After dominating the series against New Zealand with two big wins, England have made one change in their squad for the third and final Test match. Young seamer Matthew Potts has been recalled, taking the place of Chris Woakes in the squad. Potts, who made his Test debut in 2022, has a chance to solidify his place in the team with a strong performance against the Black Caps in the upcoming match.
England captain Ben Stokes is looking to strengthen the team's bowling depth by bringing in Durham seamer Matthew Potts to replace the injured Chris Woakes for the final Test against New Zealand. This decision comes after England secured a historic series win on New Zealand soil for the first time since 2008. Potts will be taking the new ball in the dead-rubber Test starting on Saturday in Hamilton.
Day 3 of the Christchurch Test between New Zealand and England saw an intense battle as the Kiwis fought to maintain their advantage, but were thwarted by England's brilliant bowlers, Chris Woakes and Brydon Carse. Captain Kane Williamson put up a valiant effort with another half-century before being dismissed by Woakes, while Carse picked up key wickets for the visitors. England's lower order also contributed significantly, with Harry Brook and Ben Stokes scoring vital runs to give their team a commanding lead.
On the third day of the first Test at Hagley Oval, Chris Woakes and Brydon Carse shined for England with the new ball, helping the visitors inch closer towards a win against New Zealand. The Kiwis were trailing by 151 runs at the start of their second innings, but Woakes and Carse's early breakthroughs gave England the advantage. Despite a strong partnership between Kane Williamson and Rachin Ravindra, Woakes and Carse continued to take wickets and put England in a commanding position. With only four wickets left, New Zealand will have to put up a tough fight on the fourth day to save the Test.
After a record-breaking performance by England's Jamie Smith, Sri Lanka's Angelo Mathews and Kamindu Mendis managed to keep their team afloat in the first Test at Old Trafford. However, there is a cause for concern for England as fast bowler Mark Wood leaves the field due to an injury, leaving the hosts with just four wickets to secure victory over Sri Lanka in the remaining two days. Mathews' 65 and Mendis' unbeaten 56 helped Sri Lanka fight back, but England's Joe Root and Chris Woakes managed to make vital breakthroughs to keep their team in the game.
Experienced Sri Lankan batter, Angelo Mathews, made a costly mistake in the ongoing first test match against England in Manchester on August 21. After being asked to field first, England's bowlers quickly dismissed Sri Lanka's openers and during Mathews' turn at the crease, he left a straight ball from Chris Woakes which resulted in his dismissal. The Sri Lankan batter also wasted a review with his mistake, further adding to his team's struggles at 80/5 in the lunch break of Day 1.
After a disappointing 2023 season, Birmingham Phoenix will be looking to redeem themselves as they compete in the 2024 edition of The Hundred. Led by head coach Daniel Vettori, the team boasts star players such as Moeen Ali and Chris Woakes, as well as new overseas signing Sean Abbott. All-rounder Liam Livingstone will also be one to watch, with his explosive batting and spin bowling skills. With the team playing at their home ground of Edgbaston, can the Birmingham Phoenix improve on their past performance and clinch a spot in the play-offs? Cricket fans can catch all the action live on Sky Sports and stream with NOW starting on July 23, 2024.
With The Hundred tournament just around the corner, fans are excited to see the players that each team has retained or drafted for the 2024 season. The tournament will run from July 23 to August 18 and can be watched live on Sky Sports. Some of the top names to watch out for include Chris Woakes, Moeen Ali, Meg Lanning, and Nathan Ellis. Keep an eye out for international replacements and potential game-changers like Suzie Bates and Andre Russell.
During a match against Netherlands at the ICC ODI World Cup 2023, England player Chris Woakes noticed an issue with his helmet and promptly informed the umpire before the opposing team could appeal. This quick thinking potentially saved the team from facing a controversial 'timed out' dismissal, similar to the one experienced by former Sri Lankan captain Angelo Mathews in a previous match. Woakes' actions show that players have learnt from the incident and are taking precautions to avoid a repeat scenario. As the picture of the incident goes viral, it serves as a reminder of the controversial 'timed out' rule in international cricket.