10 h. ago Ben Stokes loses his magic touch but will still believe in an England special | Andy Bull

Captain tried everything but could not stop Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul driving India into control of the TestThe trouble with captaining by magic is that sooner or later there’s going to be a moment when you reach into your hat and instead of pulling out a rabbit you come up with a fistful of silk lining. We’ve become so used to seeing Ben Stokes conjure up something extraordinary when a Test match is on the line, whether it’s a blizzard of sixes, a tumble of wickets, a spectacularly acrobatic catch, an intuitive decision to put an unorthodox fielder in just the right position, it was a surprise to watch him scrabbling around trying to make a breakthrough as India batted on, and on, and on, through Monday afternoon.England looked well in this game when Rishabh Pant walked to the crease, and looked well out of it when he left again, four hours and 118 runs later, on the far side of a 195-run partnership with KL Rahul. Continue reading...

Politics

58 h. ago Ollie Pope century silences critics as England fight back against India

Pope’s unbeaten century led England to 209 for three at stumps in reply to India’s 471.

Culture

58 h. ago Pope resists Bumrah to lift England after bowlers claw control away from India

First Test, day two: India 471 v England 209-3Pope unbeaten on 100 but Root falls late to BumrahA day on from that much-debated decision to bowl first by Ben Stokes and the clouds had started to lift for England. The hosts were still some way from flipping the advantage they had handed India but by stumps, after an earlier fightback with the ball, Ollie Pope’s unbeaten 100 had established something akin to a foothold in the contest.Pope came into this Test with questions being asked about his spot at No 3; questions that centred around a poor record against India and Australia and not quelled by that 171 against Zimbabwe. Jacob Bethell, flavour of the month in New Zealand late last year, was breathing down his neck, even if potential, rather than back catalogue, was the driver. Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago Michael Vaughan ‘staggered’ by England’s decision to bowl first against India

England were made to toil as the tourists cashed in on the opening day at Headingley

Politics

3 d. ago Michael Vaughan criticises Ben Stokes’s ‘staggering’ decision to put India into bat

Tourists end opening day at Headingley 359-3Former England captain Vaughan questions choiceThe former England captain Michael Vaughan said he was “staggered” that Ben Stokes chose to bowl first after winning the toss on the opening day of the Test series against India. The tourists proceeded to plunder 359 runs for the loss of three wickets on a flat pitch with Yashasvi Jaiswal and the new captain, Shubman Gill, both scoring centuries.The last six Tests played at Headingley had all ended in victory for the side that bowled first, and Vaughan, a former Yorkshire batter, accused England of making their decision based on the history books rather than the conditions on the day. “I am an old-school traditionalist here at Leeds that when the sun is shining, with dry weather, you bat,” said the 50-year-old Vaughan, who played 51 first-class matches at Headingley including four as England captain. Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago Why Ben Stokes chose stats over tradition in controversial decision to begin Test series

On a glorious day at Headingley, Stokes opted to follow the stats by bowling first at the start of the England v India Test series

Politics

3 d. ago Late wickets rescue England after inserting India to bat at Headingley

India made serene progress until Brydon Carse and Ben Stokes struck in the stroke of lunch.

Events

3 d. ago Michael Vaughan delivers India warning to Ben Stokes – 'You have got to do the right thing'

As England prepare to face India in their five test series, a matter of months before the Ashes, cricket legend Michael Vaughan offered a word of warning to Ben Stokes

Events

3 d. ago Is England v India on TV? How to watch first Test on TV and online

Ben Stokes’ side face India at Headingley in the first Test of the five-match series

Politics

3 d. ago England vs India: Judgment awaits Brendan McCullum and Ben Stokes in epic year

With the Ashes to come this winter, England face a run of ten Tests that will define the Bazball legacy

Politics

4 d. ago Jofra Archer ‘absolutely desperate’ for England Test return, says Ben Stokes

The fast bowler played the last of his 13 Tests in February 2021.

Politics

4 d. ago Ben Stokes calls on England to adapt better ‘when we’re up against the wall’

Test captain identifies weakness ahead of India seriesRelaxed schedule enabled team to reassess approachBen Stokes may have described England’s recent lack of Test action as “a bit odd” but playing just one game in the past six months has given the side space to reconsider their approach before the series against India.Stokes has won 23 of his 36 games in charge while losing 12 and insisted: “I don’t think it’s arrogant to say that we’ve been good over the last three years,” but with England’s next 10 Tests coming against either India – starting at Headingley on Friday – or Australia they have prepared for potential adversity. Continue reading...

Politics

4 d. ago England: Ollie Pope never in danger of being dropped, insists Ben Stokes

Jacob Bethell has forced the issue of Ollie Pope’s inclusion with some strong recent performances

Politics

4 d. ago Is England v India on TV? How to watch online, dates, times and prediction for first Test

Ben Stokes’ side face India at Headingley in the first test of the five-match series

Politics

4 d. ago It would be remarkable to drop Ollie Pope after 171 – Ben Stokes

Pope will line up for England against India despite pressure on his number three place from Jacob Bethell.

Politics

4 d. ago England are right to stick with a settled top six – Bethell should follow the Lara model | Mark Ramprakash

Ollie Pope retains his No 3 spot for the first Test and India wouldn’t mind having a bit more of that kind of continuityThere always seems to be one man under pressure in England’s batting lineup and consensus over the winter seemed to be that Jacob Bethell’s emergence had put Ollie Pope’s place at risk. Pope has clung on to his place for the start of the India series and my view is that Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum should be very careful before they mess with what is probably the most settled top six of any Test side in the world at the moment.There was speculation about both Pope and Zak Crawley before they scored centuries in last month’s game against Zimbabwe, but that performance should have secured their spots for this series at least. Bethell is a huge talent and some really top cricketers have spoken very highly about his performances and potential – clearly his time will come. He was impressive in New Zealand over the winter and since then we’ve seen exhilarating glimpse...

Politics

4 d. ago Michael Vaughan 'staggered' by Ben Stokes decision in warning ahead of India series

England face India in a Test series this summer ahead of the Ashes a few months later and Ben Stokes' lack of time batting has stunned former captain Michael Vaughan

Events

6 d. ago India Test series as important as the Ashes to England, claims ECB chief

Ben Stokes and co. face India in the first Test starting this week

Politics

1 week ago We’ve ticked a few boxes – Brendon McCullum impressed by Harry Brook’s captaincy

The England head coach says Brook and Test skipper Ben Stokes are “two good leaders and two very different personalities”.

Politics

3 w. ago England’s Jamie Overton out for West Indies series with broken finger

Overton dropped a sharp return catch from just his second delivery in the Windies’ reply to England’s 400 for eight

Events