Trevor Bayliss confirms selectors will ponder Nick Compton’s Test future as weather ruins England’s chances of series whitewash June 13, 2016 England head coach Trevor Bayliss has hinted that batsman Nick Compton faces an uncertain Test future after the third and final Investec Test against Sri Lanka at Lord’s ended in a tame draw. Only 74 balls were possible as Sri Lanka progressed their overnight score from 32-0 to 78-1 in pursuit of their 362 victory [...]
Opener Alex Hales falls short of maiden Test century as England set Sri Lanka steep run chase June 12, 2016 Opener Alex Hales was left to rue his failure to reach a maiden international red-ball century as England set Sri Lanka a victory target of 362 to claim the third Test spoils at Lord’s. England need 10 wickets during’s Monday's final day to record their first Test series whitewash since 2011 after declaring on 233-7, having [...]
Bairstow exorcises ghost of previous Lord’s stumble to reach three figures and lead England’s revival against Sri Lanka June 9, 2016 In-form England batsman Jonny Bairstow revelled in laying to rest the ghost of falling agonisingly short of a century at Lord’s four years ago after reaching three figures to spearhead his side’s comeback against Sri Lanka. England slipped to 84-4 shortly after lunch following another top-order collapse, only for Bairstow to lead the revival with his [...]
Last chance saloon for Nick Compton and why the third Investec Test at Lord’s is not a dead rubber June 8, 2016 If England’s No3 batsman Nick Compton doesn’t chalk up a sizeable score in the third and final Investec Test against Sri Lanka at Lord’s, his home ground, then he’s really going to be up against it. I was pleased that the selectors stuck with him after he was recalled for the tour of South Africa [...]
England urged to be ruthless and whitewash Sri Lanka by winning final Test at Lord’s June 7, 2016 England batting coach Mark Ramprakash has urged Alastair Cook’s side to relocate their ruthless streak and whitewash Sri Lanka by claiming victory in the third and final Investec Test at Lord’s, which starts on Thursday. The hosts hold an unassailable lead in the Test segment of the tour having racked up commanding victories at Chester-le-Street [...]
What now for Alastair Cook and Jimmy Anderson after their latest milestones? Chasing down Sachin Tendulkar and 600 Test wickets respectively June 1, 2016 As well as England wrapping up a series-clinching victory against Sri Lanka this week, there were also some extremely impressive milestones for skipper Alastair Cook and seamer James Anderson. The question now is, how far can these guys go? At 31 years and 157 days, Cook became the youngest player in history to reach 10,000 [...]
History-maker Alastair Cook relieved as burden of reaching 10,000 Test runs is removed in England’s crushing nine-wicket win over Sri Lanka May 30, 2016 England skipper Alastair Cook welcomed the burden being removed from his shoulders after becoming the youngest player to pass 10,000 Test runs in his side’s series-clinching nine-wicket demolition of Sri Lanka at Chester-le-Street yesterday. Cook needed a total of five runs and reached the milestone with a leg-side clip for four as England comfortably chased down [...]
Make yourself undroppable, Cook urges Woakes May 26, 2016 England captain Alastair Cook has urged all-rounder Chris Woakes to seize his chance and make himself undroppable in the second Test against Sri Lanka at Durham on Friday. Woakes, who comes into the side for the injured Ben Stokes, has yet to hit top gear for England, taking eight wickets at a rate of 63.75 and [...]
Fabulous cricketer Chris Woakes can mitigate impact of Ben Stokes absence and help England wrap up series May 25, 2016 It may be a worry in the long-term but the knee injury that has sidelined Ben Stokes should not make any difference to the outcome of England’s remaining two Tests against Sri Lanka when the action resumes on Friday. In Chris Woakes they have a ready replacement who is bowling well and will be full [...]
England all-rounder Stokes facing uncertain summer after knee operation May 24, 2016 England all-rounder Ben Stokes has revealed his anguish at facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines after undergoing surgery on a cartilage tear to his left knee. Stokes is certain to miss the remaining two instalments of the current three-Test series against Sri Lanka after aggravating his knee as England emphatically won last week’s first [...]