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.
Liam Livingstone put up a powerful batting display during the fourth ODI against Australia at Lord's on Friday, scoring a 27-ball 62* with the help of three fours and seven sixes. His seven sixes also helped him tie with former English icon Andrew Flintoff for the most sixes in an ODI inning at Lord's. His final over blitz, which included four sixes and a four off Mitchell Starc, helped England finish with their highest ever ODI score against Australia at Lord's- 312/5 in 39 overs. The match saw fine contributions from England's top order as well, with Harry Brook (87) and Ben Duckett (63) providing strong partnerships with both scoring fifty each.
In a thrilling fourth ODI between England and Australia, Liam Livingstone smashed a record-breaking 50 runs from just 25 deliveries, setting the record for the fastest ever ODI half-century at Lord's. His impressive display, which included seven sixes and three fours, helped England cruise to a victory against Australia and level the series at 2-2. This was also accompanied by vital contributions from Ben Duckett and captain Harry Brook, leading to the biggest score seen on Lord's ground in ODI cricket.
In his first innings as captain against Sri Lanka, Ollie Pope returned to form with a dominating performance, scoring a run-a-ball 103 not out during England's well-placed 221-3 on the opening day of the third Test. This was his seventh Test century and a historic one as each of his first seven centuries came against different opponents. Despite a strong start, England's opener Ben Duckett was unable to make the most of his innings, giving away his wicket on 86. Duckett praised Pope's ability to ignore the noise and criticism around his leadership and batting, proving his critics wrong with a stellar performance.
England's skipper, Ben Stokes, struggled with the bat throughout the Test series against India, managing only 199 runs in five matches at an average of 19.90. This lack of contribution from the usually reliable all-rounder contributed to England's loss against India. Former cricketer, Nasser Hussain, criticized Stokes' performance and suggested that he should focus on improving his individual game. Despite solid performances from openers Ben Duckett and Zack Crawley, England's middle-order collapses were a major issue throughout the series. Hussain noted that it was important for the team to analyze their mistakes and prevent them from happening in the future.
Indian skipper Rohit Sharma came out strongly and defended young batsman Yashasvi Jaiswal after England opener Ben Duckett made comments on his batting. Duckett had stated that England should take some credit for Jaiswal's attacking style of play. However, Rohit responded by pointing out that Ben Duckett hasn't been watching Rishabh Pant's explosive hitting. Meanwhile, former England captain Nasser Hussain also criticised Duckett for his statement and praised Jaiswal for his success, stating the importance of learning from other players. In his press conference, Rohit also spoke about the importance of domestic cricket and its role in helping players improve their skills. The debate for IPL's priority over domestic cricket has been ongoing, with players like Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer being absent from the Ranji Trophy scene.
Indian cricketer Shubman Gill displayed incredible athleticism and agility as he took a spectacular catch to dismiss England's Ben Duckett in the 5th Test match between India and England. Gill's catch proved to be a pivotal breakthrough for the Indian team, breaking the 64-run partnership between Duckett and Crawley. Fans and experts alike were left in awe of Gill's talent and skill.
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.
India's pacer Jasprit Bumrah expressed his frustration when his appeal for a wicket was turned down by the umpire and teammate KS Bharat advised skipper Rohit Sharma not to take a review. However, Bumrah was proven right when the replay showed the ball would have hit the leg stump. In the next over, Bumrah got his revenge by dismissing Ben Duckett, who was England's top performer in the morning session.
Indian pacer Akash Deep made a strong impression in his debut Test match against England, bowling three players in his first spell. Despite a no-ball denying him a wicket, Deep went on to dismiss top players Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, and Zak Crawley. His performance adds to the drama of the already contentious series between India and England.