The competition at the top promises to gain momentum as World No 2 Ben Stokes has also made huge gains to attain a career-best tally of 431 points, narrowing the lead from 66 to 54 points.
England should not be overly reliant on express pace in the next two Tests against West Indies and must consider alternating Jofra Archer and Mark Wood, former quick Darren Gough said. England opted for the express speed of Archer and Wood and the experience of James Anderson in Southampton but lost by four wickets in the series opener.
The famous win in the opening Test against England in Southampton was West Indies' first in the opening Test of an away series in almost 13 years and only their second Test win in England in 20 years.
'But when you get that click, that six or seven overs where everything is in sync and you see the ball flying down at 90mph-plus causing chaos, that's why you put Jofra Archer in your team.'
Paul Pogba believes the Red Devils have right balance to win FA Cup and Europa League crowns.
Seb Larsson's late strike sent struggling Sunderland through to the League Cup quarter-finals with a 2-1 win over fellow Premier League side Southampton on Wednesday.
West Indies' splendid victory over England in the first Test in Southampton drew rich praise from around the cricketing world, including top players like Virat Kohli and former greats like Sachin Tendulkar and Vivian Richards. West Indies beat England by four wickets on the final day of the first international Test since the coronavirus break on Sunday, taking a 1-0 lead at the Ageas Bowl in a three-Test series thanks to a 95-run knock by Jermaine Blackwood.
Manchester United are fifth in the Premier League standings with 58 points, one behind Leicester City, who occupy the final Champions League spot with four games to play.
England's decision to go with James Anderson, Jofra Archer and Mark Wood for the first Test in Southampton snapped Stuart Broad's run of 51 consecutive home Tests.
West Indies captain Jason Holder says both his team and England putting up a united front to show support for the Black Lives Matter campaign before the start of the first Test in Southampton meant the "world to him" and he feels Michael Holding's powerful speech on racism "in his veins". Both teams took the knee for 30 seconds in solidarity with the BLM movement before the start of play on Wednesday.
England fast bowler Mark Wood said on Thursday that players are using 'back sweat' rather than saliva to try and shine the ball in the first Test against West Indies at the Ageas Bowl. Strict health protocols are in place for the return of international cricket after a 117-day stoppage caused by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, including a ban on saliva.
The T20 World Cup is expected to be postponed due to the challenges of hosting 16 international teams amid the pandemic, and the Indian board hopes to use that window for the IPL.
The England and West Indies players took a knee in support of the Black Lives Matter movement before the start of play in the first Test at Southampton on Wednesday as international cricket returned after almost four months. Rain delayed the start of the first Test before England captain Ben Stokes won the toss and elected to bat.
"...he is an underrated player but he contributes on a regular basis, he is a terrific player to have in your team."
Ganguly will create his own fantasy team for each of the three matches and lock horns with cricket enthusiasts from all over India as part of the 'Beat the Expert' contest.
'I don't get caught up with it, to be honest. Journalists are there to write their stories, I am merely here to play cricket. It's always a good battle on the field when you face competitors like Stokesy, face competitors around the world'
Batting legend Brian Lara believes West Indies will need to adopt a proactive approach in the upcoming three-Test series against England and consider the matches as four-day games as the visitors lack the firepower to last five days. The 51-year-old former captain said while West Indies' boast of a formidable bowling attack, their batting department is a concern, which is precisely the reason behind his statement.
West Indies fast bowler Kemar Roach is a "genuine great" and can easily achieve the milestone of 300 Test wickets with proper workload management, believes legendary pacer Courtney Walsh. Roach will be a key bowler for West Indies in the three-Test series against England, starting at Ageas Bowl in Southampton from Wednesday.
The Ireland squad will arrive in England and set up their base at the Ageas Bowl, Southampton on July 18, before facing world champions England in three ODIs at the same venue.
Swansea City came from behind to end Manchester United's unbeaten start to the Premier League season with an impressive 2-1 victory at the Liberty Stadium on Sunday.
The England-Windies Test series will be held at Hampshire's Ageas Bowl and Lancashire's Emirates Old Trafford, which have been chosen as bio-secure venues.
'It's difficult even for me to find a reason why but you have to insist and talk about the game, the way they play and try to do more, concede as few as possible and score up front.'
West Indies had handed Joe Root's men a 2-1 defeat when England travelled to the Caribbeans last year and Roach said the visiting team wants to emulate that result.
England's World Cup hero Ben Stokes was on last Tuesday named captain for the opening Test against the West Indies in place of Root, who has taken leave to be with his wife for the birth of their second child.
Spinner Dom Bess was named in England's 13-man squad for the first Test against West Indies and there was no place for Moeen Ali among nine reserves, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said on Saturday.All-rounder Ben Stokes will lead England in the match, which will begin at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton on Wednesday in a bio-secure environment amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
West Indies coach Phil Simmons says his side cannot afford the batting debacles that have often undermined their tours of England when the series starts behind closed doors next week. The first of three Tests begins at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton next Wednesday and Simmons says making sure they are mentally ready is the most important task.
The British government said on Friday that recreational cricket which has been suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic will be allowed to resume from July 11. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he would set out a timetable next week for when amateur cricket can return as well as the reopening of indoor gyms and swimming pools which were closed due to the coronavirus lockdown.
Chelsea put a miserable week behind them to return to the Premier League summit with a 2-0 win over Fulham as the wheels came off Liverpool's bright start in a 1-0 home defeat to Southampton on Saturday.
England all-rounder Sam Curran can resume training ahead of next week's first Test against West Indies after testing negative for COVID-19, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said on Friday. Curran was self-isolating in his room at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton after feeling unwell and undergoing a test.
CWI Lead Selector, Roger Harper, said that he is delighted with Gabriel's inclusion to the squad.
England all-rounder Sam Curran on Thursday underwent COVID-19 test after he got ill and is currently self-isolating in his hotel room at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton, ruling him out of the remainder of the intra-squad warm-up match.
'I want to assure West Indies cricket fans that Phil Simmons still has the full backing of CWI, no matter what has been said'
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) on Monday gave the go-ahead for professional men's county cricket to start its season on August 1. The men's County Championship was initially scheduled to begin on April 12, but was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ben Stokes is poised to lead the team in the first Test against West Indies on July 8 with captain Joe Root likely to miss the game to attend the birth of his second child.
IMAGES from the English Premier League matches played on Sunday.
Pakistan's team will arrive in England on Sunday before entering a two-week quarantine period ahead of their tour, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said on Friday. Three Test matches and three T20 internationals are scheduled behind closed doors.
England pacer Jofra Archer was on Thursday cleared to join his teammates at Southampton's Ageas Bowl ahead of the three-Test series against West Indies after he tested negative for COVID-19 for the second time. The 25-year-old Archer did not join the team's training earlier after a member of his household fell ill. He had tested negative for COVID-19 the first time too, but as a precautionary measure he went through another test ahead of joining his England teammates.
Southampton returned to the Premier League after a seven year absence when they beat Coventry City 4-0 on Saturday to clinch second place in the Championship (second division) and take the remaining automatic promotion spot.
'People are going to make mistakes, we all are, but for the sake of everyone's safety and the cricket, we need to operate within these protocols as much as we can'
Fast bowler Jofra Archer will, however, go through a second COVID-19 test and will join England's behind-closed-doors training camp on Thursday, provided he tests negative.
© 2025 Rediff.com - Investor Information - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances