Category Uncategorized

Western Australia, the three-time reigning champions, haven’t lost a game this season so far

AAP16-Nov-2024Stumps Lower-order resistance helped Victoria claim a 206-run first-innings lead in their Sheffield Shield clash with three-time reigning champions Western Australia.After being skittled for 167, WA appeared to be containing Victoria at the Junction Oval when the hosts were 207 for 6 on Saturday. But No. 9 Xavier Crone hit an unbeaten 62 from 65 balls, smashing three sixes to help Victoria reach 373.Fellow lower-order batters Fergus O’Neill (44) and Sam Elliott (26) also chipped in to make WA’s bowlers toil in hot conditions for most of the day.Opening bowlers Joel Paris (3 for 44) and Cameron Gannon (3 for 59) as well as spinner Corey Rocchiccioli (3 for 115) took all but one of WA’s wickets.WA had to bat for the last hour before stumps on Saturday, reaching 33 for 1 with Sam Fanning and Jayden Goodwin at the crease. Opener Cameron Bancroft, who has endured an unfortunate form slump after dominating the Shield for the past two seasons, struggled again. After recently being overlooked for a call-up to the Test team for the first time since the 2019 Ashes, Bancroft fell to O’Neill for 11. In the first innings on Friday, Bancroft could only manage 12, also losing his wicket to O’Neill.Victoria have set themselves up nicely to become the first team to beat WA in the Shield this season. WA are aiming to claim a fourth straight title, and were undefeated after three matches before they headed to Melbourne.

World Cup winner backs ex-teammates to rise to occasion if paths cross with tournament favourites

Andrew Miller14-Oct-2024

Anya Shrubsole says that England’s victories in the white-ball leg of last year’s Ashes will have proved to the players that they are capable of ending Australia’s stranglehold on the Women’s T20 World Cup.Shrubsole, 32, was England’s matchwinner at Lord’s in 2017, famously claiming figures of 6 for 46 to defeat India by nine runs in a thrilling final and claim the 50-over World Cup as their most recent global title.Since then, Heather Knight’s team has reached the last four on four separate occasions across the 20- and 50-over World Cups, including two finals in 2018 and 2022. However, Australia have lifted the trophy on each occasion, most recently in South Africa in February 2023, where they claimed their sixth T20 title in seven stagings since 2010.The Aussies remain the strong favourites for this year’s event in the UAE, having marched through to the semi-finals in an unbeaten start to their campaign. However, England are also flying high on the other side of the draw, and will remain on course to meet Australia in the final if they can avoid defeat to West Indies in their final group match on Tuesday.”England are pretty well placed,” Shrubsole told ESPNcricinfo. “Australia just have that belief that they’re going to win, and more often than not, they do. But I sense from this group, they really do believe that they can beat Australia. And I would argue, at times previously, that out-and-out belief maybe wasn’t there. I think that Ashes [last summer] gives them a huge amount of confidence.”That remarkable series in June and July 2023 ended as an 8-8 draw, with Australia’s victory in the one-off Test at Trent Bridge meaning that England went into the white-ball leg of the series realistically needing at least five victories in the six matches to reclaim the Ashes. In the end, they came agonisingly close, landing 2-1 wins in both the T20I and ODI series, which still amounted to Australia’s first losses in a white-ball bilateral series since 2017-18.Related

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“It’s one thing doing it in a bilateral series, compared to doing it in a World Cup final, and that’s one of the things that Australia have in their favour,” Shrubsole said. “But that Ashes performance showed that, if England put them under pressure and play really good cricket, they can go toe-to-toe with them.”England’s first three matches of the ongoing T20 World Cup were in Sharjah, where the slow, low surfaces played very much into the squad’s strengths, with no fewer than four frontline spinners featuring in their opening wins over Bangladesh and South Africa. They tweaked that formula a touch in their most recent match against Scotland, with Lauren Bell slotting in as an out-and-out seam option, but Shrubsole is impressed with England’s willingness to dispense with convention and back the options that suited their requirements.”England have got to be agile, but that quartet of spinners has been working really well,” she said. “Linsey Smith bowls so well in the powerplay, it allows Sophie Ecclestone to bowl more through the middle and at the death. But those four spinners are outstanding, and a real asset to England.”England’s captain, Knight, is now approaching her ninth year in the role, having taken over from Charlotte Edwards in June 2016. It’s a tenure that has coincided with the exponential growth of the women’s game, meaning she has needed to be a spokesperson off the pitch as well as a leader on it, and for the most part Shrubsole believes she has balanced those requirements with impressive agility.Nat Sciver-Brunt and Heather Knight are key to England’s hopes at the T20 World Cup•Getty Images

“She’s had to grow as women’s cricket has grown, and she’s been a real figurehead for that,” Shrubsole said. “She speaks about the game really well, and tries to push the agenda, which can be pretty time-consuming and draining at times, and she’s had to work through a couple of coaches as well in that time. She seems to have really embraced the change that Jon Lewis has brought in. And she’s someone who keeps evolving her game as well, and leading from the front in that perspective.”Knight is one of two survivors from the 2017 final: the other being Nat Sciver-Brunt, who has developed in recent seasons into arguably the most complete batter in the women’s game, and one of the foremost allrounders. She was instrumental in England’s Ashes fightback with back-to-back centuries in the ODIs, while her personal ability to carry the fight on the biggest stage was shown by her heroic 148 not out in the 2023 World Cup final in Christchurch.”One of her biggest strengths is her calmness,” Shrubsole said. “She’s pretty unflappable. She’s the sort of person you’d want in a sticky situation, especially a run-chase. She thinks really clearly about what she’s doing in the game, and when she’s at full flow, she’s pretty hard to bowl at.”She hits the ball harder than probably than any cricketer in the women’s game, especially off the back foot. But she’s just a really calming presence. She’s the sort of person that, when she’s batting, you think everything’s going to be okay.”Shrubsole herself retired from professional cricket at the end of last summer, bowing out in glory at Lord’s once more with victory in the Women’s Hundred final. This month, however, she renewed her association with the ground as she took up a new role as chair of MCC’s Women’s Players and Fixtures sub-committee, with a remit to drive female playing membership at the club.”I’m honoured to be able to give back to cricket a little bit, and hopefully do something that has a meaningful impact,” Shrubsole said, with Lord’s set to host its first women’s Test, against India, in 2025.Lord’s did not admit its first female members until 1999, and last year the club was criticised by the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket (ICEC) review for its failure to do more for the women’s game, with the report finding that “the home of cricket was principally a home for men”. However the club’s female playing base has been growing year on year, and Shrubsole hopes that her involvement can help to accelerate that change.”Everyone is aware of the need for MCC to change things a bit with regards to gender equality, but some huge strides have been made in that space, which is really exciting, and hopefully I can help push things on,” Shrubsole said.”In the 14-15 years I was playing for England, if we don’t count the World Cup, we had maybe two or three games at Lord’s, which doesn’t feel like enough. It feels like there should be a Women’s International at Lord’s every summer, but with the Test next year, that seems like it’s moving in the right direction.”Anya Shrubsole is the new chair of MCC’s Women’s Players and Fixtures sub-committee. Anyone interested in joining MCC should contact the Club by emailing [email protected]

أعلن نادي إستريلا أمادورا البرتغالي عن تقديم شكوى رسمية ضد الزمالك بسبب جناح الفريق الأول لكرة القدم، شيكو بانزا، الذي انضم في الصيف الماضي.

وانتقل بانزا إلى الزمالك وشارك في أكثر من لقاء في بداية الدوري المصري ولكن سرعان ما تم استبعاده من القائمة التي تتواجد في المباريات بسبب عدم التزامه.

لكن المشكلة الحالية خارج الملعب، حيث أمهل نادي أمادورا سابقًا الزمالك حتى اليوم الخميس حتى سداد قيمة القسط الأول.

اقرأ أيضًا | يانيك فيريرا: تحدثت مع لاعب الزمالك بسبب العصبية.. ونحتاج لتطوير شيء واحد

وقال أندريه سيلفا المتحدث الرسمي لنادي إستريلا أمادورا البرتغالي في تصريحات خاصة لـ بطولات: “الزمالك لم يرد أبدًا على اتصالاتنا بشأن قسط شيكو بانزا الأول”.

وأضاف: “اليوم، قدمنا شكوى ضد الزمالك أمام الاتحاد الدولي لكرة القدم، فيفا، من أجل الحصول على حقوقنا من تلك الصفقة”.

وكان نادي أوليكساندرا الأوكراني قد قدم شكوى ضد الزمالك قبل أيام بسبب قيمة القسط الأول في صفقة، خوان ألفينا، وهو أمر مشابه لما حدث مع شيكو بانزا.

The hosts fell 12 runs short in Chennai and now trail the three-match T20I series 1-0

Shashank Kishore05-Jul-2024

After defeats in the ODI series and the one-off Test, South Africa began their run to the women’s T20 World Cup with a morale-boosting victory over India in the first T20I in Chennai.Starring in the win were Tazmin Brits, whose 81 – an innings of contrasts – set South Africa up along with Marizanne Kapp. The pair added 96 in just 9.2 overs; Kapp’s own contribution was a robust 33-ball 57 as the visitors posted 189 for 4.India’s chase began well with Smriti Mandhana’s 30-ball 46, but her wicket slowed things down considerably, until they found their ammunition through Jemimah Rodrigues’ punchy 29-ball half-century.Related

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Eventually, the target proved steep as South Africa’s spinners used the slow pitch and the absence of dew to their advantage. In the end, India fell 12 runs short after flirting with the possibility of a heist when Rodrigues brought the equation down from 47 off 18 to 21 off six.Wolvaardt flies, Brits stuttersLaura Wolvaardt came out all guns blazing and took Renuka Singh for 16 runs in the third over. But South Africa weren’t able to build on that with Brits, at this point, struggling to hit the ball off the square.Brits took 10 deliveries to get off the mark and the piling up of dots made Wolvaardt take more risks than she would’ve liked. One such stroke – walking across to expose all three stumps in a bid to sweep left-arm spinner Radha Yadav into acres of open space – led to her downfall in the eighth over to leave South Africa 50 for 1.Kapp finds her gears straightawayKapp began with two fours off her first three balls, the first one, an inside-out drive over extra cover, particularly attractive. But she was also massively lucky to be reprieved twice in the 10th over.First, Richa Ghosh failed to hang on to a catch behind the stumps when Kapp was on 11 and then Mandhana put down a tough chance running in from long-off with the South African allrounder on 11. This helped unleash Kapp, which reduced the pressure on Brits after she had limped to a run-a-ball 25 at the 10-over mark.Jemimah Rodrigues made a half-century•BCCI

Fighting a back injury, Kapp had shelved her sweeps for large periods during the Test match between these two teams a few days ago. But in perhaps a sign that she was feeling heaps better, Kapp displayed different variations of her sweeps as her innings progressed – the full-blooded ones, the paddles, the scoops and even the reverse – during a 30-ball half-century that injected momentum into South Africa’s innings.Brits makes the most of her luckBrits broke the shackles in the 11th over when she heaved legspinner S Asha over the long-on boundary, even as Kapp went berserk at the other end in their near-century stand.Brits should’ve been out on 50 when she top-edged a slog, only for Ghosh to grass the opportunity. It would prove game-changing in a sense as Ghosh, who was hit on the chin by the ball rebounding off her gloves, while tumbling to the floor was ruled out of the rest of the game due to concussion.It took Brits until the 17th over of the innings to hit top gear, when she launched Radha for back-to-back sixes to offset any pressure from Kapp’s wicket in the same over. South Africa ransacked 58 runs off the last five to head into the break with momentum firmly with them.India go off rails despite Mandhana, Rodrigues knocksMandhana’s cameo helped India raise their half-century in the fifth over, before Ayabonga Khaka pulled the game back by nicking off Shafali Verma. That wicket slowed things down considerably as India’s No. 3, D Hemalatha, struggled to cope with the pressure of the asking rate. She limped to 14 off 16 at the halfway mark.This may have resulted in Mandhana’s downfall as she left her crease against Chloe Tryon and got caught behind. When Hemalatha was bowled off the very next ball, looking to clip Nadine de Klerk, South Africa sensed an opportunity with India 87 for 3 in the 11th.Rodrigues kept punching, using the crease superbly to manipulate the bowlers and pick up runs behind square against spin. Her enterprise offset Harmanpreet’s struggle against cramps, which appeared to limit her hitting range. Yet, when she played a full-blooded slog for a boundary to bring the equation down to 17 off 5, India believed. However, it wasn’t to be on the night as South Africa held their nerve to close out the game and seal their first win on tour.

After a dramatic end to the Super Eight stage, with Afghanistan winning a thriller against Bangladesh in St Vincent to knock out Australia, the four semi-finalists of the T20 World Cup 2024 have been confirmed: Group 2 toppers South Africa will take on Afghanistan in the first semi-final, while Group 1 leaders India will face England in the second semi-final.The first semi-final between South Africa and Afghanistan will start at 8.30pm local time on Wednesday, June 26, at the Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba. The second semi-final between India and England will be at 10.30am Thursday morning, June 27 (local time) at Guyana’s Providence Stadium.India had been allotted the second semi-final in Guyana well before the tournament started, irrespective of their Super Eight finish. That match will start at 8pm India time on June 27.The playing conditions for the two semi-finals, though, are different. The second semi-final, featuring India and England, will not have a reserve day because of a single day’s gap between that match and the final.However, a total of 250 minutes of additional time is available for each semi-final. The first semi-final will have an extra 60 minutes at the end of the day’s play and a further 190 minutes on the reserve day, starting from 2pm local time. The second semi-final will have the entire 250 minutes available on the scheduled day since it doesn’t have a reserve day.Additionally, for a game to be constituted as complete in the semi-finals and final, both teams should bat a minimum of 10 overs per innings, as opposed to five overs per innings in the rest of the tournament. This could be significant as rain has been forecast at both venues, and the playing conditions state that in case of a washout, the team that finishes higher in their respective Super Eight groups (India and South Africa, in this case) will proceed. In case the final is abandoned because of poor weather, the two finalists will be declared joint winners.

Over the years, Liverpool have signed numerous players who have had a huge impact on their squad, ultimately helping them claim Premier League glory this campaign.

Virgil van Dijk is undoubtedly the biggest example, costing £75m from Southampton back in January 2018 and being a spare head in their backline ever since.

The Dutchman, who’s now the club’s captain, has played every minute of the league season in 2024/25, helping the side keep 14 clean sheets in the process – the most of any side in the division.

Players like Mohamed Salah and Alexis Mac Allister have also been influential in their success, nailing their place down in various positions across the field.

However, this summer presents a fresh opportunity for Slot to add new blood to his squad, with numerous players already emerging on their shortlist ahead of the window.

The latest on Liverpool’s hunt for new signings this summer

Martin Zubimendi is a player who’s been on Liverpool’s radar constantly over the last few years, even having an offer accepted for him last summer.

The Spaniard turned down a switch to Anfield before reemerging on their shortlist ahead of the summer, but he appears to be heading to Arsenal in a £50m move after Fabrizio Romano’s latest report.

However, the same can’t be said for right-back Jeremie Frimpong, with the Dutchman appearing to be edging ever closer to completing a switch to Anfield ahead of the summer.

It’s been confirmed that the 24-year-old is keen on a move to the club after the Reds held talks with Bayer Leverkusen over a deal for the full-back, who has a £29.5m release clause in his current deal.

However, despite the moves for the aforementioned duo, one current first-team player is already worth as much as the pair combined, highlighting the great work done by the hierarchy in recent times.

The Liverpool star who’s worth as much as Zubimendi & Frimpong

Slot’s ability to win the league title in his first season in charge is nothing short of remarkable, undoubtedly getting the best out of the players who are already at the club after his appointment.

Such success could lead to an exciting prospect for supporters when he’s able to spend money this summer and make his own stamp on the squad on Merseyside.

The likes of Frimpong could add further quality to the first team squad, helping his compatriot achieve the unthinkable and retain their title in 2025/26.

However, the Leverkusen star could also link up well with current midfielder Ryan Gravenberch, who’s managed to hugely impress throughout this season, after getting the chance to thrive under Slot’s guidance.

After joining for £34m from Bayern Munich in the summer of 2023, the 22-year-old only made 12 league starts in his first season – unable to cement his place in the starting eleven.

However, his importance to the squad has been immeasurable this time around, starting all but one meeting and being a crucial cog in the midfield for his compatriot.

His underlying stats are just as impressive, completing 90% of the passes he’s attempted, allowing him to notch a tally of four assists in the Premier League this campaign.

Gravenberch has also starred without the ball, winning 52% of the tackles he’s entered, whilst making 1.7 interceptions per 90 – often being the player to break down the opposition’s threat going forward.

As a result, he’s now valued at a staggering £80m by FootballTransfers, a mammoth increase after his big-money transfer to Merseyside less than two years ago.

His subsequent value is the same as Zubimendi and Frimpong’s respective transfer fees of £50m and £30m, highlighting the progression he’s made throughout this season.

If the club are to mount a charge to maintain their title glory next season, investment will be crucial, handing the manager the funds he needs to make adequate changes.

However, the form of Gravenberch will also be imperative, with his performance levels certainly aiding their pursuit if he can replicate the success he’s enjoyed in Slot’s debut campaign.

A dream Huijsen alternative: Liverpool open talks to sign £67m defender

Liverpool could be about to forget about Dean Huijsen with a move for another defensive star.

By
Ethan Lamb

May 14, 2025

Liverpool are looking for reinforcements to strengthen their argument to continue winning silverware and they are now looking to fend off stiff competition for one of South America’s most talented youngsters.

Liverpool kickstart their summer transfer business

The Premier League trophy will arrive at Anfield in a matter of weeks and there is little to be despondent about among the Reds’ support, who have taken to Arne Slot after the Dutchman’s magnificent debut season in charge.

Internally, Virgil Van Dijk and Mohamed Salah have signed extensions to continue their association with Liverpool. However, Trent Alexander-Arnold’s future remains unsolved amid heavy links claiming the Three Lions international could join Real Madrid.

While the wait goes on regarding his long-term plans, Liverpool are eyeing a move for Celtic forward Daizen Maeda to strengthen their forward line following an excellent season for the Japan international north of the border.

Reds scouts have also ran the rule over Aston Villa star Morgan Rogers and it is anticipated that they could make a move to bring the former Manchester City man to Anfield.

Rayan Ait-Nouri is on the radar to provide competition for Andy Robertson after another solid campaign for the Wolverhampton Wanderers man, even if he would cost around £51 million to lure from the West Midlands.

Imagine him & Gakpo: Slot driving Liverpool deal for £60m "game-changer"

Liverpool are set for a shopping spree this summer.

ByAngus Sinclair May 1, 2025

Several other names will continue to do the rounds and plenty of transfer scenarios are set to be thrown around in connection with Liverpool, given their status as reigning champions under Slot. Tapping into that theme, the Reds have now made an approach to sign one of South America’s brightest talents once the window opens.

Liverpool make transfer approach for Flamengo's Wesley

According to CaughtOffside, Liverpool have made ‘informal approaches’ to Flamengo over Wesley as they look to land the Brazilian star following over a year of scouting the full-back. Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal and Barcelona are also in contention to sign the 21-year-old, who the Reds see as an ideal successor to Alexander-Arnold should he depart this summer.

Wesley in 2025 – Serie A

Tackles won

9

Successful crosses

8

Completed dribbles

8

Recoveries

28

Goals

0

Assists

1

Chelsea are preparing an opening offer of around £17 million for his signature. However, Flamengo are looking to recoup a fee nearer the £29.7 million mark. Negotiations are expected to pick up pace during the Club World Cup.

Labelled “exceptional” by Felipe Luis, the Brazil international has made 125 appearances for Flamengo in total, registering three goals and five assists. His agent has travelled to England previously to hold talks with Manchester City and Liverpool surrounding a potential transfer, suggesting that there could be legs to this story from more than one angle.

Conceivably, the Reds stand a good chance of landing Wesley due to their position as Premier League title holders. Nevertheless, it will be up to the player himself to determine his next career step.

While they are still some way from being the finished article, Chelsea have built a squad full of incredible players over the last few years.

The likes of Moises Caicedo, Cole Palmer, Marc Cucurella, and probably even Enzo Fernández would be able to get into most Premier League teams.

However, at the same time, West Londoners also have more than a few players who are arguably holding them back, with Tosin Adarabioyo perhaps the most obvious example over the last few weeks.

The former Fulham star has been at the centre of more than a few dire defensive performances for Chelsea, so it’s not all that surprising to see reports linking them to someone who’d be a dream upgrade.

Chelsea target Tosin upgrade

While talk of a title race might be a tad premature for Chelsea this season, they are most certainly in a race for the Champions League place.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

With that in mind, it’s unsurprising to see them linked with a plethora of talented players ahead of the transfer window reopening next month.

For example, the Blues are among several Premier League sides who have shown real interest in RB Leipzig’s Yan Diomande and have also been linked with Juventus’ Kenan Yıldız.

However, while hugely talented, neither of those exciting wingers would help solve the West Londoners’ defensive problems, nor send Tosin packing, unlike Castello Lukeba.

Yes, according to a recent report from TEAMtalk, Chelsea have maintained their intense interest in the French centre-back.

In fact, the report goes further, revealing that the Blues are now ready to submit a bid of up to £52m for the player in the coming weeks.

Interestingly, while the 22-year-old has a release clause worth around €80million in his contract, which is £70m, the report claims that Leipzig may be willing to cash in on the player for that £52m fee in January.

However, it might not be all that straightforward, as the story also states that Bayern Munich are keen to make a mid-season move for the highly rated defender.

In all, it could be a costly and complicated transfer to get over the line, but given Lukeba’s ability and potential, one Chelsea should be pursuing, especially as he could send Tosin packing.

How Lukeba compares to Tosin

Now, when it comes to midfielders, forwards and wingers, it can be relatively straightforward to compare players, as more often than not, their goals and assists are going to be what matters most.

However, when it comes to defenders, and centre-backs in particular, it can be a little trickier, and as a result, you have to go into more detail, you have to take a look under the hood at their underlying numbers.

Unfortunately for Tosin, doing so demonstrates just how far ahead of him Lukeba is.

Non-Penalty Expected G+As

0.10

0.02

Progressive Passes

4.17

2.90

Progressive Carries

0.83

0.48

Key Passes

0.33

0.00

Shot-Creating Actions

1.25

0.48

Goal-Creating Actions

0.17

0.00

Blocks

1.92

0.65

Interceptions

1.58

0.97

Clearances

5.67

6.77

Successful Take-Ons

1.00

0.00

Ball Recoveries

5.67

2.58

For example, according to FBref, the Frenchman comes out on top in the vast majority of relevant metrics, including, but not limited to, blocks, interceptions, and ball recoveries, all per 90.

In other words, as analyst-turned-scout Ben Mattinson puts it, the Frenchman is a “defensively exceptional” centre-back.

However, his advantages over Tosin extend to more than just his ability off the ball.

For example, the “outstanding” titan, per Mattinson, also comes out on top in metrics like progressive passes and carries, shot and goal-creating actions, key passes, successful take-ons and more, all per 90.

Essentially, the Leipzig star is someone who can snuff out an opposition attack and then, either through his carrying ability or range of passing, kickstart one for his own side.

Ultimately, from every conceivable angle, it’s clear that Lukeba would be a massive upgrade on Tosin and, therefore, Chelsea should do all they can to sign him in January.

Gittens upgrade: BlueCo convinced they must sign £87m star for Chelsea

The sensational superstar in the making would be an incredible signing for Chelsea, but bad news for Gittens.

ByJack Salveson Holmes 1 day ago

Eighteen Tests into his tenure, a world-class attack and a promising batting group haven’t yet translated into results, and questions may grow louder if India lose this series

Karthik Krishnaswamy19-Nov-20253:11

‘Gambhir should be doing much better with the players at his disposal’

We win as a team, we lose as a team.It’s a line Gautam Gambhir uses often in his press conferences, usually in reply to questions highlighting individual success or failure. It’s not about the individual. That’s another pet Gambhir line.It might be time, though, to talk about one individual in his group: Gambhir himself.India’s defeat to South Africa at Eden Gardens was their fourth home loss under Gambhir. He has presided over as many home losses, in just over a year, as his three immediate predecessors as head coach – Rahul Dravid, Ravi Shastri (over two stints, including one as team director) and Anil Kumble – did in a decade.Related

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India have won four home Tests under Gambhir – two against Bangladesh, two against West Indies. They presently have a 0-4 home record against New Zealand and South Africa. Overall, home and away, it’s 7-9.It isn’t pretty.There are mitigating factors at play. Gambhir took charge of a team in transition, and the retirements of R Ashwin, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma happened under his watch. Each of the home defeats has come on tricky surfaces where small turns of fortune were often decisive and often went against India. Kolkata hinged on many such moments, including the toss – India also lost the toss in Pune and Mumbai against New Zealand – and an injury that restricted Shubman Gill, their captain and key middle-order batter, to facing just three balls in the match. That India lost by only 30 runs in these circumstances suggested they weren’t all that far from winning.But that, in effect, has been India’s issue right through the Gambhir era. This is not the team of MS Dhoni and Duncan Fletcher, which lost 4-0 in England and 4-0 in Australia and 2-1 at home to England. That was a team with a transitioning batting line-up and, more crucially, a wayward, inexperienced attack that was seldom able to keep any opposition under pressure for long periods.Gambhir’s team is not that team. The bowling group is world-class, full of experience, variety and wicket-taking skill. The batting is strong and deep and has shown little sign of missing Kohli or Rohit – though India would love to be able to bring one of them in if Gill misses the Guwahati Test, as they try and work out how to manage a surfeit of left-handed options. The tour of England this summer showed just how prolific India’s young batters can be when the conditions aren’t loaded against them.1:18

Is the pressure mounting on Gambhir, the red-ball coach?

India have competed on at least an even footing in pretty much every Test against strong opposition during Gambhir’s tenure, home and away. They have won Test matches with key players unavailable. They won in Perth with a team featuring two debutants, one batter with just one previous Test cap, and another with just three. They won at Edgbaston and The Oval without their talisman Jasprit Bumrah.And so many of their losses, like Kolkata, have left long trails of what-ifs.The frustrating thing for an India fan is that the what-ifs aren’t just moments that weren’t in anyone’s control. So many of them, instead, concern decisions of selection and strategy that the team management made after careful deliberation.Take the consistent selection of three allrounders in India’s XIs, which, in theory, gives them batting depth until No. 8 as well as six bowling options. It’s one thing to pick such a team in India, where Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar and Axar Patel are legitimate wicket-taking bowlers. To pick Jadeja, Washington and either Nitish Kumar Reddy or Shardul Thakur in Australia and England, at the cost of a fourth frontline wicket-taker, is an entirely different matter.It’s led India to lose control of Test matches from balanced or dominant positions, with the lack of wicket-taking depth haunting them at crucial stages at the MCG, the SCG, Headingley and Lord’s.India have lost four Tests at home under Gautam Gambhir•Getty ImagesIt’s also led to India overbowling their strike bowlers. A direct line can be drawn from India’s selections in Australia to the recurrence of Bumrah’s back issues at the end of that tour, and from there to his rationed appearances in England, which in turn, in concert with India’s stubborn insistence on playing three allrounders, led to Mohammed Siraj taking on a superhuman workload on that tour.The decision to enforce the follow-on against West Indies on a lifeless Delhi pitch last month also seemed consistent with this team management’s tendency to not worry about bowler workloads unless – as in the case of Bumrah in England – they’re forced to.The other strategy decision India have consistently made under Gambhir concerns their choice of home pitches. Every India head coach in recent times has turned to extreme pitches at some point or another when strong opponents have visited, but where defeats on such pitches often led his predecessors to rethink this approach, they have only made Gambhir double down.Now it’s usually a good thing to not let results sway your convictions. Gambhir’s obstinacy, in that sense, is commendable, and any statistician will tell you that four Test matches is too small a sample to prove or disprove his stated reason for wanting pitches with sharp, early turn – that they minimise toss advantage.

Eighteen Tests into his tenure, Gambhir has a record that does no justice to the players at his disposal. There is no indication that his position is under any threat, particularly given his fine white-ball record. Questions, however, might get asked if India lose this series against South Africa.

It can be said with a little more certainty, however, that extremely bowler-friendly pitches tend to narrow the skill gap between the stronger and weaker attack in those conditions. India were undoubtedly the attack with more quality, depth and experience of Indian conditions during their series against New Zealand last year. And while Simon Harmer was the best bowler on either side in Kolkata, India still had the better attack, collectively, for the conditions.Over a longer Test match, where seamers and spinners have to come back again and again and maintain their control and intensity over all those spells, which attack would you bet on? The one with Bumrah, Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Jadeja, Washington and Axar or the one with Marco Jansen, Wiaan Mulder, Corbin Bosch, Harmer and Keshav Maharaj? If India’s main wicket threats on a typical first-innings Indian pitch – Bumrah, Kuldeep and Jadeja – are all out of the attack, they would still be able to call on bowlers who would keep a lid on the scoring and keep batters in a state of high vigilance. The same wouldn’t necessarily be true of South Africa, even if you could swap in Kagiso Rabada for Bosch.Why play on minefields then?The answer to this may well be the same as the answer to the allrounders-instead-of-frontline-bowlers question: a lack of belief, a constant underestimation of the talent India have at their disposal.As useful as their batting depth was in England, it probably did not make up for their lack of wicket-taking edge at crucial moments, and India’s top order showed, even in their first series without Kohli and Rohit, that they did not need that extra security. And while India’s spinners can be unplayable on square turners, they can be a consistent threat on normal pitches too.All this almost seems obvious from the outside, but all of us with that outside perspective have little, if anything, at stake. Gambhir is right in the thick of it, and every win and loss goes on his CV. Being in that position can sometimes lead you to question if the resources you have are good enough, and to reach for seeming failsafes that guarantee nothing and come with hidden costs.Eighteen Tests into his tenure, Gambhir has a record that does no justice to the players at his disposal. There is no indication that his position is under any threat, particularly given his fine white-ball record. Questions, however, might get asked if India lose this series and leave themselves with a treacherous route to the World Test Championship final. It might be in his best interests, then, to start showing a little more trust in the quality of his players, and worry a little less about unseen dangers.

England and India served up a treat at Lord’s, leaving the series delicately poised. Alan Gardner was joined by Sid Monga and Vish Ehantharajah to discuss what went down

ESPNcricinfo staff15-Jul-2025England and India served up a Test match for the ages at Lord’s, one that was eventually won by 22 runs deep into the final day as the hosts took a 2-1 lead with two to play. With the dust still settling on the closest contest of the series, Alan Gardner was joined by Sidharth Monga and Vithushan Ehantharajah to pick through all the goodness – from honours board appearances for Joe Root, Jasprit Bumrah and KL Rahul, to Jofra Archer’s comeback, Ravindra Jadeja’s herocis, Ben Stokes’ juju and the welcome return of on-field needle as the tour reaches its pointy end.