de Espana. This will be the 11th time that the two players will face each other, with a record of four wins each so far. Interestingly, Messi has never scored against Maffeo in their previous encounters.
After a disappointing loss to Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool are reportedly eyeing Bayern Munich's Joshua Kimmich as a potential replacement for Trent Alexander-Arnold, should the current Reds player depart for Real Madrid. With Kimmich having excelled as a defensive midfielder and even taking on the captain's armband, Liverpool are keeping a close eye on the situation and may make a move in the upcoming January transfer window.