14 h. ago Stokes conjures England magic to halt India and put third Test on knife

Third Test D3: England 387 & 2-0; India 387England bat out one over after bowling India outIt has been a tough old series for England’s bowlers. As well as wrestling with docile pitches and doughy Dukes balls in a lengthy heatwave, they have come up against an India batting lineup that is rich with talent and seriously gutsy with it. The upshot has been perspiration outstripping inspiration by some margin.Not that those two elements are mutually exclusive and in Ben Stokes, England have a cricketer who thrives on delivering both. On the third day of this pivotal third Test, as India were bowled out for 387, the scores dead level on first innings, and the hosts were thankful for their captain’s ability to conjure something from nothing. At stumps, closing on two for no loss, his side were just about back in the box seat because of it. Continue reading...

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14 h. ago Fiery end to day three as Zak Crawley angers India at Lord’s

The England opener’s time-wasting ensured only one over for his side to face and sparked an exchange of words.

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17 h. ago Ben Stokes claims vital run out at Lord’s as England toil in third Test

At tea the tourists were 71 behind on 316 for five, England toiling in the heat as they watched their first-innings lead slowly dissolve.

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20 h. ago Ben Stokes makes breakthrough for England on tough morning against India

India were three balls away from a wicketless session when Stokes ran out Rishabh Pant for 74.

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23 h. ago Sir Andrew Strauss has Ashes warning for England after 'Red for Ruth' day at Lord's

The last England captain to conquer Australia in Ashes combat Down Under believes Ben Stokes has the batting firepower to repeat his triumph of 2010-11, but taking 20 wickets regularly remains a concern

Events

41 h. ago Jofra Archer makes instant impact with wicket of Yashasvi Jaiswal

Harry Brook snapped up the catch at second slip.

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44 h. ago England vs India: Jamie Smith leads recovery after Jasprit Bumrah heroics on second morning

Smith rallies in 82-run stand with Brydon Carse to stabilise hosts after Ben Stokes, centurion Joe Root and Chris Woakes all fall to Bumrah at Lord’s

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44 h. ago Jamie Smith picks up the baton for England after early Joe Root dismissal

Root had spent the night on 99 and wasted no time reaching three figures in the third Rothesay Test against India.

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46 h. ago England vs India: Joe Root hits century before Jasprit Bumrah wreaks early havoc on second morning

Former captain reaches Lord’s ton with first ball on day two of Third Test before quickly falling along with Ben Stokes and Chris Woakes

Events

61 h. ago ‘Fingers crossed’ Ben Stokes can ‘do something magic’ despite scare – Ollie Pope

Stokes pulled up with what appeared to be a groin problem late on day one of the third Rothesay Test.

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61 h. ago Pope will make sure injured Stokes ‘doesn’t push himself to a ridiculous place’

Captain picked up groin injury in stand with Joe RootEngland ‘want to kick on to a score towards 500’Ollie Pope said it was his role as vice-captain to ensure Ben Stokes “doesn’t push himself to a ridiculous place” as the captain battles a groin injury that forced him to seek treatment towards the end of the first day of the third Test against India.After receiving attention from the physio with just under an hour to play, the captain’s movement was noticeably impaired for the remainder of the final session, but he played on as England reached stumps on 251 for four. There are no plans to send him for scans, the hope being that he will recover overnight and, alongside Joe Root – who is unbeaten on 99 – “really kick on and make it a score north of 400, towards 500”. Continue reading...

Events

62 h. ago England left sweating on Ben Stokes fitness after injury scare against India

The England captain appeared to injure himself while batting with Joe Root at Lord’s

Events

62 h. ago Joe Root unbeaten on 99 as England dig in on opening day of third Test

England knuckled down to 251 for four.

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63 h. ago Joe Root unbeaten on 99 as England dig in against India but Stokes injury a concern

Third Test, day one: England 251-4Root unbeaten on 99 while captain picks up knockEngland opted not to train on Tuesday but Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum still made a beeline for Lord’s. Two days out from the third Test – a pivotal match with the series locked at one-apiece – they were keen to speak to the groundstaff to express their hopes for a pitch with pace, bounce and a bit of sideways movement.It was too late to be making demands and, like the disappointed customers of Mr Tourette, signwriter extraordinaire from the Modern Toss cartoons, England’s captain and head coach had to settle for a slow, occasionally two-paced surface. Throw in a sluggish outfield — plus an Indian attack buoyed by their win at Edgbaston and now augmented by Jasprit Bumrah — and run-scoring was anything but straightforward. Continue reading...

Events

65 h. ago Joe Root and Ollie Pope steady England after openers fall in same over

Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley were dismissed in the space of four balls.

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68 h. ago India dismiss both England openers in same over on first morning of third Test

Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley were dismissed as the hosts reached lunch on 83 for two.

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2 d. ago England vs India: Ben Stokes wins toss and bats first in Third Test as Jofra Archer and Jasprit Bumrah return

Stokes changes approach in sunny conditions at Lord’s after criticism for opting to bowl at both Headingley and Edgbaston

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3 d. ago ‘He’s very determined’: England look to Archer before pivotal third Test

Seamer’s pace has potential to upend India’s dominance, but England’s batting needs urgent improvementNearly six years after Jofra Archer made his Test debut against Australia at Lord’s he will finally return after England confirmed that he will replace Josh Tongue as the only change to the team so comprehensively beaten by India at Edgbaston last week.Archer is a man of few words and, as he has battled through a string of injuries across those intervening years, also not a lot of action. So the conversation that confirmed his return to Test cricket was entirely typical, said England’s captain, Ben Stokes: “I went: ‘Are you ready this week?’ And he went: ‘Been ready.’ That was literally it.” Continue reading...

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3 d. ago Why the Dukes ball is causing problems for England and India: ‘It’s not good for cricket’

The bowling side are frequently complaining about the ball going soft and losing shape

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3 d. ago Jofra Archer’s Test return a ‘pretty great day’, says Ben Stokes

Archer will make his England comeback in the third Test against India at Lord’s.

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