Pakistan's Saud Shakeel defies England's bowling attack to score a vital century, turning the tide of the third Test in his team's favor. With support from tailenders Noman Ali and Sajid Khan, Shakeel grinds out a total of 344 runs, leaving England with a daunting task to catch up. Despite their earlier declaration to play an aggressive 'Bazball' style, Pakistan captain Shan Masood's team benefited from Shakeel's technical proficiency and steady approach to turn the match around.
As India and Bangladesh came to a standstill in the rain-delayed second Test match, Team India stepped up to the plate and delivered a historic performance, smashing records with their batting prowess. Led by captain Rohit Sharma, who hit a six and a maximum off his first two balls, India broke England's record for most sixes in a calendar year in Test matches. With fans proclaiming "BazBall who?" on social media, it is clear that India's own style has taken the cricket world by storm.
On day four of the first Test at Emirates Old Trafford, Joe Root's unbeaten 62 off 128 balls proved to be the turning point for England as they chased down a target of 205 to win against Sri Lanka. With only two boundaries, Root demonstrated a steely determination to guide his team to victory and secure his 64th Test fifty. This win was a testament to England's new 'Bazball' approach to Test cricket, championed by captain Ben Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum. A thrilling match to watch, the second Test from Lord's can be seen live on Sky Sports Cricket from 10am on Thursday, with first ball at 11am.
Indian cricketer, Ravichandran Ashwin, has shared his thoughts on England's recent tour to India in a recent video on his YouTube channel. He discussed how the English team used an aggressive tactic called 'Bazball' during the first two Tests and how India's spinners adapted to counter it. Ashwin also mentioned the overconfidence displayed by some of the English players and its possible impact on their team's performance.
Indian pace bowler Jasprit Bumrah has been slowly demystifying the cult of Bazball, but it's not just his skills that make him stand out. Rather, it's his quiet confidence and ego that drive him, as revealed by those close to him. This ego was put to good use in the recent test series against England, where Bumrah's yorker on Ben Stokes was a game-changing moment that proved his value as a thinking pacer.
Team India captain Rohit Sharma responds to England opener Ben Duckett's claim that Jaiswal's batting style is influenced by the "Bazball" approach. Rohit playfully reminds Duckett of Rishabh Pant's explosive performances, implying that the England team may not have been aware of Pant's skills on the field. Jaiswal has been India's top performer in the Test series against England, with an impressive 655 runs in four matches.
In a historic win, the young Indian team defeated England by 5 wickets in the fourth test in Ranchi, clinching the series 3-1. Shubman Gill and Dhruv Jurel's unbeaten partnership of 72 runs was crucial in taking India across the finishing line. With this win, India consolidated their 2nd position in the World Test Championship points table.
Young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal's consecutive double century helped India secure a massive 434-run victory over England in the 3rd Test. Jaiswal's remarkable performance left England captain Joe Root struggling with a low score of only 77 runs in six innings. Former England captain Michael Vaughan criticized England's 'Bazball' approach after their defeat.
On the fourth day of the Test match in Rajkot, India dominated with an unstoppable performance, setting an unscalable target of 557 runs for England. In their second innings, India's Mumbai duo Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sarfaraz Khan put on a jaw-dropping partnership of 172*, with Jaiswal equaling the record for most sixes in a Test match. With five wickets in the bag, Ravindra Jadeja was awarded Man of the Match for his all-around performance. Despite criticism from some fans and pundits, England captain Ben Stokes remains optimistic about his team's chances to win the series.
After a series of reckless shots and misjudgments by England's batsmen on the third day of the Rajkot test, India's spinners took control of the game, dismissing all five wickets in the afternoon session. The English camp's aggressive approach backfired, as they were bowled out for 319, trailing by 126 runs. Captain Joe Root and Ollie Pope were among the top performers with 75 and 68 respectively, but their efforts were not enough to match the dominance of India's spin attack. The Day 3 pitch favored spin bowling, and India's captain Rohit Sharma used this knowledge to guide his bowlers to an emphatic innings victory.