Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

CRICKET: Stokes back in team as India urged to show "grit"

BEN STOKES will start the third Test for England against India at Trent Bridge tomorrow (18), just four days after being cleared of affray.

England captain Joe Root confirmed today (17) that the all-rounder would be back in the starting eleven at the expense of the unfortunate Sam Curran, who was man of the match in the opening test at Edgbaston.


"It was one of the most difficult decisions I've had to make as captain. It's about us as a squad delivering over five games and on this occasion Sam is unfortunate to miss out," said Root.

"Ben is desperate to get back playing cricket. He's desperate to get out there, put in performances and concentrate on his cricket now. He feels ready to play.

"I have known Ben from being really quite young and I feel very confident he will be able to go out and put in a performance."

The 27-year-old Stokes is plunged straight back into the spotlight after an 11-month saga ended when he was found not guilty of affray following the late-night street brawl in Bristol last September after England had won a one day international against West Indies.

Coach Trevor Bayliss has backed Stokes' return, saying it was "for his own well-being".

India's head coach Ravi Shastri faces a very different problem of how to raise spirits with his team, the world's number one ranked Test side, staring at the indignity of losing the five-match series after just three Tests.

England lead the five-match series 2-0 and victory in Nottingham will see them retain the Pataudi Trophy.

In the first test to start on a Saturday in England since they played South Africa at the Oval in 1955, India have to improve their batting urgently and will be grateful that captain Virat Kohli, the only one to shine amid the ruins, is fit after suffering back spasms at Lord's.

Shastri has called on the Indian batsmen to show "resolve" even if it means they look "ugly and dirty" at the crease, as they try to fight back against England.

The 56-year-old told reporters at Trent Bridge yesterday (16): "Batsmen from both teams have struggled.

"When the occasion demands, it’s a case of mental resolve, how you put mind over matter and mental discipline will be the key as far as batsmen are concerned going forward in this Test match."

India had the worst of the conditions at Lord's, batting under overcast skies and on a pitch freshened by pre-match and in-game rain - an environment made to order for England new-ball duo James Anderson and Stuart Broad.

Shastri, however, added: "Conditions have been tough as you have seen right through this series. But that's where character and discipline come into play, the resolve to know where your off stump is, to leave a lot of balls, be prepared to look ugly and dirty and show some grit."

Shastri said it was vital India did not brood on what had happened at Lord's as they looked to regain a foothold in the series.

"Just believe in yourself," he said. "You have been in this position couple of times before and you have responded.

"One thing for sure in this unit, there is no negative bone.

"In spite of what happened in the last Test match, conditions favoured England and that is no excuse whatsoever, it can happen to any side.

"We are here without a negative bone, wanting to play to win, as simple as that."

(Agencies)

More For You

Neeraj Chopra and Arshad Nadeem

A day before the attack, Chopra had announced that top javelin throwers, including Paris Olympics champion Nadeem, had been invited to the event on May 24.

Neeraj Chopra rules out Arshad Nadeem’s presence at Bengaluru event

INDIA’s Olympic gold medallist Neeraj Chopra has said that Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem will not be attending the Neeraj Chopra Classic in Bengaluru next month. His comments came after the terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir that killed 26 tourists.

Chopra said the possibility of Nadeem’s presence was “completely out of the question” following the attack, which took place on Tuesday.

Keep ReadingShow less
hazlewood-getty

Player-of-the-match Hazlewood said that he 'was just sticking to my strengths'. (Photo; Getty Images)

Hazlewood takes four as Bengaluru beat Rajasthan by 11 runs in IPL

JOSH HAZLEWOOD took 4 for 33 as Royal Challengers Bengaluru defeated Rajasthan Royals by 11 runs in their IPL match on Thursday. Rajasthan had won the toss and chose to field first.

Chasing a target of 206, Rajasthan were in a strong position before Hazlewood dismissed Dhruv Jurel in the 19th over. Jurel had scored 47 off 34 balls. He was out with 17 runs needed off 9 balls.

Keep ReadingShow less
trent-boult-getty

Boult, who retired from international cricket in 2024, was named player of the match for his early breakthroughs. (Photo: Getty Images)

Getty Images

Rohit, Boult help Mumbai climb to third in IPL table

ROHIT SHARMA scored 76 and Trent Boult took 4 for 26 as Mumbai Indians defeated Sunrisers Hyderabad by seven wickets on Wednesday to move up to third in the IPL standings.

Boult and Deepak Chahar broke through the Hyderabad top order, reducing them to 35 for 5 before they ended on 143 for 8. Mumbai chased down the target with 26 balls remaining for their fourth straight win.

Keep ReadingShow less
Bumrah and Mandhana are Wisden’s cricketers of the year

Jasprit Bumrah (L) was named as the leading men’s cricketer in the world in the 2025 edition of the Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack, with his compatriot Smriti Mandhana picking up the women’s award

Bumrah and Mandhana are Wisden’s cricketers of the year

INDIA paceman Jasprit Bumrah was named as the leading men’s cricketer in the world in the 2025 edition of the Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack, with his compatriot Smriti Mandhana picking up the women’s award.

Bumrah was given the honour by the sport’s “bible” after a stunning 2024 in which he excelled in red- as well as white-ball cricket.

Keep ReadingShow less
KL-Rahul-Getty

This was Rahul’s third half-century of the season, and the knock took him past 5,000 runs in the IPL. (Photo: Getty Images)

KL Rahul leads Delhi to eight-wicket win over Lucknow in IPL

KL RAHUL hit an unbeaten 57 to help Delhi Capitals beat Lucknow Super Giants by eight wickets in the IPL on Tuesday.

Delhi were chasing 160 and reached the target with 13 balls to spare. Rahul shared a 69-run partnership with Abishek Porel, who made 51, and remained not out to see his team through.

Keep ReadingShow less