England skipper Alastair Cook excited to see how rookie Zafar Ansari adapts to Test arena October 27, 2016 England skipper Alastair Cook has backed international rookie Zafar Ansari to seize his opportunity to impress after confirming that the Surrey all-rounder will make his Test debut against Bangladesh on Friday. Cook confirmed yesterday that left-armer Ansari is set to replace his county captain Gareth Batty for the second Test in Dhaka, with the other [...]
My old Surrey team-mate Zafar Ansari will not be fretting over his expected England debut October 26, 2016 My former Surrey team-mate Zafar Ansari is set to make his England debut during the second Test with Bangladesh, which gets underway on Friday, and he is the sort of character that will take it firmly in his stride. Zafar is a very intelligent person and is a bit different to some of the other [...]
James Anderson and Alex Hales omitted from England’s Test squad to tour India October 25, 2016 Seamer James Anderson and opening batsman Alex Hales have been omitted from England’s touring party for next month’s five-Test series against the world’s No1-ranked side India. Anderson, who is the country’s leading Test wicket-taker with 463 scalps, has been left out of England’s unchanged 16-man squad after failing to overcome the shoulder injury which has sidelined [...]
Skipper Alastair Cook hints at changes to bowling attack after England seal nail-biting victory in first Test against Bangladesh October 24, 2016 Skipper Alastair Cook hinted there are likely to be changes to England’s bowling unit for the second Test despite his side clinching a nail-biting 22-run success over Bangladesh in the series opener in Chittagong. England took less than 20 minutes of the fifth morning to secure the win as all-rounder Ben Stokes claimed the wickets [...]
England and Bangladesh set for thrilling final day of first Test with both sides in touching distance of victory October 23, 2016 England fast-bowler Stuart Broad is bracing himself for a heart-stopping finale to the first Test with Bangladesh on Monday following a fourth day of drama in Chittagong. Bangladesh need just 33 more runs on the final morning to record their first ever victory over England – and only their eighth Test triumph of all time [...]
Moeen Ali admits to “hardest 68” of his career after steadying England ship on day one of first Test with Bangladesh October 20, 2016 Batsman Moeen Ali reflected on “the hardest 68 of my life” after his dogged innings rescued England on the opening day of the first Test with Bangladesh in Chittagong. England suffered a nightmare start on a difficult surface, slipping to 21-3 as 18-year-old Bangladesh spinner Mehedi Hasan Miraz (5-64) made light work of debutant Ben [...]
It would be extremely foolish to underestimate Bangladesh, says vice-captain Joe Root October 19, 2016 Vice-captain Joe Root admits it would be perilous for England to dismiss the potential of Bangladesh to spring a surprise during their two-Test series, which starts on Thursday in Chittagong. England have won all eight of their previous red-ball series with Bangladesh, a team ranked ninth out of 10 sides in the International Cricket Council’s official [...]
Spin will be a huge factor in Bangladesh but the role of England’s seam attack cannot be underestimated October 19, 2016 Spin is being touted as the main weapon during England’s two-Test series against Bangladesh, which starts on Thursday, and that is likely to be the case although the role the seamers have to play cannot be underestimated. The new ball is not going to stay hard for very long and it is vital that England’s [...]
Ben Duckett ready to fill any void in bid to land England debut as fellow rookie Haseeb Hameed also presses his case for Test bow October 17, 2016 England rookie Ben Duckett insists he will happily bat anywhere should he be handed his maiden Test cap in the opening match of the red-ball series against Bangladesh in Chittagong on Thursday. Duckett celebrated his 22nd birthday by scoring 60 yesterday – his fourth half-century in five innings – during England’s draw with a Bangladesh [...]
Surrey’s Zafar Ansari boosts case for inclusion in England side for opening Test with Bangladesh October 16, 2016 Surrey all-rounder Zafar Ansari pressed his claims for a Test debut by leading England’s fightback during the opening day of their final warm-up clash against a Bangladesh Cricket Board XI in Chittagong. England appeared to be toiling in the field until the left-arm spinner claimed three quick scalps to prompt a dramatic collapse which saw the [...]